[Chookiechook]

One of my ex-bats has a swelling on the side of her face... at the angle where the beak hinges are 

I have opened her beak and inside there is a corresponding greeny layered lump.  I have tweezered this off (no need to break skin) and then a gentle squeeze resulted in a hard dark yellow lump of what I assume was pus shot out 

The area now looks red (obviously) but cleaner... and the hen is happily eating, drinking etc.

Is there anything else I should do for now.....

They have been started on Aureomycin today for their colds..... but will this be effective against the abcess too???

Any ideas anyone

[Chookiechook]

That will be a no then  :blink:

[iwantanallotment]

Sorry chookiechook, I've not been on all day but am no expert anyway 

I'd think the antibiotics will help, and also bathe the area/hole where the pus came from? Either in salt water or weak TCP? Just to stop it recurring til it heals up.

[Chookiechook]

No worries   I have just asked a vet friend who said it might help as its a broad range  antibiotic.......

But as usual, no normal pet vets know anything about chooks   I had to get the name of the antibiotic from this forum....

[iwantanallotment]

Tell me about it, chookiechook - I took my chick to the vets yesterday and had to tell the vet what was wrong with her & what meds she needed

Think most of us are in the same boat, unfortunately. Hopefully as someone else said, now chicken-keeping has escalated maybe more vets will learn/take courses?

Got some funny looks from other folks in the vets, with their dogs & cats....one man thought my chick was a kestrel, another thought she was a quail 

[Chookiechook]

At least it saved me the consultation fee......

The last time I took a chicken to the vets, I got charged £17 for the vet to say..... Oh, its a chicken..... whats wrong with it!!!!

I had to tell them what was wrong with it that time too   I should have charged them £17 :laugh:

[iwantanallotment]

Yep, I was charged £20 odd consultation too!
You're right chookie, I should've charged the vet for that impartation of knowledge  

She did weigh my little girl though, plonked her onto those massive scales which weigh the hugest of dogs. I asked "Does it measure such small denominations as a little chick?" she replied "I don't know"    But it did, and my chick was 0.3kg.

Until vets are familiar with poultry, Google and forums such as this excellent one are a poultry-keeper's best friend 

ps - when I used to breed and show my dogs I could buy antibiotics freely - amoxicillin - that came from Ireland. It's amazing how cheap they actually are, before vets take their cut   :blink: