Anyone else ever got a batch of cancerous chickens before?

[hinkjc]

I lanced the last 2 hens feet, green clear fluid came out. It doesn't have a bad odor to it. I squeezed on the tumor and some small chunks that looked like cottage cheese came out but that was it.

That doesn't sound like tumors to me. Sounds more like bumblefoot - staph infection, which is from the environment they live.

Mareks and LK typically produce internal tumors..not external. External symptoms would be present, however the person has not explained anything remotely related.

I agree that you need a definitive diagnosis before blaming the hatchery. Get an avian vet to necropsy one and share the results. That is the only sure way to know what you're dealing with. Since the birds were purchased last Nov, they could have been exposed to a lot in the last 6 months, including disease brought in from rodents and wild birds. Good luck in figuring this out.​

 

[dlhunicorn]

...or pox? too bad no pics

 

[Stina]

You aren't describing tumors. Tumors are not fluid filled, they are masses of cells dividing unchecked. There would normally be a lot of blood that would come from a tumor but it would otherwise be a solid mass. You are describing some sort of abcess/pustule.

 

[pips&peeps]

The first hen had a tumor growing out of the top of her head and it started to make her eye pop out so I had to cull her. She couldn't stand or walk anymore. The other 3 leghorns all have tumors in their legs and feet

Feet could be bumble foot, but on the legs and head are probably tumors.​

 

[bheila]

Quote:
Sorry, I wasn't able to finish posting earlier. When I cut into the tumors there is a lot of blood as well as a little green clear fluid. After I'm finished squeezing it, the mass is still there. It doesn't smell at all like an abcess, there's no odor at all. I cut the second chickens foot open and the mass was very fiberous. If I can get a camera I will take pictures of the next hens foot. I was thinking maybe it was bumblefoot but like I said only my white leghorns have it out of 75 other chickens.

 

[NotTheMomma]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=206883

Sound anything like this? Seems like the production hens DO have a higher incidence of cancer, and they use that to help research cancer of people. I sure didn't know that until I read that link!

 

[redhen]

What about fungal infection?

 

[bheila]

The vet from the Avian Health Depart. emailed me and thinks that my hens have lymphoid leukosis. He said possibly Mareks but it's highly unlikely because none of my hens ever had any paralysis. He also said that I needed to separate the chickens that have it

I had a few more questions for the vet so I'm waiting to hear back.

 

[NotTheMomma]

Oh goodness me. I'm sorry to hear this. Please keep us posted. Your situation is very informative, and may help someone else's flock.


Huge hugs to you!!!

 

[saddina]

I'm sorry honey, but at least you know it's nothing you did to cause this.