Need Chicken Autopsy Help (WARNING: very graphic pictures)

[casportpony]

Kathy, thank you and did your chicken that died of oviduct cancer have the little white bumps all over?

coffeychicks, thank you for your kind response. This was hard for us to do and we didn't really know what we were doing, but I'm hoping it will get easier with experience and time.

Yes, she had bumps everywhere!

-Kathy

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
Thanks Kathy.
I'm going to go with cancer, then and watch the others closely just in case.
I didn't see any symptoms or signs of Marek's or tape worms and while both of those can cause little white lesions, they aren't quite the same "consistency" or seem to be in the same locations as what my chicken had.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

After I knew where to start, more research found this:

Ovarian Carcinoma: After finding this during necropsy and doing a little research, it was discovered that is the most common tumor of unknown origin in hens. It is associated with advancing age, which is why most vets are not exposed to it. Often fluid will accumulate in the abdomen. As the tumors spread, the intestine becomes constricted and the hens become emaciated. At necropsy there are countless white, firm tumors on the surfaces of the intestinal wall and oviduct. Birds that are forced into laying by additional light sources had an increased incidence of the tumors. In the experience of one poultry disease researcher, "birds began to die at 3 ½ years of age, and all had died of ovarian carcinoma by 9 years of age." (Helmboldt and Fredrickson, Diseases of Poultry 6th edition) Since most production birds are not allowed to live that long, it is not commonly seen. We have not been able to find any treatment that will reverse or stabilize this condition. Because the hens at Farm Sanctuary are treated, and have a much longer life-span then they ever would in a factory, we are seeing this more often. To keep the hens more comfortable, we drain the fluids in their abdomens when necessary.

 

[casportpony]

This is my hen































-Kathy

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Oh wow! Poor thing.

 

[KnoxvilleChick]

Had she stopped laying, in addition to the other symptoms you mentioned earlier?

Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Had she stopped laying, in addition to the other symptoms you mentioned earlier?

Thanks so much for sharing.

Mine had stopped laying but she also went through a small moult at about the same time so I didn't think much of it at the time.
It looks like Kathy's chicken was still laying, but internally.

 

[Chicks and Hens]

It looked like she would lay but wouldn't or couldn't get it out. Maybe a blockage?

 

[MelissaTXRn]

And here I find this very informative not "gross". Next time take heed to warnings. With that being said thank you for taking the time to help teach us who want to learn.

X2

 

[suebee]

Thank you for this post. I just had a hen die but too afraid to conduct an autopsy. It was very informative..wishing a avian vet could comment here.