Well, I had a moment to do a bit of research last night. Preliminary findings for what
maybe happening to our girls.
I googled for
reproductive cancer in chickens and came across a sig. amount of research that surprised me.
1. The rate of Ovarian cancer among hens 2yrs and older is very high.
This is why they are using hens over the age of 2yrs old to do research on Ovarian cancer looking for ways to help women. It seems that the cancer "spontaneously" occurs the older the hen gets. One research article sited 84% among hens 2 yrs and older in the U.K. Whew!!
2. They have found progestine (I need to go back and relook at this) therapy greatly reduced the cancer occuring in older 4yr old hens.
** I encourage all those concerned to do some of your own research on the internet, it is a great tool. This was NOT an exhaustive search but the results of research gave me pause.
***I am thinking along these lines: If the hactcheries do not use their breeders for more than a year or two then they wouldn't necessarily know which ones have a genetic predisposition to getting Ovarian or other reproductive cancers/problems. Genetic predispostion. Thus many of our chickens we are getting fm them could have a predispostion to OV cancer and other assorted reproductive problems.
You almost need to breed your older birds or find lines that have proven strong against this disease.
Adding extra lighting in the winter will keep your hen laying strong but
possibly quicken the reproductive "ageing" of your hen thus bringing on the cancer quicker. It dosn't mean they won't get the cancer but it may shorten their lives.
My Mom grew up during the depression and they had chickens. She asked me why mine grew sick and died. She didn't remember hers getting sick. Well, come to find out they never had chickens for more than a year or two. It was the depression and the chickens were for eggs and eating. Between early mortality, predation, and eating them thru the winter months they generally started out with a fresh batch of chicks nearly every year.
Chickens as pets - We love our chickens and thus want to keep them alive and healthy "as long as possible". I don't think this has been the usual thought or concern for keeping chickens until pretty recently. It is becomming "trendy" to have a few hens. Well, now we are finding out there is a problem amongst this recent push for more chickens quickly.
The demand is high for not only eggs (as in battery caged hens) but in replacement hens and even "show quality" fowl. Breeders are going to need to be long sited in their breeding lines if we are going to have long lived non cancer prone hens.
Well I best get back to my other life. It looks as if I, along with some others on here, will probably lose a few more girls this year.
I will be doing some more research and see if I can add/change something about their diet that may help out. I will also refrain fm using as much extra lighting in the winter months.
Still holding Zane & your girls in prayer, Speckledhen. This is tough but we can still rely on a Good and Gracious God who still loves His creation.
if I ever speak of buying some from a hatchery again. I do not want to experience what Cyn and others have been going through. I do have four ee's and five b.orps and one dominique from the hatchery so I will keep an eye on them. I only had one wrinkled egg and that was some months ago. Nothing has attacked here either and mine free range also. I have more eggs coming from home raised stock so hopefully I can increase my flock and they will be healthy...no guarantees, I know. Hugs to you Cyn. Keep us posted. Now in the meantime, if another reason pops up for the situation Cyn is in, I will rethink this decision.
