[French gardener]

Hello,

Can anyone help me with my poorly chicken Betty.  She has been off colour now for 2 weeks, somedays she been so weak she hasn't been able to move.  She started going off her food, then started to eat a little again but just wanted to stay in her little hen house and shut her eyes and plump her feathers.  I have tired worming her, putting vinegar in her water.  I give her soft food like rice and soft bread as she won't eat pellets anymore.  Today I found a strange thing in her little hen house in the straw, at first I thought it was a mushroom, but when I picked it up it was like a small kidney but all cream in colour,   Does anyone know what this could be?. 

[Pol]

Hi,
not sure what it could be, how old is she? has she been laying? is the thing you found  hard or soft?  could it be a small egg?
can you take a picture and put it on here so we all can have a look

[Fisherman]

Hi
How old is your chicken? From your description it sounds like a lash which is a lump of tissue from the hen's reproductive tract. This generally means that the bird has come to the end of its egg laying life. They can go off colour including moulting at this point in life which could explain you bird looking poorly for a couple of weeks.

[French gardener]

Thank you Fisherman, I have just looked on Google and seen a picture of a *Lash*.  Yes it was this.  Someone described it as cod roe which might better fit the picture.   Betty my chicken has not been laying for months, but she isn't moulting.  She's so thin now I am not sure what to do, somedays she eats other days she stays in her little hen house and just sits watching the other chickens in the garden.  Do you think now she has lost this lash she will pick up and feel better?.  She used to be a very happy greedy chicken.

[Fisherman]

HI FG
I think she stands a good chance of perking up now but I would keep a close eye on her. Perhaps try feeding her with some additional protein like tinned Tuna (in spring water not olive oil).
Hope all goes well.