Anyone had THIS happen before? Hen Laid 2 Eggs Today!!

My lil OEGB who NEVER lays laid two eggs today, i saw her do it!!!!!!! I noticed she was laying an egg so i stayed to watch. She laid a perfect little cream colored one, then sat on it for a minute and then got up and laid another! This egg was really bumpy an misshapen and big, i had to help her push it out. This can't be normal in any way, can it???? In all six years i've had chickens i've never seen this happen!!!!!!!

Well you saw it so its true. Young bird or old? need to know these things 'cause if it can happen it will happen to me!

I've always understood that it takes about 26 hours for a new egg to develop, and have never heard of a hen laying two eggs in one day - didn't think it was possible! I'm fascinated to hear that you actually witnessed it, and I'm looking forward to seeing if anyone has any insight about how/why it happened.

I am curious how you helped her push it out? I have had a hen lay two in one day but I just figured one was early in the morning and one must have been late in the day.

Yes, I have a hen who does this, and when I posted about it on here, this one snippy lady told me it wasn't possible. And then a nice lady came up with a book that documents that it is, indeed, physiologically possible, so that was good of her, to show evidence that it does happen, although it is somewhat rare.

My hen has done this at least 3 times this spring. Both of her shells have been nice and thick and strong. Oftentimes the chickens who do this lay one good-shelled egg and one soft-shelled, but I guess my girl makes enough calcium that she is able to lay 2 good shelled eggs.

One thing you need to be on the lookout for is her becoming eggbound or developing peritonitis. These chickens are at a higher risk for these diseases, because of their physiology.

What breed is your chicken and how old? Mine is a Barred Rock, 15 months old. As far as I know, she didn't lay 2 eggs per day at all last summer. The first time I discovered it was early this past March. I have just 2 hens. With only 2 hens, you know something is up when you get 2 eggs one day and 3 the next. HAHA.

Since it takes a lot of protein, energy, and calcium to lay 2 eggs per day, I make sure my hen has access to oystershell at all times. She hadn't touched it until recently, when I saw her chew up quite a few pieces of it one day. I also gave her 20% laying pellets. Recently I switched to 18% laying crumbles, but I'm considering going back to the pellets, for the extra protein.

Enjoy your hen. She is quite special!

Just and FYI... someone posted today claiming that hers laid 3 eggs... yes 3 eggs in one day...
Can't remember where it was posted, but it was interesting.

I was reading a Blog by a woman who worked at a chicken ranch for a few years while in college, and she said 2-eggs-a-day chickens were not all that uncommon, and there were even a few 3 egg-a-day chickens, but they were quite rare, and 4 eggs-a-day chickens were unheard of.


n Emergencies/Diseases, etc. you will find this helpful post from KimClain:

I just HAD to go out and do some research on this... I'm finding many mentions of hens laying two eggs per day. Here is the best site I've found...refer to page 8. It IS possible to have two eggs per day.
http://www.spottedcowpress.ca/chapters/02FemaleAnatomy.pdf

I actually have a black cooper marans hen that does it every several eggs. She will lay a lighter shelled egg that is also thin, not just the soft inside, but just a thinner shell. Most of the time she will peck it. Then later that same day she will lay her normal darker colored harder egg and she will not touch that one. I still haven't figured out how or why she does it but bless her heart.

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The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know (about everything, not just chickens). Thanks for sharing ClareScifi!

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Bless her heart, indeed!