Arizona Chickens

[pipemum]

Hmmm,
I thought I posted but I don't see my post now so I'll try again.

Well, we did it. Our ailing leghorn(my husband's favorite) died a couple of days ago. I wanted to know what was wrong so we attempted our first autopsy. We only had a few minutes so couldn't do much more than open her up, but we did it. It was hard and stinky but I'm glad we did. Hopefully, in the future we'll be able to spend more time and do a better job.
We didn't know exactly what to look for, but the most striking thing was all the little white things everywhere. If anyone wants to look at the very gross pictures

you can follow the link below.
If you know anything about chicken autopsies/necropsies, please take a look and tell me what you think.

I posted pictures here:

WARNING!!!!
VERY GRAPHIC PICTURES!!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...p-warning-very-graphic-pictures#post_12235273

WARNING!!!!
VERY GRAPHIC PICTURES!!!

Whoa, I have no idea what was wrong with her, but those weren't normal insides! Sorry about her death.

I think I need to muck out someone's stall--that compost looks so good.

 

[pipemum]

I found 3 eggs yesterday! Woot! My other barred rock finally started.

Will anyone have any blue hatching eggs available around January/Feb? Or other colored eggs?

 

[flower]

Beckyhsinglsc I viewed you autopsy pictures and think that you did a good job of it. I especially like the photos. The persons suggestion of oviduct or ovarian cancer sounds quite plausible. At the process event in Peoria, I found my old hen to have quite of collection of undigested "nastiness" in her lower bowel. Ghastly !

Reminds you to make sure that the birds that you plan to process needs to be fasting for at least twelve hours.

 

[maryhysong]

I found 3 eggs yesterday! Woot! My other barred rock finally started.

Will anyone have any blue hatching eggs available around January/Feb? Or other colored eggs?

I will probably have at least a few. I have blue, green, khaki, light tan/pink through dark brown. Just depends on whose laying at the time.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Beckyhsinglsc I viewed you autopsy pictures and think that you did a good job of it. I especially like the photos. The persons suggestion of oviduct or ovarian cancer sounds quite plausible. At the process event in Peoria, I found my old hen to have quite of collection of undigested "nastiness" in her lower bowel. Ghastly !

Reminds you to make sure that the birds that you plan to process needs to be fasting for at least twelve hours.

For those of you curious about my dead hen, Diamond, but don't want to see the pictures,
I found this:
I underlined everything that applies to my hen.

Ovarian Carcinoma: After finding this during necropsy and doing a little research, it was discovered that is the most common tumor of unknown origin in hens. It is associated with advancing age, which is why most vets are not exposed to it. Often fluid will accumulate in the abdomen. As the tumors spread, the intestine becomes constricted and the hens become emaciated. At necropsy there are countless white, firm tumors on the surfaces of the intestinal wall and oviduct. Birds that are forced into laying by additional light sources had an increased incidence of the tumors. In the experience of one poultry disease researcher, "birds began to die at 3 ½ years of age, and all had died of ovarian carcinoma by 9 years of age." (Helmboldt and Fredrickson, Diseases of Poultry 6th edition) Since most production birds are not allowed to live that long, it is not commonly seen. We have not been able to find any treatment that will reverse or stabilize this condition. Because the hens at Farm Sanctuary are treated, and have a much longer life-span then they ever would in a factory, we are seeing this more often. To keep the hens more comfortable, we drain the fluids in their abdomens when necessary.

 

[City farm]

GFinaly recovering from the party saturday night. It seems who ever lays an egg next to
felisha our broody lavender Americana, she is claiming the eggs for herself..
Now up to 10.. I am not happy about that.. For one, they will all be laying days apart..
This is her first time so hope she will not abandon the last ones..
I dare not move her...

 

[City farm]

 
Hmmm,
I thought I posted but I don't see my post now so I'll try again.

Well, we did it.  Our ailing leghorn(my husband's favorite) died a couple of days ago.  I wanted to know what was wrong so we attempted our first autopsy.  We only had a few minutes so couldn't do much more than open her up, but we did it.  It was hard and stinky but I'm glad we did.  Hopefully, in the future we'll be able to spend more time and do a better job. 
We didn't know exactly what to look for, but the most striking thing was all the little white things everywhere.  If anyone wants to look at the very gross pictures  you can follow the link below. 
If you know anything about chicken autopsies/necropsies, please take a look and tell me what you think.

I posted pictures here:

WARNING!!!!
VERY GRAPHIC PICTURES!!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...p-warning-very-graphic-pictures#post_12235273

WARNING!!!!
VERY GRAPHIC PICTURES!!!

Whoa, I have no idea what was wrong with her, but those weren't normal insides!  Sorry about her death. 

I think I need to muck out someone's stall--that compost looks so good. 

I did view your link.. Just a newbie..
Condolences from our family

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Great, I will look it up, that is so interesting. The only example of ovarian cancer was a large growth. Because of BackYard chickens so much is being learned about chicken, after all the thousands of years they have been giving us eggs and meat.

 

[kpgoldstar]

For those of you curious about my dead hen, Diamond, but don't want to see the pictures,
I found this:
I underlined everything that applies to my hen.

Ovarian Carcinoma: After finding this during necropsy and doing a little research, it was discovered that is the most common tumor of unknown origin in hens. It is associated with advancing age, which is why most vets are not exposed to it. Often fluid will accumulate in the abdomen. As the tumors spread, the intestine becomes constricted and the hens become emaciated. At necropsy there are countless white, firm tumors on the surfaces of the intestinal wall and oviduct. Birds that are forced into laying by additional light sources had an increased incidence of the tumors. In the experience of one poultry disease researcher, "birds began to die at 3 ½ years of age, and all had died of ovarian carcinoma by 9 years of age." (Helmboldt and Fredrickson, Diseases of Poultry 6th edition) Since most production birds are not allowed to live that long, it is not commonly seen. We have not been able to find any treatment that will reverse or stabilize this condition. Because the hens at Farm Sanctuary are treated, and have a much longer life-span then they ever would in a factory, we are seeing this more often. To keep the hens more comfortable, we drain the fluids in their abdomens when necessary.

I was very interested in what caused her death and I was about to post on your link page that I thought you were doing a fine service to those that are trying to learn what may cause such a demise. Shame on the people who thought your pics were disturbing. You warned them completely and they need to remember that many people raise chickens for meat as well, so anyone processing a chicken could be forewarned about the evident cancer. How old was Diamond? Have you had her since she was a chick? I am very sorry for your loss, I can only imagine as I am so new to the chicken world and would be devastated if I lost one of my brand new 5 week old chicks.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
Thank you everybody. I always feel comfortable posting in AZ chickens but when I step out into the bigger BYC world I have to remember to have a tougher skin.

Diamond was just over 3 years old. We had her and her "sister", Daisy (my avatar) from 3 days old for over 3 years. Ordered from Ideal. We really like the Ideal 236 leghorns and this is the first problem we ever had with one. We also have some 1 year old 236s. We'll have to wait and see if it's breed specific.