Worried! Lash egg in nesting box but everyone seems fine?

[Nicky S]

I was just cleaning out the run and coop and found a lash egg in the nesting box. All my girls are acting normally, however. I did have one girl come into the house last week as if she were testing out a new laying spot briefly once or twice, but that's the only thing I've noticed, and they are all eating and moving around as normal, and frankly look very healthy. Nobody is laying right now - they all had hard molts this fall and stopped, and then it was short, dark days so they haven't started up again. Everyone is 3-4 years old.

Could this be a one-off? What should I do if I don't know who it was? The vet is also closed today as it's Sunday. Trying not to panic.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I was just cleaning out the run and coop and found a lash egg in the nesting box. All my girls are acting normally, however. I did have one girl come into the house last week as if she were testing out a new laying spot briefly once or twice, but that's the only thing I've noticed, and they are all eating and moving around as normal, and frankly look very healthy. Nobody is laying right now - they all had hard molts this fall and stopped, and then it was short, dark days so they haven't started up again. Everyone is 3-4 years old.

Could this be a one-off? What should I do if I don't know who it was? The vet is also closed today as it's Sunday. Trying not to panic.

Do you have photos of what you found?

Lash Egg (Salpingitis) is inflammation of the Oviduct. I
Likely not a lot you can do right now since you don't know which hen expelled the material.

If you determine which one and she's having a hard time expelling more material, you can give her extra calcium to see if that helps her pass it. An antibiotic may be helpful for a short period of time if she's symptomatic.

Here's some reading about Salpingitis.

https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/
https://the-chicken-chick.com/causes-of-lash-eggs-salpingitis-by/

 

[Nicky S]

Thanks so much, that's very helpful - everyone still looks fine today, which is encouraging. I do have a hen that had some reproductive issues a year or two ago and they gave her antibiotics...she didn't expel anything at that time, but they said she was a little distended, and she basically doesn't lay at all. So I'm thinking it could possibly be her and will see if they can take a look. I still have what she expelled wrapped in foil, so I'll see if I take a pic later...it was pretty gross looking like dry flesh with yellow on it, and of course I went and touched it with my bare hands before looking up what it was!

 

[Nicky S]

Update: when I went to do clean out today, there was an egg (a wee bit wonky, but nothing terrible) in the same spot as I found the lash egg before. Go figure on the shortest days of the year! The hen who was sleeping in that spot is the one who had issues before, so I’m guessing it was her (she basically doesn’t lay but every so often she drops an egg). Could the lash egg be a one-off thing? I’m going to try and take her in tomorrow, but she’s acting very normally.

 

[coach723]

Sometimes a malformed egg or egg material is mistaken for lash material, they can look very similar sometimes. Usually a hen with salpingitis will not lay eggs anymore. Pictures of what you found that you thought was lash material would help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks so much, that's very helpful - everyone still looks fine today, which is encouraging. I do have a hen that had some reproductive issues a year or two ago and they gave her antibiotics...she didn't expel anything at that time, but they said she was a little distended, and she basically doesn't lay at all. So I'm thinking it could possibly be her and will see if they can take a look. I still have what she expelled wrapped in foil, so I'll see if I take a pic later...it was pretty gross looking like dry flesh with yellow on it, and of course I went and touched it with my bare hands before looking up what it was!

Update: when I went to do clean out today, there was an egg (a wee bit wonky, but nothing terrible) in the same spot as I found the lash egg before. Go figure on the shortest days of the year! The hen who was sleeping in that spot is the one who had issues before, so I’m guessing it was her (she basically doesn’t lay but every so often she drops an egg). Could the lash egg be a one-off thing? I’m going to try and take her in tomorrow, but she’s acting very normally.

When you can, take some photos of the material since you saved it along with the wee bit wonky egg from today.

If she's acting normal and not seemingly having any issues, I'd let this play out for a little while longer and see if she starts to lay normal eggs or shows signs of something else going on.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Agree with taking photos (if you no longer have the lumps you found, make sure to photograph any in the future, both as-is and sliced open).

I'd keep an eye on the hen you're already suspecting. Usually if you have a feeling that a specific bird is the one with the issue, it'll end up being correct. If you still have antibiotics on hand and you find more lash egg type material, I'd go ahead and do a round of antibiotics on her in case the cause is bacterial.

 

[Nicky S]

Nothing new produced, but the other suspect has come inside to sit in a crate again…seems normal, eating fine and looks like she’s checking out a laying spot. Of course I’m at the vet now with the original suspect, and think I brought the wrong one! Anyhow, attaching the pic of what I found Sunday.

 

[coach723]

That looks like lash material to me. Which ever bird passed it may have a bloated and firm feeling abdomen.

 

[Nicky S]

Update after vet visit! The chicken I took in was fine, and the other suspect continues to be fine - the vet actually thought it was not lash material, he said it wasn’t gross enough…most likely a bad egg. My guess is as the other chicken started laying again right after it was just her system getting going again after a long break. At any rate everyone is currently doing well so I’m hoping it was just a one-off! Thanks again for everyone’s input - chickens are such mysterious creatures!