Hi, our hen (about 3 years old) has had a growth on her abdomen below her vent for probably a year now. When we first discovered it, we did some research on this forum, and tried draining it. However, we live in an urban area and the only syringe we could find was from a pharmacy and it was tiny - and it just seemed mean to keep poking and withdrawing so many times she'd be like a pincushion! It also didn't seem like the descriptions on other people's threads (clear fluid) - it was more like watery blood. Anyways, we stopped after the first syringe and decided to just monitor. Since then, she has continued to exhibit normal chicken behaviour: eating, drinking, dustbathing, pooping, scratching, etc. She doesn't lay often (once every week or 2), but she is 3 so that's not too abnormal maybe? When she does lay, the egg has a soft spot, and is kind of oblong shaped. She also goes to bed about an hour before the last bird. (We call her grandma Gertie!)
Anyways, the growth has increased in size, and we feel like we should give it another try. Although she doesn't show any obvious discomfort, it is so big it is starting to make her run bow-legged.
Any thoughts/ideas? Do we just use the tiny syringe and persevere to do this as many times as needed? I have read there may be danger in withdrawing too much fluid at a time. I have also read some threads about lancing the abscess, if it is filled with pus (cottage-cheese like consistency) rather than clear fluid, although this seems a lot more daunting than the syringe.
Recently was reading about a hernia, and that draining this doesn't help either. However, it seems to be related to large egg size, and Gertie's eggs are pretty normal - not as small as our silkie's eggs, but not super giant either.
Anyways, the growth has increased in size, and we feel like we should give it another try. Although she doesn't show any obvious discomfort, it is so big it is starting to make her run bow-legged.
Any thoughts/ideas? Do we just use the tiny syringe and persevere to do this as many times as needed? I have read there may be danger in withdrawing too much fluid at a time. I have also read some threads about lancing the abscess, if it is filled with pus (cottage-cheese like consistency) rather than clear fluid, although this seems a lot more daunting than the syringe.
Recently was reading about a hernia, and that draining this doesn't help either. However, it seems to be related to large egg size, and Gertie's eggs are pretty normal - not as small as our silkie's eggs, but not super giant either.
