strange object found by nesting boxes

[rebecca82]

I went out last night to put my hens away and grab the eggs. I found a broken egg in one of the boxes and no sign of a shell. And laying on the ledge in front of the box was what really looks to me like a uterus!!! I am not sure though. It looks like one of the chickens picked at it a few times, but otherwise was intact, just shriveled up and hard. I thought it was frozen but I brought it in the house overnight and this morning it is still hard. Anyway, I looked at all the hens' rears to see if anybody was bleeding or anything, but I didn't see any problems. I attached a pic of the object. It's kinda messy from the hay, and I don't have the stomach to clean it off or even touch it!!! Does anybody know what this is and why it happened? And how to figure out which hen it came from? All my girls are out and about this morning looking fine, so I am totally clueless which one this happened to. Thanks for your input!

 

[happycat]

I don't blame you for not wanting to touch it. It looks like an alien.

I can't wait to come back and see what others think...Good luck and watch out for the mothership. lol..
PS. Glad your girls look ok.

 

[animallover505]

it looks like the brain of a rat or something. EW!!!

 

[missnu01]

It looks like a body part on the end of a lantern wick...is it possible that the hens caught a frog or lizard and this is all that is left...because it seems like there would be some distress if someone's insides were falling out...perhaps a rodent was in the nests so the chickens ate it...

 

[AwallRooster]

Looks kinda like a hair ball a cat or dog would cough up to mee!!! maybe your hens ate some thing that didnt agree with them an coughed it up,like may be a frog, baby mouse or lizard...