- Jun 6, 2012
- 128
- 60
- 216
Hi,
I have, over the course of 5 years, had 20 plus chickens. The first year, I lost a 6 month old pullet to cancer. Three years later, I lost my RI red rooster to cancer. I lost three for causes unknown as they keeled over without symptoms (that I noticed.) Two weeks ago, I lost two to cancer. One liver. One squamous cell carcinoma. The doctor sent a sample to UNH to check what might be causing this issue. At the same time, he sent a sample of cells from a still living hen who has lost all her belly and tail feathers. She's chipper and eating but no feathers. Not sure if she is laying eggs. At this point my five remaining hens are giving me one or two eggs a day. The Cream Legbar (two years old) has nice blue, hard shelled eggs. Whoever is laying the brown eggs is giving me pretty thin shelled eggs.
When the results came back, the vet triumphantly said "It's Vitamin A deficiency. Causes cancer. And that's why your hen has lost all her feathers." He suggested I give up on the organic feed and move on to Purina or Blue Seal or some other big name.
I feed them organic pellets. They are completely free range. I give them oyster shells and cooked/crushed egg shells. And the requisite treats, not least cracked corn and MEALY WORMS!!!!!!
What else should I be giving them to give them Vitamin A? IS it Vitamin A deficiency? I mean cancer????? I have 6 adorable pullets--oh, wait. Make that 4 pullets and two roos--both polish buffs, dumb as stumps and totally endearing if terrified... And I don't want them to get sick. And why is the Legbar having perfectly fine eggs and the others thin shells?
I think that's all. Thanks!
I have, over the course of 5 years, had 20 plus chickens. The first year, I lost a 6 month old pullet to cancer. Three years later, I lost my RI red rooster to cancer. I lost three for causes unknown as they keeled over without symptoms (that I noticed.) Two weeks ago, I lost two to cancer. One liver. One squamous cell carcinoma. The doctor sent a sample to UNH to check what might be causing this issue. At the same time, he sent a sample of cells from a still living hen who has lost all her belly and tail feathers. She's chipper and eating but no feathers. Not sure if she is laying eggs. At this point my five remaining hens are giving me one or two eggs a day. The Cream Legbar (two years old) has nice blue, hard shelled eggs. Whoever is laying the brown eggs is giving me pretty thin shelled eggs.
When the results came back, the vet triumphantly said "It's Vitamin A deficiency. Causes cancer. And that's why your hen has lost all her feathers." He suggested I give up on the organic feed and move on to Purina or Blue Seal or some other big name.
I feed them organic pellets. They are completely free range. I give them oyster shells and cooked/crushed egg shells. And the requisite treats, not least cracked corn and MEALY WORMS!!!!!!
What else should I be giving them to give them Vitamin A? IS it Vitamin A deficiency? I mean cancer????? I have 6 adorable pullets--oh, wait. Make that 4 pullets and two roos--both polish buffs, dumb as stumps and totally endearing if terrified... And I don't want them to get sick. And why is the Legbar having perfectly fine eggs and the others thin shells?
I think that's all. Thanks!
