Itty Bitty First Eggs

[Heat]

So my 16 week (17 weeks Friday) old Red Stars have decided to start laying

totally unexpectedly... and we are getting the itty bitty first time eggs. I haven't cracked any open yet, but the one my got got with her older hens had no yolk, is this a common thing for the itty bitty eggs? If its not and there is no yolk present, is the egg still good or does this point to a deeper issue?

 

[Roy H]

Mine have just started laying,,,16 weeks old,,,this Is the second week.....I think there are 3 starting,,got the little eggs,,,,got a couple soft shelled,,wasnt expecting them to lay so soon,,
was still feeding grower feed,,,,one egg was bigger than the others,,It was a double yoke
all has been good except the soft shelled,, RH

 

[RedIII]

Congrats on the new layers! I've heard of the eggs you are referring to as "fart eggs", and they're kind of an oops thing. It's very normal for them not to have a yolk. I have seen one that had a bitty little yolk in it, but that was from a hen that had been laying for a while. The eggs should get closer to a normal size in no time. It's just the ladies' systems warming up

 

[Heat]

I love the little eggs... they are so cute! And I am excited each time I find one. We will just have toddler sized scrambled eggs lol!

This is fun watching them grow from little fuzz balls to layers.

 

[RedIII]

Yeah, it's way fun

Some people even take the first eggs and blow them out so they can keep the shell for memories.

 

[luvussomechicks]

I have a lavender orph, that I bought full grown suppose to be laying, and she has the same problem. Itty bitty eggs, with thin shells.
We got some oyster shells and she does eat them, but no eggs since those first 2! It's been all most 2 weeks, no eggs. I can tell she is young. But would they lay that spratic when first starting to lay? My other chickens (different breeds) didn't do like her. She is a hen, so unless she is egg bound, and I don't think she is, I guess she'll lay again one of these days!

 

[RedIII]

luvussomechicks, she could be taking a break due to stress, if you just got her. She could also be molting. The heat could be bothering her. I have read of people putting frozen bottles of water in the nest box to make their hens more comfortable. Or, the thin shell thing could be due to age, if she's an older hen.

 

[Heat]

I have been holding on to the eggs, haven't cracked any open yet. I think I might try to blow the first one out (it is the smallest) to keep the shell. But yesterday we got our first full sized egg! woo hoo!!

But we have also been getting very soft shelled eggs. Almost like the shell isn't there at all. We have gotten 4, I am assuming this is normal for first eggs. This morning I found two right next to each other, one was soft shelled, the other was mainly hard but had a very soft spot... Again assuming this is normal... right?

 

[RedIII]

Yes, it can be normal for new layers, but it can also be a sign of something else. Are the girls getting any oyster shell? If not, try getting some and putting a little bit near their food, so they can eat some if they want. The calcium will help them to produce good egg shells.

And congrats on the big egg!

 

[Heat]

I did a happy dance when i opened the coop and saw the large egg laying where I have been finding small eggs (guess I will be making a nest near the roost since one of them likes to lay there apparently).

I was planning on getting some oyster shell tonight to put next to their food (thinking that may possibly be a factor).

Could too much protein possibly cause issues? I have ducks in with the ladies and I am sure the ladies eat most (if not all) of the duck food... I am busily building a duck pen so I can separate them due to this... but I just want to make sure the higher protein won't harm the ladies, if so then I won't offer the duck food until they are separate.

And thank you for your input!!