Tiny eggs don’t impede egg production, but can be a fun surprise found in the nesting box from time to time! Also called fairy eggs, here is what they are and why they happen.
The first time I found a teeny tiny egg I was bewildered. How did this happen? Is my hen sick?
Turns out, smaller eggs are sometimes called fairy eggs! There is nothing wrong with them. They are perfectly fine to eat and they are usually a product of young hens.
Fairy eggs are rooted in old myths. Let’s dive in a see what they’re actually about!
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What is a Fairy Egg?
A fairy egg is a smaller egg, usually one without a yolk. That’s our key sign in this situation. Because it’s missing the yolk, we know that this is a misfiring of the hen’s reproductive system.
The formation of the yolk is the signal to the hen’s body to create the shell. But in some cases, a tiny piece of reproductive tissue will break away and prematurely form the shell.
Usually, this is among young hens or pullet eggs. But sometimes, this can also be the sign a mature hen has come to the end of her laying season.
A fairy egg can also have a yolk. In my experience, none of my fairy eggs have ever had a yolk.
How Eggs Grow – A Trip Through a Hen’s Reproductive Cycle
Eggs begin as a yolk in the hen’s ovaries. As that yolk travels through the oviduct, the egg white forms.
As the egg makes its way to the uterus, the shell forms around the egg and hardens. When the egg reaches the vent, it is laid.
Right before a hen lays her eggs, she secretes a protective coating called the bloom. The bloom dries on farm-fresh eggs and seals the pores shut. This prevents bacteria from crossing through the pores and is what makes farm-fresh eggs shelf-stable for a few weeks!
If you have a rooster in your flock, there’s a good chance he has fertilized the eggs of your hens. How can you know?
A rooster will fertilize a hen’s eggs through cloacal contact. Sperm travels to the oviduct where it can stay vital for weeks! As the hen lays her eggs, sperm will fertilize them.
Some say a hen can lay fertilized eggs for up to two weeks after a rooster has fertilized eggs. If you are breeding chickens, or want to avoid cross-breeding, properly understanding this can impact the outcome of your next hatch.
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Fairy Eggs, Dwarf Eggs, Fart Eggs – Oh My!
Fairy eggs are a legend in good luck. So much so that some people tried to preserve them by draining the egg yolks and whites and stringing them to a piece of yarn to make a necklace.
Dwarf eggs have also been known as “cock eggs.” Both are synonymous terms with fairy eggs. Dwarf eggs are more commonly associated with no yolk, or hard shells, and can happen to any breed.
Fart eggs, while funny in name, are also the same thing as a fairy egg. However, the idea is that the lack of yolk is a hen introducing air into her reproductive tract instead of a yolk. Thus, fart eggs are also known to be called “wind eggs.”
What’s not so funny is the history behind fart eggs. While fairy eggs were revered and preserved, fart eggs were assumed to be laid by roosters and were a sign of bad luck.
Other Common Reasons a Hen Lays Small Eggs
If a hen is laying her first egg, it’s not uncommon for it to be a small egg. As she matures, her body begins to acclimate to laying eggs and normal eggs will be an almost daily occurrence.
If you have mature hens, small eggs may be a sign of stress. Stress during ovulation can cause a hen to lay yolkless eggs. Stress can come from a variety of factors – molting, extreme weather, and environmental stress like a mean rooster.
To avoid environmental stress, be sure a chicken has proper access to sunlight and access to a nest box so they can feel safe as they lay their eggs.
Sometimes, egg size will be directly related to the breed of bird you have. Bantam eggs will be smaller because bantam hens are smaller. Quail also lays small eggs.
If large eggs are a priority for you, remember that as you consider different chicken breeds to raise.
I like to raise ISA Browns. They are friendly and lay normal-sized eggs to large eggs.
I also like to add to my flock every year. I do not rely on older hens to supply eggs for my family.
Even More Egg Laying Tips
Thin shells are even more common than fairy eggs. Luckily, they can be easily fixed.
Consider the amount of calcium a chicken has in their feed, and don’t be afraid to increase it. Grit like oyster shells is a great supplement to introduce to your flock.
Healthy eggs can also come by providing constant access to water and making chickens have the square feet they need to roam and forage.
Finally, while you can’t manage environmental change, you can minimize the effects. I have a whole blog post on how to tend to chickens during the summer. If you are dealing with brutal cold or snow, check out this blog post for winter chicken care tips.
If you have high-production laying hens, know that daylight hours are a huge factor in keeping your numbers up. That’s why it’s common to see a dip in production during the winter. There’s less sunlight!
How Involved Are You in the Egg-Laying Process?
If you have a new layer, it’s common to want to make sure they have everything they need to succeed! If you are here because you have fairy eggs of your own, enjoy the surprises and know that you can still eat those eggs.
If you are new to backyard chickens, I have so many resources available for you! My resources page has all the links to the products we use and love in our backyard homestead.
I also have an entire blog post dedicated to farm fresh eggs and all the normal (and not-so-normal) things you may see.
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