Massive Tumor.. what was it? (Graphic)

[McCarter Farm]

On Sunday I noticed one of my barnyard mix hens feathers were hanging down her leg. She was eating and otherwise seemed fine. I couldn’t catch her and get a better look until yesterday. When I went to check on her I did notice that there was a huge lump/tumor hanging down. (From one side of her all you could see were ruffled looking feathers/from the other side you could see lump) She was also having to pick her leg up funny to walk because the limo was in the way of her leg. When I picked her up she was clearly in pain. The area was hard as a rock, warm and red and HUGE. Since she was hurting I chose to cull her. I lanced it open. There was no pus, no fluid, no blood except the initial cutting the skin open which was a very little amount. All that I saw was a ball of black that looked like dirt. I completely removed the lump and it was all the same. It looked like a huge hard ball of dirt. What was it? Anyone seen this? Thanks for any insight!!

 

[azygous]

Yes, I've seen this in my flock. It may be a neoplastic tumor, a form of skin cancer often associated with lymphoid leucosis. The latter is an avian virus that causes tumors, usually on the organs, but occasionally a tumor will appear externally. I've had two chickens with these external tumors.

If your hen has not yet been disposed of, you might consider having her necropsied to determine if she was carrying the virus.