Is it safe to attempt to drain this?

[cfremder]

I have a hen who is a little over a year old (Virgil). She is my number one egg layer, with many double yolks. About 9 months ago she devolped this huge fluid filled lump under her right leg. I massaged it and it drained on it's own. It's back again, only much larger and very firm feeling on one side. Should I attempt to drain it? I have had her since she was 5 days old. She produces eggs daily and doesn't seem to be bothered. It just continues to grow.

 

[realsis]

wow that's going to have to be a call you make on your own. if she were mine I might attempt to carefully drain the mass to relieve the chicken. then I would put her on a antibiotic to help prevent infection from localizing in that area. if she were mine I'd do this. but this is something you will have to decide on your own. if you have drained it before than it should be alright to drain again but these are options you will have to weigh out and make the decision
if you do decide to drain remember to use the antibiotic after for infection. Hope this helps and please keep us posted
this would be a very interesting procedure to document with pictures. and show how you did the drain. please keep us posted

 

[cafarmgirl]

The problem with draining it is that your not solving whatever the underlying problem is that's causing this. It's just going to keep coming back. I have never seen anything like this so I have no idea what it is. If you really want to save her it would probably be best to have an avian vet take a look.

 

[cfremder]

Thank you for the reply. I think draining and antibiotics might be the way to go....???? Will update as to what I find.

 

[JadeRahl]

I would drain it and catch the fluid in a bowl. Smell it and look at it. If it stinks then antibiotics if not then I wouldn't really worry about. Bodies are odd sometimes.

 

[rbaker0345]

I would aspirate it first to see what the fluid is. If its puss or edema from a foreign body, it will need to be lanced, drained, probed and cleaned. You may need a vet.

 

[cfremder]

Just wanted to update everyone. Virgil seemed to be doing better, so I chose not to drain her cyst. She produced another lovely egg for me on Mother's Day. Unfortunately, that was her last egg. She passed during the night.

 

[mg15]

cfremder
So sorry, have been following Virgil.
I wonder what it was. ?

 

[nab58]

Oh no! I'm so sorry!

 

[rbaker0345]

So sorry about that, maybe it wasn't a cyst, maybe it was some kind of cancer?