For people with lethargic hens, please keep this in mind when these symptoms show with hens that are 2-1/2 years and older.
Standing around with tail drooped, standing alone keeping to herself, acting lethargic no energy, poo (possibly bright green) stuck all around her "butt", the lower part of her rear end appears swollen, and below the the breast almost between (not quite) her legs it feels as if she has water retention (kind of like the way a water balloon would feel is what I think).
I am now on my third hen with these symptoms, I took the second one to Rollins Diagnostic lab and the following are the lab results;
External examination reveal marked soft distension of the abdomen, external parasite were not found. The bird was emaciated.
Internally, there was severe ascites characterized by accumulation of large amount of clear, yellowish fluid and clumps of yellow gelatinous material in peritoneal cavities. The intestinal serosa and mesentery were remarkably thickened, and there were severe adhesion's between the mesentery and the intestine, which looked like a firm mass like structure in the abdominal cavity. A few whitish nodules were in the liver. The spleen was replaced by a large white mass. The right lung had a small firm area. The ovary was inactive and firm, and had a large fluid filled cyst attached to it by a stalk. The wall of the oviduct was thickened. Tissues were collected for histopathology.
DIAGNOSIS: Ovarian adenocarcinoma with intracoelomic metastasis. (ovarian cancer)
comment from Dr.: cause of death to bird was ovarian cancer (adenocarcinoma) that spread to the other organs and tissues, Ovarian adenocarcinoma is common in "old" laying hens.
I wanted to share this with anybody who has noticed this in any of their older hens. It is not parasites, which seems to be a very common suggestion, I will be taking this third hen to the same lab, for a humane check up and humanely euthanized, to be followed up with an autopsy.
All three of these birds (along with 3 others) were purchased from TSC as chicks during chick days, which are probably provided by a "chick" farm (like a puppy farm??). I am saddened by these results, as I have raised every bird I have from a baby, and everyone of them has been in my house for the first month or so of their lives, are my pets and I love them and out of my now flock of now 17 (soon to be 16) these seem to be the only ones that have come down with this disturbing symptoms.
I will follow up with any future results for anyone interested, thanks Lois
Standing around with tail drooped, standing alone keeping to herself, acting lethargic no energy, poo (possibly bright green) stuck all around her "butt", the lower part of her rear end appears swollen, and below the the breast almost between (not quite) her legs it feels as if she has water retention (kind of like the way a water balloon would feel is what I think).
I am now on my third hen with these symptoms, I took the second one to Rollins Diagnostic lab and the following are the lab results;
External examination reveal marked soft distension of the abdomen, external parasite were not found. The bird was emaciated.
Internally, there was severe ascites characterized by accumulation of large amount of clear, yellowish fluid and clumps of yellow gelatinous material in peritoneal cavities. The intestinal serosa and mesentery were remarkably thickened, and there were severe adhesion's between the mesentery and the intestine, which looked like a firm mass like structure in the abdominal cavity. A few whitish nodules were in the liver. The spleen was replaced by a large white mass. The right lung had a small firm area. The ovary was inactive and firm, and had a large fluid filled cyst attached to it by a stalk. The wall of the oviduct was thickened. Tissues were collected for histopathology.
DIAGNOSIS: Ovarian adenocarcinoma with intracoelomic metastasis. (ovarian cancer)
comment from Dr.: cause of death to bird was ovarian cancer (adenocarcinoma) that spread to the other organs and tissues, Ovarian adenocarcinoma is common in "old" laying hens.
I wanted to share this with anybody who has noticed this in any of their older hens. It is not parasites, which seems to be a very common suggestion, I will be taking this third hen to the same lab, for a humane check up and humanely euthanized, to be followed up with an autopsy.
All three of these birds (along with 3 others) were purchased from TSC as chicks during chick days, which are probably provided by a "chick" farm (like a puppy farm??). I am saddened by these results, as I have raised every bird I have from a baby, and everyone of them has been in my house for the first month or so of their lives, are my pets and I love them and out of my now flock of now 17 (soon to be 16) these seem to be the only ones that have come down with this disturbing symptoms.
I will follow up with any future results for anyone interested, thanks Lois