Isa Brown Cancer

[margaret_e]

Hi al. Im new to this forum and am reaching out for some opinions about my Isa Brown, Reddy. She's about 1 year old and she has been an excellent layer until she had some issues this week.

On Wednesday she was looking sick. My husband told me, I hadn't noticed. I watched her until Friday when I saw a small part of an egg sticking out her vent, and she was trying so hard to release it, but ended up only having a lot of diarrhea. On Saturday I took Reddy to my avian vet who took her away into the theatre room. The vet told me she had given Reddy some anaesthetic to be able to pull out the egg. She said she tried to get most of it out and hopefully she would pass the remaining part by herself, now it had been broken up.

The vet told me during this process she noticed Reddy had a number of lumps around her vent which could be cancer lumps and the next egg which Reddy would make would end up getting blocked in the same way this one was blocked again.

I asked for Reddy to have the hormonal injection to prevent any future eggs in order to save her. She is looking like a happy hen again. Sometimes a bit lethargic though, I think its the meds she's on now. The vet said the hormonal injection would only last about two weeks and I should get the hormonal implant to further assist her.

I never saw the lumps in Reddy and I haven't been able to find much information on cancer lumps causing restrictions in the oviduct and causing egg bounding.

Is this a common issue? Do you think the next egg she makes will be blocked because of the cancer? How long would she have before the cancer kills her if this is her current state?

Thank you in advance.
Margaret


The photo is how she looked when she had an egg stuck at her vent.

 

[snow5164]

I’m sorry you are going threw this ,
Have you researched this breed at all?
They have a very short life span , they were created to lay an abnormally large amount of huge eggs ,

I’d try talking to who you bought her from , they might give you another hen.

Sorry she’s sick , this happens sometimes

 

[margaret_e]

I didnt k ow at the time why they were created, and now I know this, I'd never have is browns again, it's too sad to see these beautiful girls suffer.

I wondered if cancer lumps really do block the egg oviduct? If this is even possible.

Thanks
Margaret

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC and so sorry you are going through this. I have seen this and cancer can spread to the entire repro-tract and intestines. When This happens, the eggs will get stuck and it becomes very hard for them to poop. I might have necropsy pictures if you are interested in seeing what a mess it can make.

 

[Eggcessive]

ISA browns can live an average life, but they can suffer from the usual reproductive problems that many of today’s high production hens have, such as internal laying, salpingitis, egg yolk peritonitis, and oviduct cancer. Those things can shorten their life, but not all die young. Was the vet sure about it being cancer and not lash eggs from salpingitis? Sorry that she is going through this, but most reproductive problems and cancer all have bad outcomes. I would probably try to get her to eat and drink well, and make her as comfortable as possible. If she goes downhill, it might be time to think about putting her out of her misery, especially if she has cancer.

 

[Morrigan]

I'm so sorry you are going through this. It is true that a lot (not all) of the production laying breeds like Isa Browns, suffer a disproportionate amount of reproductive disorders.

If she is getting growths in her reproductive tract, it does seem possible it would cause blockages and even may eventually start interfering with her ability to digest food and go to the bathroom. I would try to keep a close eye on her, and consider putting her down if it looks like she is struggling with basic functions. It's clear you love your hen and are doing the best you can for her. Sometime the kindest thing it to make sure they do not suffer too much when they start going downhill.

 

[margaret_e]

Thank you so much for your replies. This forum is great I've been reading heaps on here, I've learnt so much about chickens I didnt veem know before and over had chickens a while.

The vet did not day say lash eggs but I'm not so sure about her experience either because when I told he there looked like something stuck up her vent she said shed do some test swaps on her poo so see if the hen had parasites. I thought it a bit odd since I told the vet I had seen something in there. That's why I started to wonder if the cancer was true or just a guess.

No necro photos. I believe you! I saw some others on here its pretty sad to see how much the girls would have suffered. Its horrible these chooks were bred for this type of life.

 

[candrews922]

Hi. I have had a small flock in my backyard for over 10 years. I started with Rhode Island Reds & even had a rooster with my first flock of 8. In the last 4 years, I got Isa Browns & they were very sweet girls & once my Rhode Island Reds had passed. I got a few more. The Spring before last I got some new breeds & 2 more Isa's. Shortly after getting them, I learned they have a short life span. So made the decision to not get any more of them. They have all passed within 3 years except for one who I believe is at end of life now just shy of 4 years. I have one of the 2 left I got that Spring. They have been great layers, but I have chickens because I LOVE THEM. And so do my daughters who are grown now. They have without a doubt been some of the NICEST, SWEETEST, AWESOME chickens we have ever owned. Losing them all so young, has been very difficult. I fortunately have never had to deal with vent issues with any of my hens in all this time. Only bumble foot, and a scare of Coccidia when I thought that is what was going on with an Isa who passed at 2. Which is when I learned about the lifespan issue during the summer after we had gotten 2 more in that Spring. I FEEL FOR YOU & honestly if I had known before hand. As hard as it has been, we would have missed out on SOME of OUR SUPER FAVORITE GIRLS. So......yeah. GOOD WITH THE BAD. Take care.

 

[vantain]

Hi. I have had a small flock in my backyard for over 10 years. I started with Rhode Island Reds & even had a rooster with my first flock of 8. In the last 4 years, I got Isa Browns & they were very sweet girls & once my Rhode Island Reds had passed. I got a few more. The Spring before last I got some new breeds & 2 more Isa's. Shortly after getting them, I learned they have a short life span. So made the decision to not get any more of them. They have all passed within 3 years except for one who I believe is at end of life now just shy of 4 years. I have one of the 2 left I got that Spring. They have been great layers, but I have chickens because I LOVE THEM. And so do my daughters who are grown now. They have without a doubt been some of the NICEST, SWEETEST, AWESOME chickens we have ever owned. Losing them all so young, has been very difficult. I fortunately have never had to deal with vent issues with any of my hens in all this time. Only bumble foot, and a scare of Coccidia when I thought that is what was going on with an Isa who passed at 2. Which is when I learned about the lifespan issue during the summer after we had gotten 2 more in that Spring. I FEEL FOR YOU & honestly if I had known before hand. As hard as it has been, we would have missed out on SOME of OUR SUPER FAVORITE GIRLS. So......yeah. GOOD WITH THE BAD. Take care.

Same here, with experience with ISA Browns. Started my flock with 4 of them, almost four years ago. Lost one at 1 year, lost a second one at year 2, lost a third on year 3, and my last one is still going, and almost four years old. However, she has had a rough go the past month, and I really thought I would lose her too, but she rallied back and seems to be OK again for now. Two years ago, I got some mixed breeds...RIR, Barred Rock, Orpington, and all of them are nearing 2 years so far without any issues. Probably helps that they all stopped laying for the winter, whereas the ISA Browns laid throughout the winter without stopping or slowing down. I think that may be the difference right there...they are bred to be prolific layers, and it is eventually what does them in.