Necropsy Photos. Very graphic. If you're squeamish, don't look.

[subhanalah]

Thank you for the link.  Some day when I feel semi-smart, I'll look it up and see if I can understand it.
I decided against feeding it to anything.  I didn't know what it was and so I started cooking her but this morning, after fretting about it all night, I decided again it and threw it all in the trash.

She wasn't laying nor eating regularly.  Every couple days she would take a few bites but that was all.  This went on for several weeks and I kept watching her.  Finally took the time to do it and this is what I found.

what breed was she?
Thank you for sharing this with us. It's very educational.

 

[Lacy Blues]

She was an Andalusian that I got from someone else who raises them. I hope I don't have any offspring from her. However, I do have a sister of hers left. She is still laying and doing very well.

This is the first time I have seen anything like this and I will NEVER forget it! Way too bizarre for that.

 

[BCMaraniac]

She was an Andalusian that I got from someone else who raises them. I hope I don't have any offspring from her. However, I do have a sister of hers left. She is still laying and doing very well.

This is the first time I have seen anything like this and I will NEVER forget it! Way too bizarre for that.

Ovarian cancer in women has a hereditary tendency. Women with mothers with ovarian cancer are at higher risk, and are recommended to have regular screenings: CA 125 blood test, a tumor marker for ovarian cancer, and pelvic ultrasounds to evaluate the ovaries for tumors.

I would watch her sister. Ovarian cancer in hens is usually in hens 3 years of age or older.

 

[subhanalah]

Is this breed one of the typical candidates for this type of problem? I'm not familiar with Andalusians at all. (Like the hybrid sex links and other super GMO layers)

 

[Lacy Blues]

Ovarian cancer in women has a hereditary tendency. Women with mothers with ovarian cancer are at higher risk, and are recommended to have regular screenings: CA 125 blood test, a tumor marker for ovarian cancer, and pelvic ultrasounds to evaluate the ovaries for tumors.

I would watch her sister. Ovarian cancer in hens is usually in hens 3 years of age or older.

I will be watching her and keeping close tabs on her. Thanks.

Is this breed one of the typical candidates for this type of problem? I'm not familiar with Andalidians at all. (Like the hybrid sex links and other super GMO layers)

Not that I'm aware of. Like I said before, I've been raising these birds for years and this is the first I've seen of it... but then she wasn't from my line of Andalusians. I hope I don't see any more of this at all, ever.

Edited to add: she was not any kind of hybrid. She was an egg laying breed and a pure breed too. I am not sure but I would guess that the sex linked super duper egg layers would be more prone to something like this.

 

[BCMaraniac]

@Lacy Blues I don't blame you....but you did provide a tremendous educational experience for us all.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Thanks. I learned something too and I can honestly say I'm glad its over. Lesson learned.

 

[LindaB220]

@Lacy Blues I don't blame you....but you did provide a tremendous educational experience for us all.

x 2 Thanks Lacy

 

[lazy gardener]

In spite of the gross factor, it's a wonderful educational opportunity. Thanks, Lacy.

 

[Peter T]

I had a hen die just the other day that I believe is the same thing. Lots of fluid and nodules in the abdomen. I noticed her the night before because she was sleeping on the ground of the coop. I tried to put her up on a roost, but she couldn't hold on tightly enough with her feet. Her feet were also very cold unlike the other chickens. The next morning she was dead. I've attached pictures of the necropsy. I also noticed a dark area of the liver with two white spots in the middle. Not sure if it's related.