Sri Lanka: Chick Born with No Egg, Hen Dies

A Sri Lankan chick has been born without an egg.

Instead of an egg being laid and incubating outside the hen's body, the hen failed to pass the egg, which continued to develop inside the hen for 21 days before hatching.

Remarkably, the chick survived and is fully formed and healthy, though the mother has died of internal injuries.

The farmer who owned the hen alerted veterinary authorities of the unusual phenomenon and a post-mortem exam was conducted.

PR Yapa, chief veterinary officer in the town of Welimada, told AFP: "I had only heard about such aberrations, but I was able to see it for myself today.

"There were lacerations and a tear of the reproductive tract that caused the death," he said, adding: "The baby is doing well."

The chick hit headlines across Sri Lanka in a series of what can only be called 'chicken interest' stories.

The news has also sparked debate on Twitter, with some users claiming that this finally settles the argument about the chicken and the egg.

This is the second unusual chicken story this week after a hen in the US state of Montana laid the world's smallest egg - it was barely larger than a sterling penny.