Mini-me egg in a 1 year old hen??

[NOLAchicks]

I have just three ladies, just over a year old. One Rhode Island Red, 1 Barred Rock and 1 Silver laced Wyandotte. Their eggs at one year are distinctly different. The Red lays the largest, darkest, roundest egg, the Rock a slightly smaller, lighter egg in classic shape, and the Silver a med-large, paler, pointier egg.

They mostly lay every day, altho lately the Rock has been more erratic, and today laid a mini egg! Any insight on what might be going on?

They are free range in my yard (grass, garden beds, bushes and fruit trees and under the raised house). They all three use the same nest, even though two others are available - so they do "shift work" when it comes to laying. No idea why they prefer just the one nest! Any thoughts on how to get them to use the others?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

it is very common for them to share a nest. they all want the "best" one. as far as your wind egg (fart egg) she is probably getting ready to take a break in laying. welcome to BYC !

 

[Angiebubs]

I have found big variations in egg shapes and colors within the same breed even. I just received hatching eggs of 2 breeds. The BBS Orpington eggs were pretty similar but with the faverolles, there was quite a bit of difference in size, shape and weight.


And yes they all love to dog pile into the same nest box LOL (Someone else laid in this one it MUST be better!) I have 23 hens currently and 6 nest boxes. There is the particular nest box they all seem to prefer (darker area more isolated) but with the other boxes....most days there will be 6-8 in some and others with none...which one, changes daily.

 

[NOLAchicks]

Thanks for the replies! Should I leave the eggs in the box until evening to encourage them to lay in the coop rather than anywhere else in the yard??? It is hot in summer here in New Orleans, and I would hate for them to go bad!

 

[Angiebubs]

If they are laying in the nestboxes now, I doubt they will start laying outside. I would bring them in and if it starts to be an issue, then put golf balls in the net boxes. My hens cant tell then difference. In fact the broody hens I have right now will walk by to go to their box full of fertile eggs and see the golf balls, start clucking at them and think they should go sit on those instead! LOL

 

[aart]

I keep a couple golf balls in all my nests all the time....seems to help break up the 'favorite nest' syndrome.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

I started with 4 nesting boxes for my 6 girls and then went down to 2 boxes because they didn't use them. Although my girls refuse to share their more than roomy boxes they don't seem to mind just taking turns. It's quiet funny to see one hen come out and another one takes off running to the coop

Fart eggs aren't anything to worry about, I got one during the first few months of laying, typical of new layers or hens trying to get their system worked out.

I would not leave the eggs in there any longer than necessary. If than eggs break then it's easy to create egg eaters and that habit is far more serious than laying outside the nesting box. Golf balls are wonderful and I highly recommend them