Strange object in nest

[tesncs]

I've attached a picture of a strange object that I found in one of our nests today. In addition to this object, there was wet nesting material in one corner. The white strips on the object is shredded paper from the nest box.



It is sort of rubbery. I cut it open and it looked like this:


In addition, one of my RIR chickens had a lot of dried poop stuck to her bottom. I brought her inside and soaked her bottom in a pan of warm water and cleaned her up. (That was an experience!)

I have a theory as to what this might be, but would like input as to whether I am in left-field on this. I wonder if perhaps the chicken with the dried poop might have laid a shell-less egg. The membrane on the outside got ruptured and caused the wet next material, while the egg yolk dried out and produced this object. In all honesty, this could have been in the nest a couple of days before I found it today because my husband went out to gather the eggs and close up the coop after dark yesterday. Quite possible that he missed it. Still, I would expect a dried yolk to be more of a dark yellow rather than this color.

Anyone seen anything like this before? Any other explanations?

 

[lazy gardener]

That is a LASH egg.

 

[mortie]

I think lash, too.

 

[tesncs]

Thanks. I am somewhat better informed after doing some reading on the subject. Seems that most agree that it has to do with hormonal changes. Had no idea chickens had problems like that. I have no way to tell which chicken laid it. We have 3 old gals that are going on 3 years old and 4 younger ones that are not yet a year old. We suspect that only one of the older hens has been laying regularly. The chicken that had the poopy bottom was one of the younger ones which may not have been related to the lash egg at all. Will just have to keep an eye on them, I guess.

I read that feeding them yogurt may help. Anything else I can do?

 

[lazy gardener]

Do a bit of reading regarding fermented feed. It's real easy to do, and loaded with pro-biotics to help balance the bacteria load in their gut. It will also cut way down on your food bill.