[kopperdrake]

Hi all,

One of our chickens has laid something that, for want of a better description, looks like sausage meat.

There's this main lump, and some smaller lumps. The main lump is about 30mm x 15mm. The smaller lumps are around 5mm round.

We have 10 chickens, of which 4 are around 3 years old, and 2 are at least 4 years old, but we're not sure as they were abandoned with us. Several of the older girls are looking quite dowdy, of the oldest, all but 1 are hybrid layers and all but one haven't laid anything for the last year, looking quite old. Two seem to be struggling to get through a moult they started around a year ago. We have one cockerel as well, again, another one dropped on us about a year ago. I'm still not sure if he's a blessing or curse. He's always jumping on them, as they do, but then he does keep them in line. I do wonder how much stress he causes them though.

Any thoughts on the attached image?

[ANHBUC]

It looks like a lash which is part of the lining of the hens egg laying system.  Usually they are at the end of their laying when they shed them.

[kopperdrake]

Thank you ANHBUC,

That is a relief. If it's purely a question of another 'pet' chicken then that's okay - I've never knowingly seen one of these before, despite having had chickens for 6 years. But now I know the name I've just googled and I have had one before on an ex-batt about four years ago, although that was more yellow and wax-like in appearance.

Seems like a drastic way to enter the menopause!

Thanks again