Ovarian cancer in white leghorns

[ChickieKeeta]

I hope this is the right place to post this. Cancer is a disease.

From an article in the Sunday June 7, 2009 "The Daytona Beach News-Journal" on page 5A. Top of page. "Of mice & men: Farm animals closer genetically. Ag scientists push to use more livestock for research. by Karen Kaplan Los Angles
Times.

The last three paragraphs read;

For Animesh Barua,who investigates reproductive immunology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, the answer is white leghorn hens.

About half of the hens develop ovarian cancer by the time they are 2 or3 years old. That makes it possible for Barua & collaberators at 2 University of Illinois campuses to track the chickens from the moment they are hatched until they are ill.

Barua has zeroed in on a protein that circulates in the blood when the hens are in the earliest stages of cancer. Finding early signs of ovarian cancer is crucial, he said, since "this is
one of the very difficult malignancies that you cannot detect"
until it is too late. end of artile

I didn't know 50 % of white leghorn hens get ovarian cancer.
I wonder what the rate is in other breeds. I don't know what the symptoms are but if a 2 or 3 year old white leghorn hen
becomes ill this is a possibility to consider.

 

[NotTheMomma]

I didn't know this either! Maybe that's why most farmers near me say you need to replenish your flock every 2-3 yrs!

I figured it had to do with costs, as many chickens don't lay as well after a few years. BUT, look at how long you must feed a chick before you get eggs! So even at a fewer eggs, it seems to me it would be better to keep them more than 2-3 years!

Does anyone that has had chickens for years have any input? Do they stop laying at some point? And if so, around what age? Do you notice your hens start to die around 2 years? Or become sick more then?

Very interesting!!! I thank you for posting this!

 

[ChickieKeeta]

NotTheMomma

You post some very good questions. I would be interested in what long time chicken keepers have to say. I hope some will post their insight & experience.

I love

how you listed your location!

I will thank my mom for you. 80 years old & sends articles & coupons she thinks may interest me.

 

[speckledhen]

Chickens are the only animals that develop spontaneous ovarian tumors like humans. Thats why they study hens to research cancer in women. Any high production hen can be prone to cancer of the reproductive system, ovarian infections, internal laying, etc.