Is this a lash egg?

[Gargoyle]

Is this a lash egg? Third one in four days, seems much smaller than what I find online researching lash eggs. I cut the other two open. They seemed almost like kidney beans. They have a thin rubbery skin, and inside they are very smooth with a consistent texture, a bit lighter color than the outside. No layering or mixed material inside. A slight sulfur or fishy smell.

This hen is almost 7 years old, hasn't laid in five months. She has always had trouble with calcium absorption- her shells have always been very thin, and often cracked broke as soon as she laid them. Her eggs would have very large yokes, not so much albumin (egg white). Frequently throughout her life she'd drop eggs while sleeping at night, not realize it, and go in the nest box in the daytime thinking she had to lay. Other times she'd just drop one while walking around. On rare occasion (and more common the past year) they would be very rubbery.
Also, is there anything we can (or should) do for her?

 

[azygous]

Cut it open. It should have layers. Lash eggs are the farthest thing from actual eggs as a hen can produce. In reality, it's pus from a reproductive infection. Hens can live quite a while with it, but it will do them in eventually. An antibiotic at this stage usually does no good.

 

[Gargoyle]

Cut it open. It should have layers.

I cut open the first two, yesterday and three days ago. I didn't take pictures, but they were completely smooth inside- looked just like if you cut a kidney bean open. No layers. The skin was very thin and rubbery, it would slide right off and the rest was all uniform.

 

[Eggcessive]

This is a good article about lash eggs and salpingitis which causes them:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is this a lash egg? Third one in four days, seems much smaller than what I find online researching lash eggs. I cut the other two open. They seemed almost like kidney beans. They have a thin rubbery skin, and inside they are very smooth with a consistent texture, a bit lighter color than the outside. No layering or mixed material inside. A slight sulfur or fishy smell.
View attachment 1677776
This hen is almost 7 years old, hasn't laid in five months. She has always had trouble with calcium absorption- her shells have always been very thin, and often cracked broke as soon as she laid them. Her eggs would have very large yokes, not so much albumin (egg white). Frequently throughout her life she'd drop eggs while sleeping at night, not realize it, and go in the nest box in the daytime thinking she had to lay. Other times she'd just drop one while walking around. On rare occasion (and more common the past year) they would be very rubbery.
Also, is there anything we can (or should) do for her?

I cut open the first two, yesterday and three days ago. I didn't take pictures, but they were completely smooth inside- looked just like if you cut a kidney bean open. No layers. The skin was very thin and rubbery, it would slide right off and the rest was all uniform.

It looks like a Lash Egg to me. Salpingitis is inflammation of the oviduct.
You don't mention that she seems to be in a state of decline(?) she's eating/drinking, fairly active, etc. for a 7yr old?

If she were mine, I would treat her with antibiotics to see if that helps. While there is no real treatment or cure, the medication may fight infection, make her more comfortable and prolong life. A lot really depends on if your hens are pets or livestock.
You can use Baytril or Amoxicillin to treat her. Those will need to be ordered online or if you have vet care, that is best.

https://allbirdproducts.com/products/baytril-10
https://www.revivalanimal.com/product/fish-mox?sku=22150-475

More info on Lash Eggs
https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/
https://the-chicken-chick.com/causes-of-lash-eggs-salpingitis-by/

 

[Gargoyle]

You don't mention that she seems to be in a state of decline(?) she's eating/drinking, fairly active, etc. for a 7yr old?

She's still active and has an excellent appetite, but she is definitely in a state of decline. A good bit of the spark in her eyes has faded in the past month. We thought that was due to the cold weather (it hit -25F here Jan. 31. As a result, when it's been below freezing we've had her and the other two old girls (her good friends) inside, and she really perked up once she came in from the cold.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's still active and has an excellent appetite, but she is definitely in a state of decline. A good bit of the spark in her eyes has faded in the past month. We thought that was due to the cold weather (it hit -25F here Jan. 31. As a result, when it's been below freezing we've had her and the other two old girls (her good friends) inside, and she really perked up once she came in from the cold.

I would imagine those temperature are hard for even younger hens to deal with, it's good that you were able to move her and her friends to a warmer place.
If she has perked up, I would consider treating her. I'm sure you have looked her and the others over for external parasites as well.

She may also benefit from poultry vitamins 1-2 a week to give her a boost.

 

[Gargoyle]

Thanks for all your help and information. She died this morning. She was doing well yesterday, she had perked up some, active, eating enthusiastically. I found her this morning sitting under the perch- she had fallen off at night, might have injured a leg; she couldn't stand, passed a half hour later.

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry for your loss. She was a beauty. I used to not do necropsies on my birds, but after losing a few to suspected reproductive disorders, i started doing some and learning what was going on inside their abdomens. It kind of helps give closure. I have found a number of different conditions and it was helpful in knowing what to learn for. Ascites has been a common finding, and it is seen when opening the abdomen when there is yellow fluid that comes out. Many take pictures of their necropsy findings to post here for sharing.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for all your help and information. She died this morning. She was doing well yesterday, she had perked up some, active, eating enthusiastically. I found her this morning sitting under the perch- she had fallen off at night, might have injured a leg; she couldn't stand, passed a half hour later.

View attachment 1680972

I'm very sorry for your loss What a lovely girl, thank you for sharing your photo.

It's understandable if you wish to bury her without further investigation, but like @Eggcessive has expressed in the previous post, doing an informal necropsy at home can be a learning experience and in some ways it does give closure. A lot of times I may baby or treat a favorite girl only for her to decline after a while. Taking a look does give me more information and let's me know I did all I could for her.