What the heck is going on?

[Khrysty]

For about two months I thought Leyna was carrying an egg. The mass is definitely egg-shaped. The only difference is that it's rock hard. I thought maybe it was over-calcified or something (can that happen?) but now I see she's developing more eggs. And these are DEFINITELY eggs. So I'm questioning whether the first one is an egg at all.

The first circled image is the egg follicle developing. You can see that she's ovulating and beginning to develop an egg right there. You can't see it very well, but the second circle is also a developing egg. The third is the mass in her belly. This mass has been there, that exact size, for eight and a half weeks. It hasn't moved or anything. You'll also notice it's not exactly easy to see. I don't think it's white like eggs usually are in a gravid female's stomach. But you can most definitely feel it, and trust me it's there.

She's eating just fine - about fifteen large mealworms a night and she took a pinkie last week without problems. She's pooping on a regular basis. She spends all of her time in her lay box--she has for months. She only leaves it to eat and poop.

I don't THINK she's impacted. Her belly isn't blue and she's pooping/eating fine. But if it isn't an egg, and it isn't impaction, what is it? Does anyone have any ideas?

And if it is an egg, what of these two developing now? Do you think she'll be able to lay all three?

 

[Mel&Keith]

It's always hard to diagnose problems from photos because we can't see exactly what you see in real life. But for as long as the mystery mass appears to be according to your red circle I can't imagine that it would be a two month old egg. Usually eggs that don't want to pass are super obvious like they skin is barely stretched over them and you can even see them from above, sticking out on the sides. They almost always stop eating and lose a bunch of weight. We've got girls that stay in their lay boxes and dig like they're going to lay even when they're not ovulating so hopefully there's nothing wrong with your girl and she just likes her lay box! LOL Hopefully someone with more anatomical/medical knowledge has an idea of what might be causing the white mass, other than just fat.

 

[Khrysty]

It's always hard to diagnose problems from photos because we can't see exactly what you see in real life. But for as long as the mystery mass appears to be according to your red circle I can't imagine that it would be a two month old egg. Usually eggs that don't want to pass are super obvious like they skin is barely stretched over them and you can even see them from above, sticking out on the sides. They almost always stop eating and lose a bunch of weight. We've got girls that stay in their lay boxes and dig like they're going to lay even when they're not ovulating so hopefully there's nothing wrong with your girl and she just likes her lay box! LOL Hopefully someone with more anatomical/medical knowledge has an idea of what might be causing the white mass, other than just fat.

She probably does just like her lay box, but there is most definitely something wrong with her. The mass isn't white, it's hard. It's barely visible through the skin but rock solid to the touch and visible from the top...think baby carrot...that's about the shape/hardness of the mass.

 

[Khrysty]

I do appreciate your input, though

 

[acpart]

I wonder if it could be some sort of tumor or ovarian cyst.

Aliza

 

[Khrysty]

I wonder if it could be some sort of tumor or ovarian cyst.

Aliza

I thought it could possibly be a tumor. Would an ovarian cyst be that large though? And would it effect egg production at all?

 

[richardrojas]

I have the same problem mine was supposed to laid eggs 2 months ago but she only laid one. I waited for couples days to see if she lay the other but she didn't. 4 weeks after she laid that single egg I noticed that she was developing another egg but finally she reabsrobed it. Now she seems to be loosing weight but she is eating so don't know what is going on and the egg still there. What I should do?

 

[Mel&Keith]

Richard, if she's still eating but losing weight you might want to take her to the vet.

 

[Khrysty]

Her appetite is up 100% now. She'll eat whatever I put in front of her. She's defecating regularly, too, and really active. Unfortunately, it looks as if the mass is getting larger and now there may be some internal bleeding in her abdomen? I don't understand how she can physically seem to be in such good health but has such an obvious medical issue. Updated pictures:

View attachment 34425
1) is the egg she should be laying in a couple days
2) is the egg developing
3) is the lumpy hard growth

View attachment 34424
Here's a top view. Her right side is the side with the growth, the left is the side carrying the egg

 

[Khrysty]

Also, I've finally got enough saved up to take her to a vet. Can someone recommend a vet located near Rockford, IL?