Mystery Egg

[65browneyes]

I have two Ameraucana hens. I've gotten one green/blue egg in the 6 or 7 months I've had these two girls. One of them, Tootsie, is lame (she hurt her foot the day I got her). Tootsie spends most of her days lolling in the hen house, she goes outside when the rest of the flock goes in for their naps, etc. I always pay special attention to this baby because the other girls pick on her. Tootsie laid for me today. The egg was very small, covered in a substance that seemed like perhaps it was feces (white, dry, almost chalky appearing) and what I think may have been a second, soft shelled, green egg was stuck to one end/side. Her vent and vent feathers were soaked in what I'm sure was egg white (clear, sticky fluid). The only thing that prevents me from being certain it was a soft shelled egg is the fact that it had what appeared to be an umbilical cord attachment at one end of it. Is this something that all eggs have before they are laid? Is it possible she laid two eggs? Any ideas are appreciated.

 

[Spydrworks]

Did you feel it? If so, what did it feel like?

 

[soonerdog]

I would not be too overly concerned as yet being that this is the first egg/eggs this hen has laid. Sometimes the hens will lay soft eggs or abnormal shaped eggs but eventually the egg laying will get back on course. I think as she begins to lay on a regular basis her laying will be fine. If for some reason her laying does not become normal withing the next couple of eggs it could indicate a health issue. Chicken-mama please keep us informed as to how Tootsie does.

Johnny

 

[65browneyes]

No egg from Tootsie today, although she did sit on the nest for some time this afternoon. Her vent does appear to have this dry, chalky substance on it (again, I think this is fecal matter). I'm relatively certain yesterday's egg had a soft shelled egg on it. I've never seen any kind of 'cord' attached to one before. Wasn't sure what to think of that.

 

[Spydrworks]

Hi chicken-mama. Have you seen her poop? How is her calcium intake? Is there anything different (food, coop location, hay or other grass like bedding, etc) from the last time she laid a normal egg and when was that last normal egg laid?

To be honest with you, the first description reminded me of chicken poop. My chickie once in a while poops a turd that looks like a small chalky egg with a squiggle that looks like a cord with another small egg looking poop...and it is green beyond the thin layer of chalky white. Just a thought.

 

[silkiechicken]

It could be possible that she made the structure that helps stabalize the yolk on the outside of a half formed egg or something. Hope she is ok. As long as she eats, drinks, and moves around, she should be fine.