Egg size:

[Mary Muhs]

I have two buff Orpington. One has started to lay and I get about 5 eggs per week from her. The size seems to be on the smaller side and I am wondering after a time will the eggs get larger?

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC. I have noticed that when some of mine first start laying that their eggs are a little smaller than they should be.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It is really normal for a pullet's first eggs to be pretty small, especially of she starts to lay fairly young. It's nature's way of protecting them. Their body is still kind of small compared to what it will be, they are more likely to get hurt laying a huge egg with a small body. Her eggs and her body will get larger the longer she lays. This increase in size is fairly rapid the first few weeks but will slow down dramatically as she ages. But they still tend to get a bit larger the longer she lays. You often see a nice jump in size after she finishes her first adult molt and starts laying again.

You might save one of these eggs. Just refrigerating it should work or blow the egg out by poking small holes in each end and gently baking it to dry it (use it to make a Christmas ornament). Compare that to the eggs she is laying in a couple of weeks or or maybe a month. With a direct comparison like that you should notice quite a difference. Sometimes since that growth is gradual you don't notice it so much.

 

[drinkoj]

Was about to post this exact question as I knew the eggs get bigger over time, just how much time was my question as some of my girls just started laying this week at 20.5 weeks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Was about to post this exact question as I knew the eggs get bigger over time, just how much time was my question as some of my girls just started laying this week at 20.5 weeks.

If you keep some from the same hen at different ages you could get a great photo that could help people. Just a thought.

 

[drinkoj]

If you keep some from the same hen at different ages you could get a great photo that could help people. Just a thought.

Might give it a try. Guess the best way would to blow out the whites and yolk through pinholes; haven't done that in decades.