My five year-old Legbar/EE cross rooster Tootsie has what appears to be a tumor on his left shank. I first noticed a hard knot about a month ago, just a strange bulge with no exterior lesions. Lately, he's been behaving, while not exactly lethargically, definitely off from his usual high octane life style. He's also taken to pausing as he's walking and shaking the leg, as if to shake off something uncomfortable. Last night, he was reluctant to hop onto his roosting perch, eighteen inches high.
Today, I decided it was time to take a closer look. What I found was the bulge had hollowed out in the center where the tissue appears to be going necrotic. There is no sign of pus or wetness at all. But part of the lump is developing stringy tissue, abnormal growth. It seems to be causing slight to moderate pain.
Tootsie is one of only two chickens hatched from within my LL virus carrying flock that survived past their first year. If this is a tumor, it is likely associated with the virus he carries. I gave him an aspirin for the pain, and will continue to do so. I plan to document the progress of this lump and will post updates.
I've had two other chickens develop these types of tumors. They are dry, not bleeding, slow growing, and do become painful eventually. When Tootsie reaches the point where he's in too much pain to enjoy a normal life, I will euthanize him. Meanwhile, we will all follow his progress and maybe learn something.
Today, I decided it was time to take a closer look. What I found was the bulge had hollowed out in the center where the tissue appears to be going necrotic. There is no sign of pus or wetness at all. But part of the lump is developing stringy tissue, abnormal growth. It seems to be causing slight to moderate pain.
Tootsie is one of only two chickens hatched from within my LL virus carrying flock that survived past their first year. If this is a tumor, it is likely associated with the virus he carries. I gave him an aspirin for the pain, and will continue to do so. I plan to document the progress of this lump and will post updates.
I've had two other chickens develop these types of tumors. They are dry, not bleeding, slow growing, and do become painful eventually. When Tootsie reaches the point where he's in too much pain to enjoy a normal life, I will euthanize him. Meanwhile, we will all follow his progress and maybe learn something.
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