strange egg sizes from new layers

[msroser]

Greetings,

We adopted three just-feathered chicks this spring and they finally started laying about 3 weeks ago. They are one Buff Orpington and two black/white Rocks.

Buffy the Orpington is laying huge double-yolked eggs every time. While entertaining to us, I read on the forum that this might be a sign of over feeding.

However, her Rock sisters, Betsy and Feathers, are laying tiny mini-eggs. When you fry one, it is the size of an english muffin half, which is convenient for eating on english muffins but..... when I looked tiny eggs up on the forum, some suggest that this is a sign of UNDER feeding.

Buffy is not the dominant hen, Betsy is (she's a mean little cuss) so it's not a matter of Buffy eating more than her share.

Do you suppose these are just growing pains and all will sort out, or do I have anything to be concerned about?

My former champion layer Belle, a sex linked red, only laid for two seasons and is now retired. Betsy and the other new girls pick on her so she has her own "condo" now. I suppose I'm worried that if Buffy keeps laying double yolked eggs, she'll wear herself out too soon.

Suggestions welcome!

 

[Wyandottes7]

New layers often lay smaller eggs, though this is not always true (as you're finding out with Buffy). In time, your other birds should start laying larger eggs gradually.

 

[msroser]

Thank you!

I figured out how to post a photo - here are two of Buffy's double-yolked eggs this morning. My daughter asked for two eggs - is this two or four?