Hen died suddenly after a few hours of looking unwell - weird organ issues - *graphic pics*

[MysteryChicken]

@Kiki, wanna have a look?

 

[Kiki]

That's a good idea, thanks. I sent a bird to the university once and they did a necropsy for me, so they might accept pictures as well.

Try it and see.
If you lose another bird I'd send the bird for sure.

 

[MysteryChicken]

If I was to guess, I'd say fatty liver disease.
Waiting to hear from the more experienced.

Not fatty liver, it doesn't look like that.

 

[Kiki]

Interesting video:

 

[azygous]

Those sure look like leucosis tumors I've seen on my home necropsies. Age is about right for death from the disease after being infected probably vertically. Was this little chicken hatched within your flock?

 

[Chickeneering]

@azygous has dealt with lymphoid leukosis virus in her flock, and may look at the necropsy pictures to offer an opinion. Let us know if you get any input from the university.

I'll give them a look. Sent the university an email asking where I could send pictures, since it's been years since I sent the dead bird, and I've forgotten the exact place. I'll definitely provide an update when I have more info.

 

[Chickeneering]

Those sure look like leucosis tumors I've seen on my home necropsies. Age is about right for death from the disease after being infected probably vertically. Was this little chicken hatched within your flock?

Oh man. Yes, she is probably 4th or 5th generation. Does that mean I wouldn't be able to breed anymore? Or do testing to determine which ones are infected, if indeed it is leukosis? What did you do for your birds?

 

[azygous]

Your entire flock carries the virus. But if it's leucosis and not Marek's, your flock can lead mostly normal and long lives once you accept the limitations. It would be a good idea if you were to send this dead chicken off to a lab to be tested for avian viruses to determine which it is.

After years of trying to hatch eggs from within my flock and going through the heart ache of high embryo mortality, I quit trying. The few chicks that did hatch mostly lasted less than one year before dying. I have only had two chickens hatched within my flock make it past the one year mark into middle age.

Another limitation I discovered recently is that the disease can be passed to store bought chicks brooded by a broody hen carrying the virus. Those chicks, three out of four chicks a nanny hen raised, died around seven months from leucosis. They had received a heavy dose of the hen's viral shed over the weeks they slept under her at night. I didn't know it at the time but she was also symptomatic, dying not long after she had finished raising the chicks.

But despite the virus, many in my flock live long healthy lives and live to a ripe old age.

 

[LaFleche]

Interesting video:

Very informative, thank you for this link @Kiki

 

[Kiki]

I'll give them a look. Sent the university an email asking where I could send pictures, since it's been years since I sent the dead bird, and I've forgotten the exact place. I'll definitely provide an update when I have more info.

Are you in the United States?
If so what state are you in and I'll send you a direct link to your poultry lab.