Teeny tiny egg from 6 month old laying pullets - Normal?

[HeatherKellyB]

My 5 girls were hatched mid June. They've been laying really well for the past month and a half. I would normally get 5 eggs a day, with some days only 2 or 3, but most days 5 eggs. For the past 5 days, I've been getting 2 to 4 eggs each day and today this was in the nesting box. It's like a perfect egg but teeny tiny, maybe the size of a nickle. I haven't tried breaking it open as I am extremely worried. There are 3 other normal eggs in the nest. No changes other than adding cut ready to eat alfalfa to their run.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Unless this becomes a common occurrence, I'd not be concerned, and simply chalk it up to a hiccup in the laying process of your laying pullets. I expect that upon opening this egg, that you'll find that it is missing a yolk. The white is perfectly safe to eat. These types of eggs happen in both laying pullets and in hens that are drawing close to the end of their laying years, and are commonly referred to as 'fairy eggs' 'fart eggs' 'rooster eggs' and other fanciful euphemisms.

 

[ValerieJ]

I think they call that a fairy egg. It is edible, but may or may not have a yolk. It just happens sometimes, particularly when they are just starting to lay.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

It likely doesn't have a yolk. They're often called "fairy eggs", "Wind eggs", or "Fart eggs". It happens occasionally but as long as it's not happening repeatedly there's nothing to worry about.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I did change their food from Purina Layer plus omega, to Nutrena Hearty Hen. So maybe this is another problem. They didn't seem to like the purina layer feed, but don't seem to like the nutrena hearty hen either. They really like Purina Flock Raiser the best and have access to that often. They have grit and oyster shell free choice as well.

 

[ValerieJ]

I did change their food from Purina Layer plus omega, to Nutrena Hearty Hen. So maybe this is another problem. They didn't seem to like the purina layer feed, but don't seem to like the nutrena hearty hen either. They really like Purina Flock Raiser the best and have access to that often. They have grit and oyster shell free choice as well.

If they like the flock raiser, I would just stick with it. But, that's not why you got a fairy egg. It's just a thing that happens.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Thank you so much for your time and replies! This is honestly the best place ever. I really appreciate your help

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I did change their food from Purina Layer plus omega, to Nutrena Hearty Hen. So maybe this is another problem. They didn't seem to like the purina layer feed, but don't seem to like the nutrena hearty hen either. They really like Purina Flock Raiser the best and have access to that often. They have grit and oyster shell free choice as well.

It shouldn't have anything to do with the feed, fairy eggs occur when the hen's body begins to form an egg before a yolk is released from her oviduct but if you find it continues then I would switch the feed back to see if it's somehow related. I highly doubt it though.

 

[HAPPYCHICKENLADY17]

MY Silkie , yokohamas and bantam frizzle all lay those tiny eggs...yes they have a yoke....mine are more the size of a quarter or a bit larger

 

[Ebony Rose]

...
I would normally get 5 eggs a day, with some days only 2 or 3, but most days 5 eggs...

It takes 26 hours to create one chicken egg, hence the reason that some days you're not getting an egg. Absolutely nothing to worry about. This 26 hour time period also is influenced by the amount of (day)light that your birds are getting daily, as they need 16 hours of (sun)light daily for optimal egg production. At this time of year, in your location, you are getting just under 10 hours daily of natural light, so this would slow down their egg laying process as well. That you're getting 5 eggs daily from 5 layers on most days is astonishing and leads me to think that you're raising 'production reds' or other bird bred specifically for high-yield egg production.
If this conclusion is correct, please be very mindful of treats, both calories and quantities. Keep their treats to 10% or less of their total diet by weight, not volume and choose low fat options as "high yield" breeds are known for reproductive disorders and adding obesity to their already overworked reproductive tract will greatly reduce their lifespan and increase the likelihood of disease. An ounce of caution is worth pounds of correction for these types of hens.