My 6 yr old hen has fatty liver

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, Her tail was down while at the doorway but once I moved her to different spot her tail was back in upward position and stayed that way. Feeling foolish that I went into panic mode thinking she was dying. Since she has slowed down over the past month I've been a bit of a worry wart.

No need to feel that way!
I understand your concern, I realize that you have been worried about her health. With the addition to new hens, you may hear a few more noises that you have not been hearing. She's head hen, even if she's not completely healthy she will still try to keep her status - first with noises, if that' doesn't work, then she will resort to a peck or even a little battle. My gal is starting to show some symptoms of reproductive problems, but she keeps order with all sorts of noises.
Whatever she's saying it works, they don't cross her

 

[Stockpilejoy]

I would certainly be very interested to see the x-rays if you are able to post them and I'm quite others will be too.

Please note that these are not recent but from July 2014 when diagnosis of Fatty Liver was made.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Her coloring does look good..I may be overreacting here. Since fatty liver has been her only diagnosis over the years I'm just wondering if it hasn't gotten worse over time. I've heard that many hens with fatty liver abruptly have internal bleeding that happens fast so they tend to die quickly. Don't feel that is happening with Harriet since her comb is bright red. It may be the fatty liver is causing her mind to not be as clear since 1st of the week she was star gazing and suddenly sitting and now this out of ordinary behavior. People with cirrhosis can act out of it when liver enzymes sky rocket and toxins aren't being properly removed. I seem to know more about liver issues in people more so than hens. When liver doesn't function properly it isn't able to remove toxins out of body and liver tends to swell putting pressure on other organs. It can cause fluid accumulation in abdomen [ascites] and can cause weakness and pressure in veins causing internal bleeding and over time can cause neurological issues. Or maybe she is just slowing down with age, has some kind of infection, or cancer? I'm always concerned with anything out of the ordinary. I will try and remain calm and watch her closely. Thank you so much for your support.

Thank you for such a detailed response. I learn so much here, and love that. I hope it will help me to help others, so thank you.
Just something that may or may not be relevant - I integrated four chickens recently, it was two pairs. Holly is top dog (as she was in her own pair) and gets no trouble from anyone. She is definitely the boss, eats first etc. And yet her ascites flared up within a week of integration. Poor girl is not well right now. But my point is, although the integration seems to go smoothly, it can sometimes still effect them, especially if there is an underlying condition. Perhaps Harriet is 'stressing inwardly' like my Holly even though she seems fine with the new flock. Just wanted to share. I hope she continues to strive!

 

[rebrascora]

I'm no expert but I am not seeing anything obvious on the x-ray to indicate an enlarged liver. What does concern me is the large swelling below her vent. There are no obvious eggs in her system. Usually you can make out some yolks developing in the ovary and/or eggs making their way down the oviduct but there is none of that to be seen. Just that bulge below her vent which may be a large pad of fat but unusual for it to protrude like that. It would have been interesting to know if her skin looked yellow in that area and what it felt like but since so much time has passed since the x-ray it might not be accurate to correlate a physical exam of her now against that x-ray plate. I will be interested to read other peoples comments on it.

 

[Stockpilejoy]

Thank you for such a detailed response. I learn so much here, and love that. I hope it will help me to help others, so thank you.
Just something that may or may not be relevant - I integrated four chickens recently, it was two pairs. Holly is top dog (as she was in her own pair) and gets no trouble from anyone. She is definitely the boss, eats first etc. And yet her ascites flared up within a week of integration. Poor girl is not well right now. But my point is, although the integration seems to go smoothly, it can sometimes still effect them, especially if there is an underlying condition. Perhaps Harriet is 'stressing inwardly' like my Holly even though she seems fine with the new flock. Just wanted to share. I hope she continues to strive!

That makes so much sense. Thanksgiving day a rooster showed up next door so I took him in since no-one would claim him. It was a shell shocker to my girls. Harriet & Ester have definitely had their share of stress over the last couple months. That could easily explain things. I'm just thankful that Hansel is such a gentle giant and appears to be very sweet & submissive. All the girls seem to love him. Harriet follows him around when Ester is in nesting box.

 

[Stockpilejoy]

I'm no expert but I am not seeing anything obvious on the x-ray to indicate an enlarged liver. What does concern me is the large swelling below her vent. There are no obvious eggs in her system. Usually you can make out some yolks developing in the ovary and/or eggs making their way down the oviduct but there is none of that to be seen. Just that bulge below her vent which may be a large pad of fat but unusual for it to protrude like that. It would have been interesting to know if her skin looked yellow in that area and what it felt like but since so much time has passed since the x-ray it might not be accurate to correlate a physical exam of her now against that x-ray plate. I will be interested to read other peoples comments on it.

The vet said that it was swollen below vent due to enlarged liver pushing organs downward. Her legs and skin area did look yellow compared to my other hens. Over the years she has looked jaundice to me on and off and it tends to be more noticeable during molting season. It is easy to compare the jaundice color by looking at my other barred rocks legs. At times they will look the same color. Her nightly round droppings are so much smaller than other hens. Thinking it is due to her intestines being squished causing a narrowing where stool is released. I think I recall vet saying there could be other reproductive issues going on but it was hard to see with her enlarged liver.

 

[rebrascora]

I have necropsied birds with fatty liver but the ones I have seen have not had significantly enlarged livers, just discoloured and greasy and broke apart when you handled them and the birds had huge deposits of yellow fat over their abdomens and around their vent and encasing many of their organs. Ascites due to fatty liver disease can cause fluid to build up in the abdominal cavity and bulge like that and the amount of fluid can fluctuate as the body is able to reabsorb some of it at times when the liver is not under stress and leaching more fluids. It is surprising that a bird would be able to live so long with such a weak liver though if that is indeed the problem but since she hasn't been producing eggs, not straining to lay them will have helped that situation.
I do still wonder about her fertility though when her comb is so red and plump which would normally indicate that she is ovulating.

 

[Stockpilejoy]

I have necropsied birds with fatty liver but the ones I have seen have not had significantly enlarged livers, just discoloured and greasy and broke apart when you handled them and the birds had huge deposits of yellow fat over their abdomens and around their vent and encasing many of their organs. Ascites due to fatty liver disease can cause fluid to build up in the abdominal cavity and bulge like that and the amount of fluid can fluctuate as the body is able to reabsorb some of it at times when the liver is not under stress and leaching more fluids. It is surprising that a bird would be able to live so long with such a weak liver though if that is indeed the problem but since she hasn't been producing eggs, not straining to lay them will have helped that situation.
I do still wonder about her fertility though when her comb is so red and plump which would normally indicate that she is ovulating.

I will definitely have the vet preform a necropsy when she passes and post it to this feed.. I too wonder what the results will be.

 

[rebrascora]

Let's hope that situation is still a long way off.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

That makes so much sense. Thanksgiving day a rooster showed up next door so I took him in since no-one would claim him. It was a shell shocker to my girls. Harriet & Ester have definitely had their share of stress over the last couple months. That could easily explain things. I'm just thankful that Hansel is such a gentle giant and appears to be very sweet & submissive. All the girls seem to love him. Harriet follows him around when Ester is in nesting box.

Hansel - what a lovely name
Yes it's interesting, change seems to cause some chickens stress regardless of whether 'bad' change or 'good' change. Anyway, fingers crossed onwards and upwards for Harriet