Hi, folks,
Our now 4 yr old hen (one of 7) started developing a sensation (to me) of heaviness in her abdomen about 2 yrs ago. We’d had a hen with water belly (ascites) previously and, while I was concerned she was starting to develop that, it felt different to me. The vet didn’t detect anything and nothing was abnormal on her blood work. Thinking she may have a mild infection, he sent me with a course of antibiotics for her.
She’s having a hard molt now, and it’s clear this swelling has continued to worsen which I knew by feel, but she’s usually so fluffy I couldn’t see it until now. Photos attached. Her skin looks irritated and I can now hold this growth in my hand.
What to do? Could a hen survive a surgery to remove something like this? She doesn’t seem in pain, but the skin looks sore/inflamed in this area, and it looks like it would be painful to me, even though she’s not acting like it bothers her.
Half of her original flockmates have died due to cancer or one, our other barred rock, due to a ruptured fatty liver though she was only 2 and an active and free ranging bird. The other 3 birds were shown to have extensive cancer, though none exhibited a detectable growth like this. Thoughts?
Again, due to fluffiness, she’s always seemed like our second biggest bird, but with close inspection today, her keel bone feels sharper and more prominent than anyone else’s, though she’s eating regularly.
1) Barred Rock, 4 yrs old, top of pecking order
2) no change in behavior
3) swelling/growth has been increasing over two years
4) no symptoms in other birds
5) no sign of trauma or other hens pecking at her
6) i think this is probably cancer based on the cancer deaths we’ve had in other birds who came from the same place
7) no change in eating/drinking
8) poop is normal
9) vet tested blood two years ago with no results of cancer
10) Athos is “fine” in terms of behavior, but I would love feedback from more knowledgeable chicken keepers about her condition and the choices I need to make now for her welfare.
11) see photos
12) open air coop and roosts, wood chips and mulch over dirt, free ranging much of daylight hours
Many thanks, all.
Our now 4 yr old hen (one of 7) started developing a sensation (to me) of heaviness in her abdomen about 2 yrs ago. We’d had a hen with water belly (ascites) previously and, while I was concerned she was starting to develop that, it felt different to me. The vet didn’t detect anything and nothing was abnormal on her blood work. Thinking she may have a mild infection, he sent me with a course of antibiotics for her.
She’s having a hard molt now, and it’s clear this swelling has continued to worsen which I knew by feel, but she’s usually so fluffy I couldn’t see it until now. Photos attached. Her skin looks irritated and I can now hold this growth in my hand.
What to do? Could a hen survive a surgery to remove something like this? She doesn’t seem in pain, but the skin looks sore/inflamed in this area, and it looks like it would be painful to me, even though she’s not acting like it bothers her.
Half of her original flockmates have died due to cancer or one, our other barred rock, due to a ruptured fatty liver though she was only 2 and an active and free ranging bird. The other 3 birds were shown to have extensive cancer, though none exhibited a detectable growth like this. Thoughts?
Again, due to fluffiness, she’s always seemed like our second biggest bird, but with close inspection today, her keel bone feels sharper and more prominent than anyone else’s, though she’s eating regularly.
1) Barred Rock, 4 yrs old, top of pecking order
2) no change in behavior
3) swelling/growth has been increasing over two years
4) no symptoms in other birds
5) no sign of trauma or other hens pecking at her
6) i think this is probably cancer based on the cancer deaths we’ve had in other birds who came from the same place
7) no change in eating/drinking
8) poop is normal
9) vet tested blood two years ago with no results of cancer
10) Athos is “fine” in terms of behavior, but I would love feedback from more knowledgeable chicken keepers about her condition and the choices I need to make now for her welfare.
11) see photos
12) open air coop and roosts, wood chips and mulch over dirt, free ranging much of daylight hours
Many thanks, all.
