Solitary chicken - need advice

[thebdj]

So in the nesting box of one of my hen houses today I was greeted by an egg about the size of a pound coin. It looked like a quail egg! And my question ...

 

I have 5 girls in lay. 2 were in lay when I got them and 3 were POL Pullets. When the pullets became hens, they literally dropped an egg out one day and started. I wouldn't say it was a large egg but it was by no means ridiculous and they have continued ever since. This was true for all 3 of them.

 

Now I have heard that when some hens come into lay, they can start by laying silly little eggs like the one I have witnessed today and then over say a week they become normal egg size and away the hen continues.

 

I have 4 hens who could come into lay any time soon. 2 are white silkies and I am expecting white eggs from them. This egg was more brown. 1 is a dark brahma, and 1 is a buff orpington. To make this even more confusing, the orpington and the brahma are in one hen house and the silkies are in another with the layers. This little egg was in with the layers.

 

And so now in the form of a question ....

 

Can chickens who are already well into lay suddenly lay a silly little egg or is this only ever from a chicken who is at POL stage and imminent!

 

Confusing enough for you?

[Snowy]

They can lay them at any time! I've had tiny eggs from two of my established layers. They tend to be yolkless and are caused by a bit of white seperating and becoming encased in shell and laid like a normal egg

[Redwing]

Yes they can lay them at any time as Snowy says

 

Silkies normally lay a light brown/cream coloured egg

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You'll find a whole load of silly little eggs here .