Egg in leg????

[dlhunicorn]

Quote:
Nothing comes to mind, but make a few suggestions and I might have them without thinking of them.

I could possibly snag some silver nitrate sticks from my vet. I do have styptic powder, but I know if there is a big bleeder, that won't work. ....

If I recall correctly , the silver nitrate is only used on broken nails (other wise it enters bloodstream) and I am pretty sure it is not a suitable chemical cauterization agent for avian patients.
Take photos... if the substance is not crystalized (which would indicate gout) then consult your sister and perhaps she could pose the question to a vet (or perhaps you could to your former employer?) Otherwise my advice is once again to consult the online edition of Avian Medicine.
(and now I am going to look for that article I told you earlier on avian pain)

ETA:Toxicity
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=E882F854-BDB5-82F8-F902691ADF94CD5F
excerpt (section ABSORPTION):
....•All forms of silver are cumulative once they enter body tissues, and very little is excreted. [Sittig, M. Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, 1985. 2nd ed. Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes Data Corporation, 1985., p. 789]**PEER REVIEWED**
.....

 

[dlhunicorn]

Found it:

http://www.grandin.com/welfare/fear.pain.stress.html
Research on de-beaked chickens shows they pain guard after the procedure and will reduce food intake. De-beaked chickens are reluctant to use their beaks. Sometimes a neuroma forms on the end of the beak after it heals. Neuromas can cause pain in man (Gentle, et al 1990). Chickens with neuromas reduce the number of pecks at feeding (Gentle, et al 1990; Duncan et al 1989). We agree that mammals from rats, cats, and dogs would have similar degrees of suffering when subjected to a painful procedure. However, it is likely that birds may experience pain differently. Recent work by Gentle (1997) show that decebrate chickens will still pain guard legs injected with a substance that causes pain. The results suggest that in chickens, pain from chronic arthritis is organized in the brainstem. However, if the chicken’s beak is trimmed and the frontal area of the brain is removed, pain guarding and other pain related behaviors are absent. But, if the beak is trimmed six days after the frontal area of the brain is removed, the chicken continues to pain guard (Gentle, et al 1997). It appears that chickens are unable to process two emotions simultaneously. Chickens may suffer from chronic pain when they are undisturbed, but when disturbed or frightened, the pain ceases and the chicken can only attend to the fear (Gentle and Corr, 1995). Prelaying behavior and feeding motivation can completely suppress pain coping behaviors in arthritic chickens (Gentle and Corr, 1995; Wylie and Gentle, 1998). Turkeys with degenerative hip disorders reduce spontaneous activity and sexual activity (Duncan et al 1991). The authors conclude that the different systems in a bird’s brain may be less integrated than in higher mammals. A bird may be more mono channel and operate only one system at a time. The bird would probably be suffering if the pain or fear channel is operating

 

[dlhunicorn]

Gillian is a toxicologist and this is from her avian first aid kit article:

Gelfoam - stops bleeding from flesh wounds and bleeding beaks. I cut this into small pieces suitable for applying to leg injuries. I get the Gelfoam from my avian vet. For beaks, cover with tissue glue so that it will adhere

(she also says ONLY to use silver nitrate on nails)
http://theaviary.com/gillianaid.shtml

ETA: You have posted no photos but I do have a case archive of a turkey with a similar sounding mass only located on the neck (with photos) I think you should take a look at:
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=diseasecasestudies&action=display&num=1187394262​

 

[the4heathernsmom]

Wow that was incredible

 

[Andaloosa]

Quote:
Photos will have to wait until tonight when I can actually catch the hen (after she roosts). I promise to have them posted before bed.

Robin

 

[chickerdoodle]

Quote:
Aspirin causes you to bleed more and is used as an anti clotting agent so I am not sure its a good thing prior to the surgery--maybe a bit after as she recovers.

 

[ruth]

In my opinion, and experience operating on chickens, it would be better to just make a small incision and try to remove whatever it is. If you try and tie it off and cut the whole thing off, and it is the size of an egg, you will be cutting off a significant amount of skin and veins.

I had to do crop surgery on a chicken whose crop was the size of a hard cabbage ball and I was able to pull all of the impacted hay out an incision about an inch wide. As far as the pain, as it has been mentioned, they must have their own way of dealing with it because I've never used anything to numb them and they don't seem to experience any pain and they are up and eating as soon as I finish sewing them up. Some will even eat and drink off the counter while I have them lying down and am sewing them up.

I've also removed large abcesses by making a small incision and "digging" or "popping" the gunk out. It is possible that that's what this could be. If she got a bite or small injury to her leg and it got infected it could have abcessed. When a chicken gets an infection it is not a liquid pus like humans get. It turns into a solid, yolky looking mass so it will not drain and cannot be removed with a syringe. I had a hen once that had a knot the size of an egg on the back of her head. It felt like silly putty. When I made an incision I was able to dig out a whole glob of gunk. In her case, a roo "love bite" at the back of the neck had infected. Their skin is loose so an infection can easily make a pocket of abcessed material.

Again, I just wouldn't suggest tying off and cutting off the whole thing. I think that could be disasterous - and this comes from a woman who amputated a chicken's leg.

 

[Shiningfeather]

 

[wyliefarms]

Good Luck!

 

[cocosandy]

The worry is about pain killers that have "caine" in the name being toxic to chickens. Use Bactine...it doesnt have a caine and it numbs.
I have used all of those things on bumblefoot and it hasnt killed any chicken...I use mostly bactine on birds tho because thats what I learned to use on parrots.
I see alot of stories about folks using anbesol and other painkillers...and I did before I knew with no bad effect...but why take a chance?
I find that most chickens will lay on their side quietly if you wrap them in a towel. cover the head but make sure its not too tight so she cant breathe.
This shouldnt hurt your pregnancy (and congratulations, by the way) unless you get upset by this sort of thing....just wear gloves and try to wear glasses so that nothing splashes in your eye....if its infection it could be staph and you wouldnt want that. Seems like now is the last time that you may have time for something like this for a good few months! (been there, done that, and still have the circles under my eyes 15 years later!;-)
I hope you will document this as it sounds really interesting.
I read here about someone who cut a huge tumor out of her hen...it was some backed up infection that had grown huge and it was just a mass that she cut out...and the hen lay still while she did it and, I believe, she recovered nicely. Chickens are incredibly resilient and even when they seem to be jumpy, they calm right down when you cover their heads. I dont think that their perception of pain is the same as we project on to them....so dont worry unless she is really fighting....then you have to figure out if its worth it at all. You just may lose her if it goes untreated and starts to effect her more.

either way, good luck...and if you cant get us pics of the tumor, be sure to post pics of the baby!!