Mincepies Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I was really shocked to open the lid of the nesting box tonight and find a partially developed chicken foetus stuck to a soggy shell... None of the girls have been sitting on eggs and I collected all the eggs yesterday evening so it must have appeared today. Does anyone know how/why this could have happened? Our cockerels were culled a few weeks ago so fertilisation must have happened some time ago (I know the boys were super fertile as we have hatched a number of chicks in the incubator). One of the girls was acting suspiciously the other night - she seemed to want to sleep in the nesting box rather than on the perch, and generally didn't quite seem her usual perky self although it wasn't enough to worry me. Also another hen hasn't laid for many months yet spends a bit of time sitting in the nesting box every day (she's head hen so think she's keeping up appearances). Appreciate any views Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Chicken foetus? Do you have a cockerel? It sounds as if one of your hens has laid a 'lash'. Have a look here to compare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 Have you got a picture? Sounds like one for a museum of horrors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 Sounds like a lash to me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mincepies Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 Thanks, I'll check that out. I did take photos but haven't yet worked out how to upload them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
