I have a hen that's been rather droopy - treated her with Sulfanet and that might have helped a little. She hasn't been laying for some time. I tried to check her for a stuck egg, but honestly, I couldn't figure out where the egg comes out! I mean, are there two separate openings for the egg and the excretory system, or do they join into one? If there are two openings, which is higher? Also, I believe this chicken in particular used to lay really odd shaped eggs - almost round, some with a dimple on them. (the hen is a red sex link).

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), March 11, 2002

Answers

I'm no farmer, but can tell you that there is only one hole. It's called the "cloaca". To find it, as my wildlife biologist brother out law tells me, just "follow the white"!

-- joj (jump@off.c), March 11, 2002.

One hole. The egg comes out the same hole as the poop.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), March 12, 2002.

Last friday, I actually saw an egg come out of a chicken. I was trying to get the eggs from under her, (they all lay in the same box), and she turned with her head facing in and butt out. I saw the "hole" look like it was open, and then I saw an egg starting to show. It pushed out kinda like a baby and then plop, it hit the ground. KOOL!

-- julie (jbritt@ceva.net), March 12, 2002.

So Julie, which end come out first, the big end or the small end?

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@somewhere.com), March 13, 2002.

she layed a torpedo shaped egg, the first end came out first...hehehe

-- julie (jbritt@ceva.net), March 13, 2002.