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Peregrine11, I hope your goose is going to be okay. Reading this thread, I do not think I saw it previously mentioned, so I'll toss something else in. This does not apply to the lump on the face. Could this goose have eaten something that has partially blocked the proventriculum? When you say that it "appears to have gone down", I wonder if she doesn't have a dilated proventriculum. I have seen this happen once when a very young goose either chose not to partake of enough grit, or, more likely, ate something so fibrous that it would not pass. It has taken quite some time for this mass to break down, and the tissue is shrinking, but very slowly.
If you are dealing with an infection, please do so carefully, and segregate this bird while the wound is open and draining. I have not personally seen pus in a goose become soft. It has had a "cheesy" consistency, similar to a rabbit's. It might require a hefty gauge needle to draw anything of this consistency. To open the area yourself area and find nabscessss or tumor might prove a fataerroror. And if you do see something, would you recognize it for what it is or maybe find you've painted yourself into a mighty tight corner.
Poultry vets are pretty scarce these days If you do not have immediate veterinary support, you do still have it available through your state veterinarian's office and diagnostic lab. You are already paying taxes for this, so why not make use of it? If they are as helpful in your state as they are in mine, you will have an opportunity to speak to an actual poultry veterinarian, who can work with you and possibly through a local vet who is willing to consult with your state specialist. (My vet is 45 miles away, too) Once the onus of making a diagnosis is lifted, there are vets who will work with someone from the state who has the specialized expertise. You should be able to email your pictures, too. Whatever this is, it should be looked into, and I urge you to seek veterinary counsel before you act. Help is a phone call away.
