Edited: Big Liver Spleen/ Graphic Photos

[Araucana Nest]

One Cream Legbar pullet from a my pet chicken order last year began to get a pale comb in July. She had an empty crop when I picked her up. Lethargic. Wasn’t eating. I thought it was bullying since she was the youngest in her flock and took her out of the pen so she could be quiet and eat when she wanted but she got progressively weaker and died. Wouldn’t eat. Clean vent. Poop was green and white. I opened her up and she had a long and large liver and enlarged spleen. I hadn’t seen that before. She was just at a year old. Had been laying fine until the last few weeks.

I have another pullet now that is showing the same symptoms. She will be sent for necropsy to properly understand what is going on. I don’t expect her to live. She is only four months old. I’ve quarantined that whole area which is fortunately removed from most of my flocks.
Since my reading has made me think of Helatitis E I’m wondering if anyone here has dealt with it and if it is known to have vertical transmission? I’d like to know how it ended up here.

I don’t think the second hen got it from the egg. She was hatched by her mother who was healthy and vigorous. Different flock different pen but I’m curious if it is Hep E if it is transmitted to egg?

The first pullet was beside the pen of the pullet that is now sick and we’ve had a lot of rain and the water flows down toward the second coop so I need to rearrange to prevent that. Everyone in that area is quarantined for now as I get answers … thanks in advance for help and advice.

 

[MysteryChicken]

@Eggcessive

@Wyorp Rock

@azygous

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have not dealt with it or even really read up on Hepatitis in poultry. It will be interesting to see what others say and what you find out through necropsy of the other bird.

Keep us posted.

 

[azygous]

It's more likely lymphoid leucosis which presents symptoms in birds in the age bracket of your sick ones with those particular enlarged organs. A necropsy will be able to determine if the symptoms point more to LL or Marek's. But I've seen the enlarged livers in my flock that has LL.

 

[Araucana Nest]

It's more likely lymphoid leucosis which presents symptoms in birds in the age bracket of your sick ones with those particular enlarged organs. A necropsy will be able to determine if the symptoms point more to LL or Marek's. But I've seen the enlarged livers in my flock that has LL.

Thank you. She was vaccinated for Marek’s.

 

[Araucana Nest]

I have not dealt with it or even really read up on Hepatitis in poultry. It will be interesting to see what others say and what you find out through necropsy of the other bird.

Keep us posted.

Thank you

 

[Araucana Nest]

@Eggcessive

@Wyorp Rock

@azygous

Thank you

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thank you

You're welcome.

 

[Araucana Nest]

It's more likely lymphoid leucosis which presents symptoms in birds in the age bracket of your sick ones with those particular enlarged organs. A necropsy will be able to determine if the symptoms point more to LL or Marek's. But I've seen the enlarged livers in my flock that has LL.

I did some quick reading

 

[Eggcessive]

I would get a necropsy if you lose the second bird. I would also suspect a cancer-causing virus such as Mareks or lymphoid leukosis. Even with vaccination for Mareks, chick can still get it in the first 2 weeks of life it they are exposed to an environment where Mareks is common. Leukosis is less likely to affect the whole flock as Mareks can. Sorry for your loss.