GRAPHIC: need help identifying what I found in the coop this morning, possible egg yolk without shel

[lmikulski]

Series of pictures here: http://ferndalechickens.com/2013/01/12/graphic-abnormal-finding-in-the-coop/

I think it's an egg yolk, but I'm not sure about a few things:
1.) the membrane is so red/bloody/vascular
2.) there appear to be ova attached to what I'm assuming is the chalaze


Has anyone experienced anything like this? Does it indicate anything inherently wrong? The hens are acting happy and healthy, like nothing happened.

 

[PoultryGirly]

Oh my! I have never seen anything like that before. Hopefully someone answers your question!

 

[azygous]

I haven't seen it myself, but I had an egg customer of mine report that she cracked an egg open to find a blood-red yolk.

I don't know if it was like yours, but I just assume it's like a blood "spot" on a yolk, but this one covers the entire yolk sack.

My girls were all well and normal, so it didn't worry me. As long as all of your girls are also well, I doubt you have anything to worry about. It's just one of the thousands of weird things hens leave behind in the nest boxes. Trust me - I've seen things that bear no resemblance to an egg.

 

[lmikulski]

Thanks! Never heard of anything like it- I've seen yolks so dark they looked red, but never a red membrane. I'll keep an eye on them for the next few days to see if there are any changes.

 

[Jharper]

It's an undeveloped egg connected to the other eggs in her ovaries. If you can find a video on that it shows the red covering breaks open and releases a yolk and then it goes throughout the rest of the process.

 

[Nutcase]

Wowzers! Thanks for warning me about the *graphic* pics, I've never seen anything like it before.

 

[Keric]

Wow, great documentation! Lots of great pictures from lots of angles. Good job. Hope you get your answer.

 

[lmikulski]

Thanks! That was the part of the puzzle I was missing, I couldn't understand what the freakin' membrane was and why it was dragging other ova with it. I'll definitely hunt for a video.