cluckfest Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 One of my ladies has started to intermittently lay very tiny eggs - about the size of a pound coin. I haven't managed to identify the culprit yet, but suspect that it may be Buffy who is lighter in weight than the others by 100g and bottom of the pecking order. All hens including Buffy look OK and are behaving normally, and laying normal size eggs. I have had three of these "eggs" so far, laid several days apart. When I crack them open there is just white inside with a tiny nucleus of what is probably supposed to be the yolk. Any advice/enlightenment welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 These are known as 'wind' eggs. It usually indicates a hen that's getting to the end of its laying cycle - she could be going into moult, or just reaching retirement - how old is she? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 One of my girls has been doing this almost as long as I've had her, she lays normal eggs most days but a couple of times a month lays a 'wind' egg. As she's now about 4 years old I guess that's her normal laying pattern . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Wind eggs, witches eggs or cock's eggs, call them what you like... they are usually produced when small amount of grit works it's way up into the oviduct; if you crack it open, you will see that a true wind egg doesn't have a yolk, it has a tiny piece of grit like a grape pip, a very gelatinous white and thick membrane. Some hens are more prone to them than others. If it's just a small egg, then as Olly has said, it's a blip in their egg cycle and can indicate that they are reaching the end of their season, although that's unlikely at this time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckfest Posted June 27, 2013 Author Share Posted June 27, 2013 I think DM is right, the description of a tiny bit of grit is probably more likely than the start of some yolk. I hope whoever it is isn't at the end of her egg laying, they are all just 1 year old and most of them only started laying in February! Am relieved to hear that it is normal behaviour and not anything to get concerned about. I would be nice to get through a month without a trip to the vet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 I wouldn't bother taking that to the vet; just make sure that they don't get too many treats, are fed on good layers feed, wormed regularly with Flubenvet, and get the odd splash of a good poultry tonic in their water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
