In the seven years we have been keeping backyard chickens I've never seen an egg as small as the two pictured above. Not in our nesting boxes anyway. Our daughter did a Google search for tiny eggs and here is what we learned about these mysterious mini-eggs!
One of your hens may be very young. For the first few weeks pullets are beginning to adjust their internal " egg factory". They can produce thumb sized eggs called peewee Eggs. They are perfectly good to eat, but usually have no yoke and sometimes these small " practice eggs " are are empty. It's possible a bantam breed of pullet will also lay pee wee eggs.
Naturally we had to crack them open and see for ourselves. They were yoke-less but not empty. Each egg did have egg whites. One thing we are sure of is that it is most likely one chicken laying the peewee eggs. They are both the same color and Easter Egger's lay the same color egg all the time. Peewee eggs can also be used for pickling. Typically a peewee egg weighs around 42 grams. Peewee eggs are generally not sold in groceries or supermarkets but are often given to bakeries and other establishments involved in food processing.
For more backyard chicken info go to here to read up on Chick Days at your local TSC ( Tractor Supply Company )
25 comments:
We had a chicken that laied a few of these too. They kept getting a little bigger each time. But they all had yolks. My kids would fight over who get's a mini fried egg that morning.
Loraine, In the early spring our newest girls laid smaller eggs too ( with yokes) These are by far the smallest we've seen! It will be interesting to watch and see if it stops soon!
How cool! I've never seen such mini eggs!
I know, they are mini!!!
I am loving reading about your chickens! I want to get some for my backyard but I'm 99.9% sure that's going to be a 2013 project and this year will be all about learning how to take care of them and getting the things I need in order. Thanks for sharing!!
Learn something every day. I grew up on a farm and didn't know this.
My order from Mountain Rose is coming today, can't wait.
Nancy Jo
learn a new thing every day ! Banty hens also lay smaller eggs , we used to raise both laying hens and Banty's ! . Great post and photo, Have a good day !
haha! We have had quite a few mysterious peewee eggs around here, too! They are so cute and tiny! Thanks for commenting on my blog!
-Bella Hope!
Also Tahnks so much for following me, too!
-Bella Hope!
Good for you Kathy! You'll love keeping chickens!
Oh great! Can't wait to hear how you like the products!
when our girls first started laying in late January their eggs were much smaller than normal too, but none were like the peewee eggs!
Hi Bella!
So you've seen these little eggs too huh? Nice to see young farmgirls like your self blogging... You're doing a wonderful job!
I get these once in a while. Usually it seems as though it is after one of my hens has finished her molt and starts laying again. One of my Easter Egg chickens laid a couple this spring and then back to normal. Had a couple last fall. Tried to blow the insides out to keep the eggs. Broke one but still have the other. I think they are so cute.
I've seen them when they first start laying but just today we got one and they are all 2 years old. But, we just moved their coop a couple days ago (while they were in it) so I'm thinking there was a bit of trauma going on! LOL
Oh wow! I have never seen those before. Most likely, if I had, I would have FREAKED! I probably would have thought that some other animal had made itself comfortable in our nesting boxes LOL!
- Cassandra ♥
Hi Deb, I have had some of those cute little eggs and like yours they only have white..
Hi Dolly,
I'm having fun reading that so many of you have experienced having these peewee eggs!
LOL! I have to say, we were pretty surprised to find them too!
Oh, could be Cheree! Ours have been laying for a while too so I thought it was strange that all of a sudden we had peewees'. but, we have nine hens and we weren't getting 9 eggs a day. So may one of the new girls is just slow to start!
Hi Brenda,
They are cute... I saved the egg whites... I'll bake with them or toss them into some scrambled eggs! That would have been neat to save the egg too!
Deborah
My hens will lay peewee eggs once in a while. They are much smaller than the ones you pictured. They are closer to a man's thumb nail size and more round v. egg shaped.
I just figure my good layers are having an off day. Don't we all?
Wow. I didn't know there were yokeless eggs. Though I've seen such with two yokes! So interesting!
Oh yeah... we've had those two yolkers too every now and then. Talk about HUGE! Poor girls!!
Wow,we never had any eggs that small. Interesting! However, I have two Ameraucana chicks -- so we will see what happens! :o)
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