What is this? Worms or did she eat something??

[Livie8978]

Went to go lock up the chickens and found one of my hens vent like this. What is that? My husband pulled it out and it removed easily. None of my other chickens are having issues at all.

 

[ChickenChick46]

That is insane looking. I hope you're able to figure it out. Is she acting okay?

 

[nuthatched]

It's an egg membrane, was there anything attached,

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

It's egg membrane. I had this happen with one of my hens and I pulled it out, and the hen was fine. You do want to watch for any other soft eggs that she might lay. She might need some calcium added to her diet as well.

 

[Livie8978]

That is insane looking. I hope you're able to figure it out. Is she acting okay?

She’s acting ok but has had some dirty feathers around her vent issues for awhile. We’ve been washing her but thought it was just poop getting stuck in her feathers.other than that she’s seemed alright.

 

[Livie8978]

It's an egg membrane, was there anything attached,

No nothing attached. She always lays very large eggs with very weak shells no matter how much calcium we provide. Is this something we should be concerned about? She’s acting ok but we are a bit concerned after seeing that

 

[Livie8978]

It's egg membrane. I had this happen with one of my hens and I pulled it out, and the hen was fine. You do want to watch for any other soft eggs that she might lay. She might need some calcium added to her diet as well.

We always have oyster shells available for them but she always lays very big eggs with very weak shells. We tried to provide extra calcium but her egg shells are always very weak. Is this something to be concerned about?

 

[MarlaMac]

Weak shells are a sign of reproductive issues. Seeing that the membrane was stuck inside her, the egg may have broken inside. Did you see some egg (whites and/or yolk) anywhere in your coop/run?

If the egg busted internally, she may develop an infection. Watch for a yellowing of her urates which would indicate infection. If you see this, you will need to treat her with antibiotics.

For now, you should give her a calcium citrate plus D3 tablet once a day for 7 days. These are relatively inexpensive and a good to have in your chicken emergency kit.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you also feed a good layer feed? Layer has 4% calcium while all flock feed has about 1%. As others have recommended, I would offer a human calcium citrate tablet daily given right into her beak to swallow. Do this for at least 7 days. If there still is thin shelled or shell-less eggs, then she probably has salpingitis and a problem with her shell gland in the oviduct. This may lead to coelomitis (egg yolk peritonitis.) Some may get hormone implants to stop laying for up to 4-6 months. Those may be difficult to get and are expensive. I hope the extra calcium helps.