Lash Egg vs. Tumor vs. Other? - 7 Month Old Hen

[Suedan]

I'm really sorry about your pullet. Was she laying normally before this happened? I'm not good at reading xrays, unless it's something very obvious.
I have had several hens with salpingitis, the symptoms are really similar with many of the reproductive problems so it can be hard to narrow down. Tumors, infectious matter, matter from internal laying, can all feel pretty similar on examination. I think you are doing what you can. Sometimes they do pass a lash egg, in which case they will get some relief for a time, but it will eventually build up again, if that's what's going on. Whether they can pass it or not depends on size and shape. Usually when they can't pass it then they will go downhill fairly quickly, particularly if they become completely blocked. If she's having any droppings, then she's not completely blocked, but still can be pretty uncomfortable. You say what was passed was 'gelatinous', is it firm like hard cheese, or more loose and pliable and you can move it around? I lost one about 6 months ago that had passed stuff that looks very similar, it wasn't the usual firm lash material, but it was similar, just looser. Necropsy of her showed an abcessed ovary that became septic. She was much older than your pullet (about 9 years old). I did do a round of antibiotics with her (enrofloxacin/baytri), and it really didn't seem to help much. She may have felt a little better, but not enough that I would say it was really effective. Mine with salpingitis have generally been between 2 and 4 years old. And I've had a few cancers in the same age range. This is not a scientific finding in any way, just my experience, I have bought sex links from TSC, black, red, isa browns, various 'names', and my incidence of reproductive problems in those birds have been much, much higher than in my others, one batch in particular my losses have been really high with many really fatty abdomens. And only in that group, none of my others ever. To the point that I prefer to get heritage breeds instead even if they are just hatchery quality. That doesn't make the probability zero, but I've just had much better luck with them.

Thank you so much for your feedback. It was loose and pliable. When I got her I thought she was a buff orphington. Now that I know she is an Isa Brown and have since learned of all of their problems I certainly would not have gotten her as a pet chicken. I have two others and I now know that the breed as a pet is likely to be heart breaking. I think the kindest thing I can offer her is likely euthanasia. This is a learning experience for sure. Thank you once again.

 

[coach723]

If you lose her, I hope you will take a look, or have her necropsied. As hard as it is, it is often really informative and helps to learn what kinds of things can happen and what various symptoms may mean. Yellow urates can be various things, sometimes normal and transient, like being effected by a food item, or it can be from dehydration, parasites, infection or kidney problems to name some. I'm going to assume the vet covered all that. I still have sex links, some have lived fairly long lives, so they aren't all bad, they just tend to have a much higher incidence of problems. Unfortunately for most purchased birds, the genetics are simply unknown, so you don't know until they age a little bit. When I do hatch my own, I try to hatch from my hardiest and healthiest birds. Like I said before, I'm really not good at xrays, but the part you circled looks to be fairly close to the cloaca. Since you can't feel it from an internal exam (I'm making the assumption that a finger was inserted to feel for an egg or other obstruction) that makes it seem more likely to be a tumor or something outside the oviduct or intestine, which would then not be something that could pass. It's always a personal judgement call on when it's time to end the suffering. If she's eating and drinking then I might be inclined to give her a little time to see if she does actually pass something, in which case she might be more comfortable for a while. But again, that is your call, we all have our own limits on what we have the time and energy to do. And if you think she is suffering, then certainly it's a difficult but necessary thing to not let it go on. So sorry.

 

[micstrachan]

I’m so sorry about your hen. I feel pretty strongly that it is salpingitis, based on what she passed. Can you get antibiotic’s from the vet? Unfortunately, I can’t make out with the object is in the xray. I have a hen who had some sort of a mass that the Avian Vet could not identify. We treated her with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and hormone implant. She has done well so far. Sadly, once they have salpingitis, in my opinion, the only way to treat it as with hard-core antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and hormones. And even that isn’t guaranteed to work.

 

[Suedan]

I’m so sorry about your hen. I feel pretty strongly that it is salpingitis, based on what she passed. Can you get anabiotic’s from the vet? Unfortunately, I can’t make out with the object is in the xray. I have a hen who had some sort of a mass that the Avian Vet could not identify. We treated her with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and hormone implant. She has done well so far. Sadly, once they have salpingitis, in my opinion, the only way to treat it as with hard-core antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and hormones. And even that isn’t guaranteed to work.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. She passed more lash egg material and the object has become larger. I am spending some more time with her before euthanasia but I can always hope to wake up one day and it magically be gone. She is eating now and brighter than before. Many thanks once again.

 

[Suedan]

Hi everyone, providing an update. I returned her to her flock after my last post. She began eating normal, she is active and doing normal chicken things. Her abdomen has remained the same and she is not laying eggs. I am keeping my eyes peeled for any discomfort but at this time she is doing very well. Thanks to all for your support.