Can chickens lay inconsistent sized eggs?

[Equiem]

Just a question I can't seem to find an answer to
It's my first full winter (in the UK) with my 3 rescued ex-batts and I'm still getting 2 eggs a day
My theory is that one chicken isn't laying. I've (accidentally) disturbed her - been up to their pen whilst she'd been in the nest box so she has come out again - but there's been no evidence that she has laid. She used to lay large eggs but we've only had smaller sized ones recently so...

I was wondering could she be laying just smaller sized eggs? Or is it likely that she isn't laying at all?

She is otherwise okay in herself although she has lost most of her fluffy bottom feathers.

Any suggestions and replies welcomes!
Thanks in advance!

 

[aart]

Smaller eggs are possible.....but....here's some tips to tell....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Equiem]

Smaller eggs are possible.....but....here's some tips to tell....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

I was looking at articles similar to this yesterday! She definitely had a moist vent and I tried to measure from the breast to the pubic bone this morning and there was space for plenty of fingers! I haven't tried the pubic bone to pubic bone yet though.

Thank you for the link!

 

[PirateGirl]

@aart question about check pubic bone distance... is this only for new first time ever layers? I guess my thought is that any ex-batt layer would have wide pubic bones because they've done a lot of laying in their lives already. Do they shrink back closer together between periods of laying?

 

[MissLavender]

Following this thread, as I am very interested in learning this too!

 

[aart]

@aart question about check pubic bone distance... is this only for new first time ever layers? I guess my thought is that any ex-batt layer would have wide pubic bones because they've done a lot of laying in their lives already. Do they shrink back closer together between periods of laying?

I've checked a couple of hens that were out of lay due to molt...
....the pelvic points do 'close up'.

 

[PirateGirl]

I've checked a couple of hens that were out of lay due to molt...
....the pelvic points do 'close up'.

Interesting... I would not have thought this to be the case.

 

[aart]

Interesting... I would not have thought this to be the case.

I wasn't sure either, so when a 9mo old stopped laying and partial molted one winter I checked her, sure enough back to about 1 finger. Have checked a couple older molting birds too.

 

[Equiem]

I wasn't sure either, so when a 9mo old stopped laying and partial molted one winter I checked her, sure enough back to about 1 finger. Have checked a couple older molting birds too.

I will check my suspect hen tomorrow!
After saying I've been getting 2 eggs per day, today I got zero. It's like they were listening and thought "hah, that'll show you"

 

[Equiem]

Well, I woke up to a large egg today!
So I think the suspect hen may just be taking her sweet time to lay