My sister had this in her egg today - the eggs are from my own flock! Was this from a second egg being formed? Has anyone come across this before? This is the first time I have encountered this!
That would freak me out! I'm signing on to this thread to hear what others say. My guess is that new laying pullets sometimes don't have well formed shells and maybe you need to offer additional calcium to help the girls.
I have had those several times from my Red Star who has had laying problems for the last year. I’m not quite certain what causes it, but they all seem to be shaped pretty much the same.
It definitely is a little freaky!! This was from an older chicken, at least a couple of years old. The egg was very big and had a yolk in there as well as this.
Well, that's bad news. @ACM, here is an article on 10 Abnormal Chicken Eggs & What You Need To Know! Lash eggs are #2 on that list. Lash eggs are an indication of a serious infection and it may lead to having to cull your hen, or it may die on it's own in short time. Here is a YouTube video of a lash egg that looks like your picture. [Edit: 11/18/19 Many people here on BYC indicate this is not a lash egg, but it does look like the egg picture posted by OP. It would be good news for OP if her egg was not a lash egg.] Another lash egg, but it looks a little different than yours. [Edit: 11/18/19 Seems to be general agreement that this is a true lash egg, and does not look like the egg picture posted by OP. That would be good news for OP.] Another lash egg video with a homemade treatment option to try to treat the infection. [Edit: 11/18/19 If OP is not dealing with a lash egg, then possible homemade treatment for infection may not be necessary.] Good luck.
Mine was not a lash egg. The one in the picture was full of albumen, not hard cheesy stuff. All of my girls have oyster shell free choice. She is my only hen with these problems and I’ve even given her supplemental calcium.
After watching the first two videos, the first one is not a lash egg, but the second one is. After everything I have read regarding lash eggs, they are usually firm and cheesy because it is infection that has balled up in the shape of an egg.
Agrees. It's not a lash egg. Never seen one of these(malformed membrane) inside a shelled egg, usually they are 'laid' before another can come along and they get shelled together. Is bird molting? Can get some funky eggs around molting time.