Strange Egg-like Material Laid by Sick-looking Hen

[marissa98]

Hi everyone! I have a strange issue that I'm hoping someone can recognize and help me with. We have a hen that's been acting "off" for a while now- maybe a month or more. She spends a lot of time sitting up on a perch and not doing much, but she does still go out, peck around, and eat. I've examined her multiple times but could never find anymore symptoms. Finally, today, I found this under where she was sitting on her box.

I can only assume it came from her. In addition to this strange egg-looking substance, she also pooped really runny poo a couple of times while I was out there with her. I've researched lash eggs and I don't really think that's what this is. I also do not think she's internally laying. Any advice?

 

[coach723]

How old is she? Do you know when she last laid? Since she's looked off for a while it sounds like she possibly has a reproductive problem. That looks like egg material to me, and may have some lash material in it, hard to say since I can't pick it apart myself. And the other dropping doesn't look healthy. How is her weight, is her keel bone prominent, or well muscled? Do you feel any bloat in her abdomen, below the vent between the legs? If you have vet that will run a fecal for you, I would recommend that, to make sure there are no internal parasite issues. I personally would start her on an antibiotic. I often will use amoxicillin (you can get Fishmox without a prescription in most states), and if that doesn't bring improvement switch to something stronger. If she has a reproductive problem, many of those don't really have a good outcome long term, but it may buy her some time, just depends on what's going on.

 

[marissa98]

How old is she? Do you know when she last laid? Since she's looked off for a while it sounds like she possibly has a reproductive problem. That looks like egg material to me, and may have some lash material in it, hard to say since I can't pick it apart myself. And the other dropping doesn't look healthy. How is her weight, is her keel bone prominent, or well muscled? Do you feel any bloat in her abdomen, below the vent between the legs? If you have vet that will run a fecal for you, I would recommend that, to make sure there are no internal parasite issues. I personally would start her on an antibiotic. I often will use amoxicillin (you can get Fishmox without a prescription in most states), and if that doesn't bring improvement switch to something stronger. If she has a reproductive problem, many of those don't really have a good outcome long term, but it may buy her some time, just depends on what's going on.

We're uncertain as to her age (she was given to us maybe a year or so ago) and she was already laying at the time. She was always a good layer, then she started molting a few months back. I don't think she's started laying again since her molt. I tried to look and see if there was any lash looking material and it was hard for me to tell. It was very gelatinous material. This is the first I've noticed such unhealthy looking droppings from her, but she is in a flock of 15 so I wouldn't necessarily notice. I hadn't noticed any bloat between her legs, but she does feel a little skinny on the keel bone. She still is a pretty heavy chicken though (she always has been). I've attached a photo from a week ago of another strange egg looking thing I found under the nesting boxes. Once again, I have no idea which hen it came from, but now I'm guessing it was probably from her.

 

[coach723]

Does look similar to the other, this one looks like it has some malformed shell material. If she is just coming out of molt, then sometimes things are wonky for awhile til their bodies settle into it again. But these look like a bit more than that. I would give her a calcium supplement once a day for a couple of days (I use Caltrate+D, you can use a liquid supplement or tums also) , and I'd still be inclined to do a round of antibiotics if she were mine, particularly if she's still looking off. Egg material that isn't totally expelled is a breeding ground for bacteria.

 

[Myrshine]

This also could be Lash Egg as well, which is a staph infection of the ovaries. When was the last time she has laid?