What eggactly is this?

[calrose]

My hens vary in age, 3 little over a year old, and 4 about a year and a half, 3 buff orpingtons and 4 road island reds. We get 3 different color eggs, one buff lays green eggs. But the sizes are pretty consistent.
Today I went to gather the eggs and to my shock I found one that didn't fit (see pic).
I'm thinking either:
1. one of my hens has a problem (though I've never seen an egg this small or dark even when they were first laying.
2. a wild bird got into the nest and laid an egg.
Anyone else ever have this happen? I'm perplexed!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

This is called a wind egg, a fairy egg or a fart egg. It just happens sometimes, usually when a bird just starts laying or when she is about to retire. But if everyone is eating, drinking, pooping, pecking and scratching normally, it is nothing to worry about.

 

[ChickNanny13]

"Fart" egg? I've never known an BO to lay green eggs

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I thought that, too. OP, does your BO have side whiskers, like ear muffs or "muttonchops" on her face?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

She has an olive egg in there too...

 

[ChickNanny13]

She has an olive egg in there too...

That's the one she says her "Buff" is laying.

I thought that, too. OP, does your BO have side whiskers, like ear muffs or "muttonchops" on her face?

No they don't, sounds like you're describing a EE ... Pictures of your girls would solve the green egg mystery. Pic of one of my BO, she loves the camera

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have my screen dimmed, DH is sleeping... I see a pretty blue one at bottom left. The one at very bottom, just to the right of that, looks olive on my screen, but might just look that way in this light. Sorry!

 

[Fishkeeper]

If I were you, I'd save that tiny egg. You can prick a hole in each end with a needle, blow the contents out, and dry it. Or you may be able to dry the whole egg, intact.

I don't think there are any wild birds that lay such a dark egg. Certainly none that would be inclined to lay in a chicken coop! Except maybe doves and pigeons, they're very bad at nesting.

 

[aart]

one of my hens has a problem (though I've never seen an egg this small or dark even when they were first laying.

Not a problem.
Molting time is near, egg production is ramping down, funky eggs can happen around molting time.
Open that egg and see what's inside.

Fairy, fart, wind, rooster eggs are usually from a tiny piece of tissue breaking loose from the reproductive tract, or an immature ova(yolk) and the body forms an egg around it. Color can be darker than 'normal' as the pigment coating released has to cover a much smaller area so is thicker. Can happen with any age layer, but more common with new or older layers.

I think it's explained in this excellent video, which is worth watching regardless:

 

[ChickNanny13]

I'd like to see a picture of her Buff