[whistler]

Happy New Year All.

I found an egg shaped lump in the coop this morning.  It looks lke a shelless hard boiled egg without any white around it!  Just a lump of salmon coloured something.  None of the girls have been laying for weeks, but all look well, red combs and eating well.  This is their second winter.

If it was April 1st I might think my neighbours were having a bit of fun!

Have any of you ever found anything like this?

[Aunt Sally]

It sounds like something that we call a "lash".   It's a part of the lining of the hen's uterus which has been shed. 

Do you have any idea which of your hens has laid it ?  She may not be well and could need some antibiotics, she may also not lay again but she could be fine.  Keep an eye out and see if any of them look off colour.

[IMOmimey]

you sure its not one of strange coral coloured poos they sometimes do?  Look at Aunties special thread on poo

[whistler]

Thank you Aunt Sally and JMOMIMEY,

Yes it is that coral colour but it does look like and feel like a lump of cooked meat!

What would cause a 'lash' Aunt Sally?  Would it be an infection? All three of them look well, one is a little quiter than the others but to be honest I put that down to the freezing weather. She is always the one on her own, last one in from free ranging, last one to bed in the evening.

[Foxy]

I had a hen lay one of those, she never laid again. I dissected it and took a piccy, can post if you want..looked like layered ham inside but smelt like something else!

[IMOmimey]

yeah, post piccie please..I think it might be useful 

[joyfull]

so long as it's not in smellovision 

[raeburg]

I had a hen lay one of those, she never laid again. I dissected it and took a piccy, can post if you want..looked like layered ham inside but smelt like something else!

Yup looks like someone has squashed a handful of thin ham slices into an egg shape.  When one of mine laid one,  one of the others ate it before I could grab it.  YUK 

[karlooben]

i dont need to see piccy or smell it  its already turned my stomach thinking of it  :lol:i'm sure i have had one of those an yep its gross

[Aunt Sally]

This is a lash and as Foxy says the hens may recover but don't lay eggs again.

I think they are caused by an infection.

[Foxy]

I will find it in the mornng, think its on other puter, will pop a warning first though!
The hen by the way is fine, very healthy and none the worse for it

[IMOmimey]

piccie is a bit small for my old eyeballs

[Foxy]

piccie is a bit small for my old eyeballs

Dont worry Immey, mine are HUGE and in great detail!

[Aunt Sally]

I' know but like Foxy my better pictures are on my other computer  

[whistler]

Hi All,

Thank you for your replies. 

Please could someone point me in the direction of the link on how to submit photographs?O.H. has taken pictures of the 'lash', one whole and one of it cut in half, no need to hold your noses it doesn't smell at all!