Smaller eggs

[RoyD1949]

I have 8 laying hens, 4 young ones and 4 that are about 2-3 years old, they are starting to molt. I have started to get 3 small eggs about the size of a pullet egg. Is the molt causing this, are they getting broody, or is their egg laying cycle about over?

 

[50-45-1]

sounds like your pullets are beginning to lay or the older birds first eggs coming out of molt..the regular or normal eggs size will be determined by the breed of your hens, regardless of their age.

 

[RoyD1949]

They have all been laying normal sized eggs, I do have a couple hens that lay extra large eggs

 

[aart]

4 that are about 2-3 years old, they are starting to molt.

Really? Weird time of year to molt.

How old are the younger birds, in weeks?
This might help you know.....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[RoyD1949]

The young birds are not quite a year old, I'm in north central Kentucky near Ft. Koox

 

[RoyD1949]

I'm starting to think that my rooster is the problem, he is a very large barred rock a little over a year old. There are 4 hens that show where he has been pecking at their heads and feathers missing on their back in the area that I call the saddle. Not all the hens are like this and the roosters feathers are pristine which makes me think that he is rough on the hens

 

[aart]

Could be stress from mating.
Those bird could be favorites and/or just have brittle weak feathers that break easily when mounted.

I've been getting few smaller eggs and wondered why.
Haven't come up with any viable conclusions.

 

[RoyD1949]

I think he has favorites because when I incubate there are several infertile eggs, 5 out of the last 24.