Chickens laying small eggs

[Mike121]

My parents have some chickens that started laying eggs about 3 weeks ago. All the eggs are very small, though. They're like half the size we expected them to be. I should also mention that out of 17 chickens, only 6 of them are laying.

These chickens free range all day and have access to laying pellets, which they don't seem to eat much of.

Any ideas what could be causing these tiny eggs?

Here are pictures of the chickens. There are rhode island reds, leghorns, and I'm not 100% sure what the black ones are.

 

[Mike121]

I thought I'd upload a picture of the eggs too, just to show that they appear perfectly fine. They're just so tiny.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Their age is causing the tiny eggs. All pullets lay tiny eggs when they first start. They'll get bigger over the next few months.
Since they free range all day, you may want to watch for nests elsewhere on the property. Since they just started, they aren't yet trained to lay in the coop nests.

 

[Mike121]

Their age is causing the tiny eggs. All pullets lay tiny eggs when they first start. They'll get bigger over the next few months.

Wow, thanks for the quick reply! I had a feeling that was the cause but I didn't expect them to stay small for this long. I figured they'd get bigger with every few eggs they lay.

Anyways, good to know there's not something wrong. Thanks again!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

When stores carry small eggs, those are from commercial flocks that just started laying. Egg farms start new flocks every month or two in their sheds with millions of hens. They are on a lighting program that starts all laying within a week or two of each other year round. After about 18 months of laying, they become Campbell's soup.

 

[Mike121]

Since they free range all day, you may want to watch for nests elsewhere on the property. Since they just started, they aren't yet trained to lay in the coop nests.

I look all over the place when I'm out there to make sure they're not laying somewhere else. Out of curiosity, though, if they do start laying somewhere other than their boxes, can that be fixed?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Yes, but it takes patience and isn't always successful. Fake eggs in the boxes helped my girls who began laying all over the yard. Keeping them in the coop for a day or two also helps if you can manage it. Also, taking any setting bird and placing her in the nest can help, but you'd have to catch her in the act - haha!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

X2
Keep them in till noon since most eggs will be laid in the morning. Then they have to lay in the coop, in nests or somewhere on the floor.
But since they just started laying 3 weeks ago, some may not be close to laying yet.
Check the space between the pointy pelvic bones. If it is less than 2 finger width, those pullets aren't laying yet.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

double post

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Wow, thanks for the quick reply! I had a feeling that was the cause but I didn't expect them to stay small for this long. I figured they'd get bigger with every few eggs they lay.

Anyways, good to know there's not something wrong. Thanks again!

They haven't been laying very long. 3 weeks in nothing for a prolific bird that may lay eggs for 10 years.
The black one in the first picture likely isn't laying yet, She could be a Jersey Giant.
Those white eggs from the leghorns will get a lot bigger.