Consistently VERY large eggs

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

^^^ I agree we also don’t give birth every other day.

As previously stated if she doesn’t seem to be having any complications while laying some chickens lay bigger eggs and some lay smaller.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

As an aside, rest assured that you aren't the first to be concerned - when my Pekin ducks laid their first double yolk egg, it was like a white racket ball (ok, a little smaller, and shaped different of course)... My wife had the same thought. After what she went thru in childbirth, I could understand the pain on her face.

So, we found pelvic images together to help set her mind at ease. This isn't the first time I've posted them, not even in just the last thirty days.

 

[629864]

Long term, yes, I'd expect a higher incidence of reproductive problems in later life. But there's nothing you can do about, really. Do keep in mind however, that even though the mass of the egg is increased significantly (which has consequences for dietary needs), the critical concern here is the diameter - and the diameter of the egg at its widest part is NOT 65% larger than the "typical" RIR egg.

Thanks so much for this. While I was intending the bit about human birth every other day as a tongue-in-cheek comment, the jumbo eggs does worry me considerably for her and how it may cause prolapse...which is something I've read is a real possibility for hens that consistently lay large or jumbo eggs. Regarding the 65%...neither is a 12 -lb human baby's head 65% larger than a 7-lb baby's head...but it is a far more painful experience for the mother giving birth . The circumference of this enormous egg is 17cm at it's widest point. The others are 13cm.

In any case, I would prefer she stop laying eggs if this will eventually cause her prolapse or other negative issues. Not that I have any control over that.

 

[629864]

View attachment 2894091

Yep, that's what the one I found today looked like in my hand. Is yours from a Leghorn? I've heard they lay enormous eggs regularly too.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Thanks so much for this. While I was intending the bit about human birth every other day as a tongue-in-cheek comment, the jumbo eggs does worry me considerably for her and how it may cause prolapse...which is something I've read is a real possibility for hens that consistently lay large or jumbo eggs. Regarding the 65%...neither is a 12 -lb human baby's head 65% larger than a 7-lb baby's head...but it is a far more painful experience for the mother giving birth . The circumference of this enormous egg is 17cm at it's widest point. The others are 13cm.

In any case, I would prefer she stop laying eggs if this will eventually cause her prolapse or other negative issues. Not that I have any control over that.

We see it these issues more in the RSL and BSL hybrids - they are famed for it, but the biological processes are the same.

I've read enough studies to know that you can reduce egg size, weight, laying frequency with dietary changes - but the effects are quite minimal (as in measurable, but not visually obvious) - and would require both a separate feeding program and a custom feed design (which I've read enough on to know not to attempts except if given no other option). Even then, the expected changes (as I mentioned above, but bears repeating) are only a few percentage points, which equates to 1-2g in the studies I've seen. By adjusting down protein %, lineolic acid content, other factors, to something like the 13-14% protein blends seen in the EU, supplimented by synthetic amino acids to ensure what protein they do get is balanced.

You would likely have better luck by controlling the bird's light levels - but that's not an area I've researched in terms of how much is enough, too much, etc.

 

[Tonyroo]

The only time she will stop laying is when she goes into a molt.