12 week old laying eggs

[LadyGunnar]

I found this tiny egg in the coop today. I have four grown hens. I got all four of their eggs today. I have three 12 week old bantam pullets. Could one of them being laying already? Thanks.

 

[Yowza Wowza]

Hi,
It’s most likely one of your grown hens laid a “fairy” egg as found in your picture.
I don’t think 12 week old bantam pullets would be able to lay yet, not until they’re 5-6 months old.

 

[aart]

Could one of them being laying already?

Probably not.
What's inside the tiny egg?

Fairy, fart, wind, rooster eggs are usually from a tiny piece of tissue breaking loose from the reproductive tract, or an immature ova(yolk) and the body forms an egg around it. Color can be darker than 'normal' as the pigment coating released has to cover a much smaller area so is thicker. Can happen with any age layer, but more common with new or older layers.

I think it's explained in this excellent video, which is worth watching regardless:

 

[DobieLover]

Probably not.
What's inside the tiny egg?

Fairy, fart, wind, rooster eggs are usually from a tiny piece of tissue breaking loose from the reproductive tract, or an immature ova(yolk) and the body forms an egg around it. Color can be darker than 'normal' as the pigment coating released has to cover a much smaller area so is thicker. Can happen with any age layer, but more common with new or older layers.

I think it's explained in this excellent video, which is worth watching regardless:

Excellent video!! Thanks for sharing.
I agree that the tiny egg was from one of the adult layers. One of my hens gave me two of them several months apart.
One seemed to be from a piece of tissue breaking loose and the other had a tiny ruptured yolk inside.

 

[LadyGunnar]

Hi,
It’s most likely one of your grown hens laid a “fairy” egg as found in your picture.
I don’t think 12 week old bantam pullets would be able to lay yet, not until they’re 5-6 months old.

Thanks. I thought it was too soon. The hen that lays this color already laid an egg a few hours earlier. That's what confused me. I have never had a tiny egg before. Thanks again.

 

[Yowza Wowza]

Thanks. I thought it was too soon. The hen that lays this color already laid an egg a few hours earlier. That's what confused me. I have never had a tiny egg before. Thanks again.

No problem, they sure are funny to find though