762
Songster
Got 29 chicks from local reputable breeders back in mid Sept...9 Wyandottes and 20 Lav Orpingtons. I cannot say that finding my chickens locally has made any difference...I have lost 4, going to euthanize one tomorrow (more details later) and now have several with slight wheezes and sneezing (no discharge, nothing serious sounding yet, nor odd behavior). I'll list the symptoms and approx timeline of deaths.
1) Nov 5 - Orpington died we believe had something stuck in crop. Didn't think much about it but now think could be related if it had tumors internally.
2) Dec 11 - Wyandotte did not come out of coop, had very puffy face, died.
3) Jan 1 - Orpington last out of coop, seemed to be shaking a bit...ran towards flock and was attacked, ran away and fell over. Isolated one day, next day barely could stand, euthanized
4) Jan 15 - Orpington had caked yellow diarrhea on butt, bathed and isolated. Noticed both normal poop and diarrhea during isolation. Suspected worms gave Valbazen. Seemed to be eating drinking fine next day in isolation. Later afternoon, dead. Necropsy ordered. Results just received will provide details later in post.
CURRENT SITUATION - Have a SWEET Wyandotte hen I am going to have to put down. She has a wry tail and noticed poopy butt on 1/19. Bathed her then and found a LARGE lump near her vent. Thought she was egg bound but no, it is a tumor. Since she was still eating and drinking and seemed happy, we have let her live to see what happens with the tumor. In the last week she has also developed wry neck. Eyes are clear, great appetite, poops fine, walks as well as expected with egg-sized tumor, and is super happy when she interacts with us. I do NOT want to put her down, but am going to do so and send her to get a necropsy for the sake of the flock...which I almost feel is MOOT at this point!
In addition, I have another Wyandotte who has always had a whitish head as compared to the others. SHE has started to develop a wry tail in the past week or two. It is not severe, but it is there. Her comb is definitely much paler than the rest of her sisters (none are very red yet), and I would say she is definitely at the bottom of the pecking order. And yet, another (3rd) Wyandotte hen where I am seeing a VERY SLIGHT wry tail (all else normal).
TODAY - I am now noticing at least a few chickens with a SLIGHT wheeze...kind-of a whistle sound, and occasional sneezes. I fear this is the beginning of the end!
Side note: 5 class-A-hole Orpington roosters slaughtered and added to freezer last weekend (earlier than planned), flock down to 20...did not notice ANYTHING odd with the internal organs.
Necropsy Results: Based on the chicken’s age and masses affecting multiple tissues, I suspect lymphoma in this case but microscopic evaluation is needed to rule out other possible causes. Lymphoma is most commonly caused by Marek’s disease and avian leukosis. Microscopic evaluation is pending but may take up to 3 weeks to complete. The 18-week-old, male chicken submitted on 1/20/23 is thin with moderately prominent keel bone. There are variably sized white masses within the lung, liver, mesentery, proventriculus, intestines and adjacent to the heart and kidneys. There is also a 3-cm, firm mass in the bursal region. On cut surface the mass is grayish with areas of yellow necrotic-like tissue. There are no other gross abnormalities observed.
So, I do not know if this is telling me the microscopic eval is going to confirm whether or not it is lymphoma or tell what WHAT caused lymphoma (the vet is out sick, and either way that's 3 weeks away!). IF my tumored hen has the same thing, it's certainly presenting differently than Marek's. I'm wondering if avian leukosis is more likely. Different breeds different breeders but if the Orpingtons were born with leukosis, from what I've read, they could have passed it to the Wyandottes.
I just don't know what to do. If it is Marek's and I clean out all 330 lbs of bedding and disinfect everything, there could still be carriers or infected that could still pass it.
Could the sneezing and wheezing be related to what's been happening with these other chickens? Are the deaths even related? Are the wry tails genetic or a symptom.
And our good friend said chickens are easy...I've been up to my ears in chicken stuff since we started! I don't mind hard work, but I'm feeling very defeated here. Building a sustainable flock seems impossible!
I am considering slaughtering all 9 of the roosters we were not planning on keeping ASAP instead of waiting until 2/12.
1) Nov 5 - Orpington died we believe had something stuck in crop. Didn't think much about it but now think could be related if it had tumors internally.
2) Dec 11 - Wyandotte did not come out of coop, had very puffy face, died.
3) Jan 1 - Orpington last out of coop, seemed to be shaking a bit...ran towards flock and was attacked, ran away and fell over. Isolated one day, next day barely could stand, euthanized
4) Jan 15 - Orpington had caked yellow diarrhea on butt, bathed and isolated. Noticed both normal poop and diarrhea during isolation. Suspected worms gave Valbazen. Seemed to be eating drinking fine next day in isolation. Later afternoon, dead. Necropsy ordered. Results just received will provide details later in post.
CURRENT SITUATION - Have a SWEET Wyandotte hen I am going to have to put down. She has a wry tail and noticed poopy butt on 1/19. Bathed her then and found a LARGE lump near her vent. Thought she was egg bound but no, it is a tumor. Since she was still eating and drinking and seemed happy, we have let her live to see what happens with the tumor. In the last week she has also developed wry neck. Eyes are clear, great appetite, poops fine, walks as well as expected with egg-sized tumor, and is super happy when she interacts with us. I do NOT want to put her down, but am going to do so and send her to get a necropsy for the sake of the flock...which I almost feel is MOOT at this point!
In addition, I have another Wyandotte who has always had a whitish head as compared to the others. SHE has started to develop a wry tail in the past week or two. It is not severe, but it is there. Her comb is definitely much paler than the rest of her sisters (none are very red yet), and I would say she is definitely at the bottom of the pecking order. And yet, another (3rd) Wyandotte hen where I am seeing a VERY SLIGHT wry tail (all else normal).
TODAY - I am now noticing at least a few chickens with a SLIGHT wheeze...kind-of a whistle sound, and occasional sneezes. I fear this is the beginning of the end!
Side note: 5 class-A-hole Orpington roosters slaughtered and added to freezer last weekend (earlier than planned), flock down to 20...did not notice ANYTHING odd with the internal organs.
Necropsy Results: Based on the chicken’s age and masses affecting multiple tissues, I suspect lymphoma in this case but microscopic evaluation is needed to rule out other possible causes. Lymphoma is most commonly caused by Marek’s disease and avian leukosis. Microscopic evaluation is pending but may take up to 3 weeks to complete. The 18-week-old, male chicken submitted on 1/20/23 is thin with moderately prominent keel bone. There are variably sized white masses within the lung, liver, mesentery, proventriculus, intestines and adjacent to the heart and kidneys. There is also a 3-cm, firm mass in the bursal region. On cut surface the mass is grayish with areas of yellow necrotic-like tissue. There are no other gross abnormalities observed.
So, I do not know if this is telling me the microscopic eval is going to confirm whether or not it is lymphoma or tell what WHAT caused lymphoma (the vet is out sick, and either way that's 3 weeks away!). IF my tumored hen has the same thing, it's certainly presenting differently than Marek's. I'm wondering if avian leukosis is more likely. Different breeds different breeders but if the Orpingtons were born with leukosis, from what I've read, they could have passed it to the Wyandottes.
I just don't know what to do. If it is Marek's and I clean out all 330 lbs of bedding and disinfect everything, there could still be carriers or infected that could still pass it.
Could the sneezing and wheezing be related to what's been happening with these other chickens? Are the deaths even related? Are the wry tails genetic or a symptom.
And our good friend said chickens are easy...I've been up to my ears in chicken stuff since we started! I don't mind hard work, but I'm feeling very defeated here. Building a sustainable flock seems impossible!
I am considering slaughtering all 9 of the roosters we were not planning on keeping ASAP instead of waiting until 2/12.
and tell you I'm sorry you're having such difficulty! I hope you get answers soon and can recover or start over. It's really not supposed to be so hard.
