What is this?

[Mrs MIA]

I understand.

Well, keep an eye on her, and check her abdomen for solid masses... feels like you can feel an egg in there. If it doesn't go away, then she's probably laying internally. If she seems healthy and happy, then I'd just leave her be. We can only hope that she's corrected it herself.

 

[encmanerabbitry]

Thanks silkiechicken for the pictures, they little egg does have layers, like what you posted.
What should I look for if she is becoming an internal layer?

 

[encmanerabbitry]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

I understand.

Well, keep an eye on her, and check her abdomen for solid masses... feels like you can feel an egg in there. If it doesn't go away, then she's probably laying internally. If she seems healthy and happy, then I'd just leave her be. We can only hope that she's corrected it herself.

Can they lay internally and still lay daily? She's laid daily for months, I can always spot her egg from the rest when they out, hers are always darker then the rest and more round.​

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
Can they lay internally and still lay daily? She's laid daily for months, I can always spot her egg from the rest when they out, hers are always darker then the rest and more round.

Boy, I don't know... I'm trying to remember... my Light Brahma that was really bad had stopped laying eggs, I believe. Then she got sick, and that's when I noticed the lump. I thought she was egg-bound, and tried to get her to pass the egg, but by that time it was so large she couldn't pass anything. She got better, and would sit on the nest, but never laid an egg. I decided to put her down when I realized how big the lump was, and I think it was a good thing. I didn't take photos, though I usually do. She was my baby, so I didn't feel like documenting it at the time. I wish I had now.
I would just keep track of her laying, and if you notice that she stops laying and it isn't because she's molting, then check her out. Just keep an eye on her. She may be ok. Chickens will pass oddball things like that from time to time.

 

[encmanerabbitry]

Okay thanks for the info Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain. I went out and checked her, I don't feel any lumps or bumps, she's eating and drinking fine. So I guess I'll see what she lays, if she lays tomorrow.

 

[ella]

Here is a fantastic page with info on that stuff and pictures.

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article.html

Excerpt:

Sometimes when a bird lays an egg it does not come down the oviduct as planned. Usually due to a Hormone Imbalance it will reverse course and fall back into the body cavity and at some point in time may or may not be reabsorbed by the bird's body.

This egg appears to be one that was not absorbed in the body cavity but managed to make its way back into the oviduct and finally make its way out of the bird's body.

When the body tries to absorb an egg it will try to wall it off and surrounds it with a Calcium like material. This is one of the reasons why it may appear that several shells have been laid down.

It is also possible for an egg to be fertile and have the same reverse course episode. When these eggs are opened it may appear that there is tissue in the egg. They usually have somewhat of a foul odor but are not totally rotten.

Birds that are internal layers may have several ova back up into the body cavity. The body tries to absorb them and lays down the calcium. Upon opening the egg it will appear to have several eggs within an egg.

 

[encmanerabbitry]

Thanks Ella, that's a great site! Very informative.

 

[encmanerabbitry]

Alright, so I just went out to check on everybody and collect the last of todays eggs, and the hen in question has now laid 2 more of those wierd "eggs", that makes three today! I'll get pictures of the new ones in a bit. They are the same as the one from this morning, but are a little bit smaller.
She still looks fine. Could these have been from when she was moulting and are working there way out? I just don't get it, she's been laying fine.

 

[Mrs MIA]

It's very unusual...

 

[encmanerabbitry]

Alright, so I didn't get a chance to upload pics last night, the darn hydro was out for hours

. Someone hit a pole, we had such bad fog and wet ice, I hope they are okay. Anyway, back to the wierd "eggs", she laid one in the morning, and 2 sometime in the late afternoon, and when I went out early this morning, there was another one. They do seem be getting smaller, but I'm not sure what to do.

Here's the rest that she's laid so far: The bigger one, that is darker is the first one from yesturday, and is drying up and getting hard.