Can stress make all the chickens lay small or soft eggs?

[deegirl]

I had 3 girls, last week a stupid hawk killed one and my other girls ran and hid for hours. Now they are laying super small or soft eggs. How can I help them? Hold them rock them? Has any body gone through this? They are eating. And are happy when I am in their walk otherwise they go back to the coop. This is not normal. When they were 3 they scratched all day and snuggled with each other? Sad I think. They are treated like princess dogs.

 

[missnu01]

They'll bounce back. Just give them a little bit...or find them another chicken that didn't go through such a thing recently and they will forget all about that terrible hawk.

 

[Chambertin]

Stress, and sometimes excitement can change how a girl performs.
Also affects eggs too.

We had a couple girls get sick and they took a while to recover as did their egg laying habits. One still lays very soft and just poops it out wherever she is.
Our oldest girl gets Really excited about treats and hand feeding to the point that she has a soft egg rolling out from under her when she stopps to grab the treats. She used to lay the best eggs, now she just cant keep them in. I guess its just too much extra weight holding her back from the front of the treat line.
I'm hoping she goes back to normal with a few days minus treats.

 

[areilly143]

So do small eggs mean they are stressed?? I hve four chickens that are just starting to lay eggs. One of them came out super small. Is this normal?

 

[Den in Penn]

So do small eggs mean they are stressed?? I hve four chickens that are just starting to lay eggs. One of them came out super small. Is this normal?

Stress can cause oddities in eggs. With new layers oddities just happen, while they are working out the kinks in the production line. Sizes can be all over the chart. From peewees to extra large double yokes, but they tend to lay smaller eggs to start and work up to the size they will eventually lay regularly

 

[tootsit]

In my experience, when they first start laying the eggs tend to be small. As the hen gets older and lays more they will get bigger, to their normal size.

 

[areilly143]

Oh ok. That's heartening. I'm brand new to this and the egg on the far left is small the one in the middle is tiny and the one on the right is bigger then store bought eggs. Thank you for the information.

 

[Chambertin]

New layers always have some "egg farts" while they get used to the routine.
Dont worry as long as you see goof form the size will get better over the months.
If they dont get better by 3 months after the first egg then try to see if they are eating and acting properly. Could be a problem, or just a small egg girl. We have a couple who are huge but just lay small, and one skin and bones girl who lays huge. Nature is full of variety.