Necropsy photo - is this the thymus gland or tumors?

[ChickyMudder]

First I’d like to change my name to chicken worrier. Next I’d like to thank @Wyorp Rock for helping me identify and treat sick chickys.

Lastly, I was wondering if anyone can take a look and tell me if this thymus looks normal. I was processing and happen to notice these in all the BCM. I haven’t noticed these in other chickens I’ve processed.

 

[MysteryChicken]

First I’d like to change my name to chicken worrier. Next I’d like to thank @Wyorp Rock for helping me identify and treat sick chickys.

Lastly, I was wondering if anyone can take a look and tell me if this thymus looks normal. I was processing and happen to notice these in all the BCM. I haven’t noticed these in other chickens I’ve processed.

That's the thyroid, yes.

 

[Eggcessive]

How old were the bcmarans chickens that you processed? I have done some necropsies on my hens who died, but never butchered any. I can’t say that would have ever seen the thymus, which I think is more prominent in young birds. I will tag @casportpony @azygous and @coach723 who have done necropsies or butchered, and have had either Mareks or leukosis in their flocks. Here is one picture I found from Cornell, which has a good site for necropsies and diseases. The site is here and the picture is below that:
https://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/#/

https://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/content/thymus2

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thyroid and thymus are two different organs. Here's what I found when I googled (sorry about the weird spacing):

The thyroid and thymus are both endocrine glands in the body that have different functions:


https://www.researchgate.net/public...roid are two,apoptosis of the infected cells.

• Thyroid
  Located in the neck, the thyroid secretes hormones that control metabolism and growth. These hormones include thyroxine and triiodothyronine.
  
  
  https://www.researchgate.net/public...roid are two,apoptosis of the infected cells.
• Thymus
  Located in the upper chest, between the lungs and above the heart, the thymus is part of the immune system and is responsible for the development and maturation of T cells. T cells help the body fight infections and mediate cell-mediatemmunity, which activates the apoptosis of infected cells. The thymus is only active until puberty

 

[ChickyMudder]

How old were the bcmarans chickens that you processed? I have done some necropsies on my hens who died, but never butchered any. I can’t say that would have ever seen the thymus, which I think is more prominent in young birds. I will tag @casportpony @azygous and @coach723 who have done necropsies or butchered, and have had either Mareks or leukosis in their flocks. Here is one picture I found from Cornell, which has a good site for necropsies and diseases. The site is here and the picture is below that:
https://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/#/

https://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/content/thymus2

They were 20 weeks old. I hatched them. I usually only ever hatch chickens but broke my rule and brought live birds from a breeder.
I swear if we get confirmation this is not tumors … I promise to never ever again… wait this reminds me of when I bargained with God asking that I was not accidently pregnant….
Aghhh I broke my biosecurity and live with worry now lol

 

[Eggcessive]

Thyroid and thymus are two different organs. Here's what I found when I googled (sorry about the weird spacing):

The thyroid and thymus are both endocrine glands in the body that have different functions:


https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320413587_Difference_Between_Thymus_and_Thyroid#:~:text=Thymus and thyroid are two,apoptosis of the infected cells.

• Thyroid
  Located in the neck, the thyroid secretes hormones that control metabolism and growth. These hormones include thyroxine and triiodothyronine.
  
  
  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320413587_Difference_Between_Thymus_and_Thyroid#:~:text=Thymus and thyroid are two,apoptosis of the infected cells.
• Thymus
  Located in the upper chest, between the lungs and above the heart, the thymus is part of the immune system and is responsible for the development and maturation of T cells. T cells help the body fight infections and mediate cell-mediatemmunity, which activates the apoptosis of infected cells. The thymus is only active until puberty

Maybe spellcheck caused confusion.

 

[Eggcessive]

They were 20 weeks old. I hatched them. I usually only ever hatch chickens but broke my rule and brought live birds from a breeder.
I swear if we get confirmation this is not tumors … I promise to never ever again… wait this reminds me of when I bargained with God asking that I was not accidently pregnant….
Aghhh I broke my biosecurity and live with worry now lol

I also got a scare with a respiratory virus once weeks after getting some sought after hens, and although they were from an NPIP flock, they were only being tested that day after we left, and one of our new chickens had disappeared for 3 weeks and had just returned. Being a newbie at that time years ago, I was too embarrassed to walk away. So I will only get healthy baby chicks from a hatchery in the future, after my original flock died off after 11 years.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

First I’d like to change my name to chicken worrier. Next I’d like to thank @Wyorp Rock for helping me identify and treat sick chickys.

Lastly, I was wondering if anyone can take a look and tell me if this thymus looks normal. I was processing and happen to notice these in all the BCM. I haven’t noticed these in other chickens I’ve processed.

You know, I don't know!

I've never paid much attention to the neck when I process birds, I usually just focus on what the liver looks like, then the heart and other organs. I guess I probably should...

Somebody that processes a lot of birds like @Molpet or @Ridgerunner would probably be able to tell you more.

 

[Molpet]

I have seen these in store bought whole chickens and in my own.

" Lymphatic System:The lymphatic system of chickens does not contain lymph nodes and in generalis poorly developed when compared with mammals. There are several organs which contain lymphatic tissue- the bursa of Fabricius, the spleen, and the thymus. The thymus gland consists of about five pairs of pale pink, flattened,irregularly shaped lobes strung out along both sides of the neck, just superficial to the jugular veins. The thymus decreases in size as the bird matures." https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2021-03/PSIT_Anatomy.pdf

They are a big problem if dark and nasty like this: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7953091/

 

[ChickyMudder]

What a relief! Normal thymus glands