Egg size

[Jeffross1968]

I've been thinking lately that maybe our chickens are not performing as good as they should, LOL. I have an older barred rock that we purchased as an adult. She lays very nice big eggs. But other than that, my mixed flock of about 15 layers seems to be laying very average size eggs, though some are breeds that should be producing larger eggs. They are big and healthy. I've even seen some reduction in egg size in a couple birds.

Are there conditions I might want to know about that could be effecting egg size? This has occurred through many different brands of food, so I don't think it's that.

 

[AlienChick]

How old are your 15 layers?
I've noticed that chickens don't really start laying the large eggs till they're over a year old.

 

[Jeffross1968]

Half are about 1.5 years old, I have one that is definitely older than that but don't know exactly how much, and the rest are in their first year. I have one BO mix who has lost maybe 1/3 in the size of her eggs over the last couple of months.

 

[Den in Penn]

Anything that takes energy to do, fight the heat, fight parasites. running form things while free ranging can reduce the size. If the drain continues they can stop laying.