Weird poop?

[peafowl_Lover]

Hi, today my buff orpington did this weird looking poo, they were wormed 2 weeks ago. Does this look odd or is it just nothing?

 

[gtaus]

Does this look odd or is it just nothing?

What was she eating? I know that makes a big difference in the chicken poo I see. If your hen does not have any other symptoms, I would not be too concerned at this time. Maybe she ate something that came out the back end looking funny.

But I will be interested in what other people have to say.

 

[Debbie292d]

I too would wonder if it ate a mouse or something whole, or if it's akin to a lash egg. There aren't the usual urates mixed into it.

I know it's a gross suggestion, but could you cut into it and see what it is in the middle?

If it's not lash, the red could be from it being a cecal or intestinal lining shedding.

I'd try to catch her pooping again to see what subsequent poops look like.

 

[gtaus]

I too would wonder if it ate a mouse or something whole, or if it's akin to a lash egg. There aren't the usual urates mixed into it.

I know it's a gross suggestion, but could you cut into it and see what it is in the middle?

Here is a picture of a lash egg cut open....

Picture of lash egg whole...

I have had laying hens just over 5 years. I have only seen one or two lash eggs in the nest boxes in that period of time (10 hens). But there could have been other lash eggs dropped into the deep bedding in the coop or out in the compost litter in my chicken run and I would never have noticed.

 

[Debbie292d]

Here is a picture of a lash egg cut open....

View attachment 4220004

Picture of lash egg whole...

View attachment 4220005

I have had laying hens just over 5 years. I have only seen one or two lash eggs in the nest boxes in that period of time (10 hens). But there could have been other lash eggs dropped into the deep bedding in the coop or out in the compost litter in my chicken run and I would never have noticed.

Yeah, I didn't think the OP's picture looked like a lash egg at all, and why I said "akin" to one. I highly doubt it, but it could also be something from the reproductive system.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

Oh yes I forgot to say, she's 16 weeks old so no eggs yet, they're on growers pellets and a few black soldier fly larvae. The poop had a bit of grass and some seedy bits.

 

[Treats4Days]

it looks like they could have just shuffed off some of their intestines, I've heard that happens and is not an issue. If you keep seeing blood in the stool, however, that could be cocciodiosis which will need to be treated.

 

[gtaus]

Yeah, I didn't think the OP's picture looked like a lash egg at all, and why I said "akin" to one. I highly doubt it, but it could also be something from the reproductive system.

Oh yes I forgot to say, she's 16 weeks old so no eggs yet, they're on growers pellets and a few black soldier fly larvae. The poop had a bit of grass and some seedy bits.

I suspect it is something that your pullet ate and it just came out looking weird. Probably nothing to worry about. Well, I guess I would not worry too much about it. Lots of strange things happen with my laying hens but they seem to be fine.

Given the age of your pullet, it would not be very likely that was a lash egg. But I looked up the chances of a young pullet passing a lash egg just for my info. Here is what I learned...

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Lash eggs are more common in older hens, especially those with a history of reproductive strain or internal laying.

Why Older Hens Are More Susceptible:​

• Reproductive wear and tear: Years of laying can lead to inflammation of the oviduct (salpingitis), which is the root cause of lash eggs.
• Internal laying: Older hens may misdirect yolks internally, triggering infection and tissue buildup.
• Immune decline: Aging birds may be less able to fight off the bacteria that cause these masses.

Young Hens:​

• Rare, but not impossible. A young hen with a congenital defect, early infection, or nutritional imbalance could produce a lash egg — but it’s unusual.

What a Lash Egg Is:​

• Not a true egg — it’s a mass of pus, tissue, and debris, often rubbery or layered like an onion.
• Caused by chronic salpingitis, often linked to E. coli or other bacterial infections.

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