Unidentified object in droppings tray

[Flameweave]

Removing the droppings from the coop today, I found a weird object which I can only describe as looking like an orangey coloured monkey nut! It seems quite solid, almost hard, not like a dropping at all. Does anyone know what it is? Hopefully, you can see it on the photo I've attached. I have two hybrids (about 18 months old), one of which is going through a long slow moult (6 months now!) but both seem well. The slow moulting chicken has been a very good layer until a couple of months ago when egg production started to reduce -in the last two weeks she's just produced two shell-less eggs. Hoping this is nothing to worry about. Any thoughts welcome!

 

[chrismahon]

Welcome to the forum Flameweave. It looks like what is known as a 'lash'. That is shed oviduct lining all rolled up -cut it in half and you should see the layers. For reasons unknown to me this happens on occasions. The hen will usually regrow a new lining and start laying again in about two months.

The slow moult can be helped with a protein boost. Sunflower hearts, mealworms or sterile (important to avoid botulism) white maggots are all high in protein. When they are not laying putting them on rearers pellets is something we do over Winter.

 

[Marigold]

hi Flameweave, and welcome from me, too.
I can understand why you found this alarming! But as Chris says, it's not as bad as it looks, part of a normal and non-harmful process which happens sometimes to hens in lay. If you input Lash to the Search box at the top of the page, you'll find previous discussions on here about them, and also this link has some interesting (?) pictures for your delectation.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/473989/weird-egg-weird-clump-lash-graphic-pics

 

[Flameweave]

Thanks Marigold and chrismahon. Having searched 'lash' I can see that's what it was, so I can stop panicking. I thought I'd seen everything when I first got the hens and searched for images of chicken poo to see if what they were producing was normal, but that was nothing compared to those photos of lashes and weird eggs! :shock: At least I'm prepared for anything now when I open the coop!
I've been feeding mealworms, so will keep on with that. She's been such a good layer, generally laying continuously for 3 weeks or so before taking a day off, so a rest will probably do her good. Her companion usually lays an egg 9 days out of 10, but is down to 1 in 3 at the moment, which I put down to the short days.

 

[Marigold]

As she's also producing she'll-less eggs, she might also be helped by a course of Nettex Mineral Powder, which I've found good for hybrids who have been in continuous lay for over a year or so and tend to have used up their mineral supplements by making so many shells, even if fed good-quality layers pellets. The mineral balance in hens is complicated, and just adding calcium, or relying on oystershell, doesn't do the trick very effectively. Nettex powder also has probiotics and seaweed etc in it so it provides a range of elements that may help. At this time of year I give mine a nice warm damp mash made from pellets softened with hot water, maybe witht a few extras such as mealworms or sunflower seeds, and I add the powder to this. They bolt it down and go to roost with nice full crops for their long 15- hour sleep!

 

[Flameweave]

I'll look into getting some. Her eggs are usually very thick shelled and quite rough (hard to break them!), so her supplies may well be depleted! Thanks for the advice. I'm still very much a novice when it comes to chickens, so it's really appreciated.

 

[Marigold]

However long you've been keeping chickens, they will still go on coming up with surprises to worry or amuse you!

 

[Flameweave]

One month later and she's laid an egg again! Nice to know everything's in good working order. I expected to have to wait longer. The moult seems to have just about finished too, finally!