Mystery Egg??

[gtaus]

I found this small brown egg in the chicken run, on the ground today. For comparison, I have included a large green egg from my Americana today. I have 10 hens and have not seen any egg this size since last fall when they first started laying eggs. I took 9 regular sized eggs out of the nest boxes today, plus this small brown egg appeared this afternoon in the chicken run on the ground. Is this possibly a wild bird egg? The egg had to be laid sometime today because we have sub freezing temps at night and that would have frozen this small egg solid and cracked the shell. As you can see, this appears to be a fresh, but very small, egg laid today.

The high resolution photo file, on my computer screen, distorts the size of the eggs. If you zoom out until the ruler on the screen is matches the actual length, you will get a good idea of how small this egg actually is.

 

[SuziRae1999]

Do you have any hens that lay a similar colour to that? because then I'd say it is from one of your hens, because in the past when my parents had layer hens we'd sometimes get an egg that was under 1" long and nearly circular rather than oblong like a normal egg.

 

[LaurEliz]

I agree with the previous poster. If you have hens that lay that color, it's probably one of theirs. I've had hens randomly lay super small eggs before.

It was years ago, and I just had one hen who did it, but I found the pictures. Happened about 4 times her entire life.

And just because we were curious the first time, we cracked it open outside...

 

[gtaus]

Do you have any hens that lay a similar colour to that? because then I'd say it is from one of your hens, because in the past when my parents had layer hens we'd sometimes get an egg that was under 1" long and nearly circular rather than oblong like a normal egg.

I have 8 hens that lay brown eggs. But they all have been very good at laying eggs in the nest boxes. I found this small egg out in the chicken run on the ground - maybe the hen was not expecting to lay that egg since it was so small and it just slipped out?

On the positive side, even though that egg is extremely small, that would make 10 eggs for 10 hens today! First time for me seeing 10/10. Well, maybe 9.25/10 given how small that egg is.

 

[gtaus]

I agree with the previous poster. If you have hens that lay that color, it's probably one of theirs. I've had hens randomly lay super small eggs before.

It was years ago, and I just had one hen who did it, but I found the pictures. Happened about 4 times her entire life.

And just because we were curious the first time, we cracked it open outside...

I plan on cracking open the egg, outside, tomorrow but think I'll put it into a bowl just in case the egg is good. Hate to waste any eggs, even small ones.

 

[LaurEliz]

I plan on cracking open the egg, outside, tomorrow but think I'll put it into a bowl just in case the egg is good. Hate to waste any eggs, even small ones.

At the time, I was like fourteen years old. I remember part of the white being oddly circular and the other part being runnier. You can kind of see it in the picture. No idea what was up with that. Doesn't look bad though?

 

[aart]

Well, maybe 9.25/10 given how small that egg is.

Probably just a glitch, it happens.
I'd not worry unless it's repeated repeatedly.

But, yes, pic of that egg opened might give a clue.

 

[gtaus]

Probably just a glitch, it happens.
I'd not worry unless it's repeated repeatedly.

But, yes, pic of that egg opened might give a clue.

It rained all night, froze, and then today it's snowing and blowing. So I will now wait until tomorrow to crack open the egg outside. But yes, if I see anything unusual, I'll post a pic and maybe someone will be able to tell me what it is.

My 10 hens are averaging over 7 eggs per day, and that's pretty good considering they are dual purpose breeds and not hybrid egg production chickens. This was the first tiny egg I have seen since last fall when they just first started laying eggs. Took me by surprise.

 

[GC-Raptor]

This was the first tiny egg I have seen since last fall when they just first started laying eggs. Took me by surprise.

I had the same experience, except I found the small egg under the roost.
My hens have been laying regularly for a month.

Scroll down 24 threads to (Smallest egg ever). GC

 

[aart]

So I will now wait until tomorrow to crack open the egg outside.

I seriously doubt you need to open it outside.