Culling and processing 1 1/2 yr old non-laying hens, graphic photos, help with diagnosis

[Lynnhill]

I had 15 year and half old chickens that did not lay any eggs over summer so decided to cull and process them. This is what we found inside and would like to identify what and why. Large enclosed chicken run, GMO free layer pellets, lots of greens and vegis, daily fresh water, black soldier fly grub treats. They all appeared healthy and robust, just didn’t lay many eggs this year, a few a week at best. Decided to cull and when processing found this, any ideas? Will talk with my vet as well but has anyone come across this? Thank you for any input. L

 

[heatherbeast]

Leukosis. It's a type of lymphoma, cancer where the body makes too many white blood cells and it clogs up the organs. Whether it is caused by Marek's or an endogenous virus will require detailed veterinary workup -- usually Marek's will also cause lesions on the nerves, which lymphoid leukosis wouldn't. I have had a couple of hens that had lymphoid leukosis, the tumors start in the ovary and spread through the entire bird, eventually. Look up "lymphoid leukosis in poultry".

 

[Lynnhill]

lymphoid leukosis in poultry".

Thank you for that information. I am attempting to decipher the lymphoid leukosis from Merck Manual. Does it make sense that all 15 hens were infected with this?

 

[heatherbeast]

Thank you for that information. I am attempting to decipher the lymphoid leukosis from Merck Manual. Does it make sense that all 15 hens were infected with this?

No, it does not to me, unless you know for a fact that the hens came from the same parent line. Usually the virus gets passed on and lies dormant in the birds' DNA, and becomes activated either by hormone activity (like in my two hens, they both dropped dead right before getting ready to lay) or by infection with a similar avian endogenous virus. Going off lay and all having tumors suggests Marek's.

 

[Eggcessive]

How did the livers look? I agree that it looks like a viral cancer, although I am no expert on necropsies, nor a vet. Lymphoid leukosis virus is known as big liver disease, and affects chickens 4 months and older. Mareks is more common, and does not cause the enlarged liver. It shows up earlier than Mareks, and can cause lameness among other issues. If you could send some samples to your state vet pathologist, calling them ahead of time, they may be able to give you a diagnosis. You could send some of these pictures as well.

 

[Lynnhill]

Marek's

So what’s interesting/confusing for me was how robust and seemingly thriving, no wing or leg paralysis. They just weren’t laying, so until began processing them did we discover what a mess insides were.

 

[Lynnhill]

How did the livers look? I agree that it looks like a viral cancer, although I am no expert on necropsies, nor a vet. Lymphoid leukosis virus is known as big liver disease, and affects chickens 4 months and older. Mareks is more common, and does not cause the enlarged liver. It shows up earlier than Mareks, and can cause lameness among other issues. If you could send some samples to your state vet pathologist, calling them ahead of time, they may be able to give you a diagnosis. You could send some of these pictures as well.

Livers were greatly enlarged. Will follow up with state pathologist, good idea. Thank you

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a list of state vets to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[Lynnhill]

as a follow up question, the few eggs we got before totally stopped laying, are/were these eggs safe to consume?

 

[SmiYa0126]

Oh geez I'm so sorry, what breed were they?