What is this?

[Usclala]

We have four hens (about 16 months old) who have been laying by for the past several months. I don't know her breed. We recently moved them into a new bigger coop and have tried to introduce our new chicks. Last night she seemed out of sorts and I thought she may have been stressed since the new changes along with thunderstorms that she may have never experienced before. I have been noticing some wet spots in the sand underneath their perch. This morning I went in and found this laying in the sand along with a huge wet spot in the sand. Is this just an under developed egg or something I need to worry about? She's doing fine and being just as much of a bully today to the young ones as she has been the past few interactions!

 

[azygous]

Next time you post a photo of an object, place something familiar to us all as a size comparison so we know how large the object is.

What that appears to be is a collapsed egg membrane. If it had signs of yolk, that would make it a shell-less egg with possible serious implications. If it's strictly a membrane with egg white (albumen) it is of no real concern as any sort of irritant can cause the formation of this thing which happens to most layers from time to time.

What is concerning is an egg with yolk and albumen without a shell because that can lead to egg binding which can be very serious.

If that object did possess yolk, then it is in this latter category and the hen should be treated with calcium citrate to balance her blood calcium to prevent egg binding. Give one tablet, even though it's large, the hen will not choke, directly into her beak once a day for three or four days. This is what to buy.

 

[Usclala]

Next time you post a photo of an object, place something familiar to us all as a size comparison so we know how large the object is.

What that appears to be is a collapsed egg membrane. If it had signs of yolk, that would make it a shell-less egg with possible serious implications. If it's strictly a membrane with egg white (albumen) it is of no real concern as any sort of irritant can cause the formation of this thing which happens to most layers from time to time.

What is concerning is an egg with yolk and albumen without a shell because that can lead to egg binding which can be very serious.

If that object did possess yolk, then it is in this latter category and the hen should be treated with calcium citrate to balance her blood calcium to prevent egg binding. Give one tablet, even though it's large, the hen will not choke, directly into her beak once a day for three or four days. This is what to buy.View attachment 4140776

Thank you so much for your detailed response! Noted on the object to determine size. I couldn’t see any color due to the sand absorbing all the liquid. should I feed the calcium citrate in either situation or only when there is yoke?

 

[azygous]

No need for calcium if there's no yolk. The lack of yolk indicates this material probably formed around a bit of tissue sloughed off the oviduct wall. It's a harmless glitch.

Evidence of a collapsed actual egg with no shell, however, indicates low calcium levels and that can lead to egg binding or even heart attack. So in that event, calcium must be given to elevate blood calcium to head off serious consequences.

Also, keep a close eye on this hen's behavior. Low calcium can cause difficulty in passing an egg, and that causes a hen to act lethargic, stand around with her tail held flat and low, or she may be found in a nest for extended periods without laying an egg. In that event, start the calcium. I always keep a bottle of calcium citrate in the run to immediately treat a hen showing such symptoms.