Egg Mystery

[Welshies]

Sounds like she'll have good production then !

 

[starrmar006]

Yes, a hen can lay 2 eggs in a day. I doubt it was one of the new girls. Even breeds that are considered early layers don't start laying until around 16 weeks or so.

My pullets are more than 16 weeks and are still not laying

 

[Harmony Fowl]

I think 16 weeks is early for most breeds, which is why I was so dumbfounded that an 11-week-old might be laying. My experience has been 20 weeks or so and I believe even six months is not unusual.

My pullets are more than 16 weeks and are still not laying

 

[rebrascora]

I agree, it is one of your existing birds. Sometimes a bird can lay a paler brown egg than normal, particularly if they are stressed, so it is perhaps possible that one of your others laid it but my bet would be on Prudence laying both. Chickens do have glitches in their laying system. It might be that there is no yolk in the smaller egg or perhaps a piece of blood meat that albumen and a shell has formed around or it may in fact be a perfectly formed second egg. It could be that two yolks ripened and released almost together from the ovary. It would be unusual for it to happen regularly but malfunctions happen often enough with new layers and these girls have had a bit of disturbance in their lives recently.

Definitely not one of the younger 11 week old birds in my opinion.

 

[Hamiam]

My pullets are more than 16 weeks and are still not laying

The earliest layers I've ever had is my Red Sexlinks. They are breed to lay early & often. Mine started laying around 16 weeks. However, I should have done my research on the breed before buying them at a feed store. I later learned that they can have a lot of health problems with their reproductive system. So far, all 6 lay 1 egg a day, everyday & no health problems. They're about 10 months old, the same age as my Black Australorps. However, only 3 of the Australorps are laying & not everyday. I've raised many Barred Rocks in the past & they normally started laying around 20 weeks. I feel like the Black Australorps are freeloading!