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Chicken keepers

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Original poster

Big eggs... too big?

14 replies

Wabbit · 22/05/2011 18:10

Is it possible for a hen to lay eggs that are too big? Maud's been laying big eggs on and off for months now, occasionally a huge egg which is always a double yolk...

one day she laid a normal to large egg plus a weeny half size egg... both with good shells.

Yesterday's egg was so big I'm worried she's going to get egg bound, today she's not laid an egg and she's a bit off, not trundling up to see us as soon as we open the door. Found her just standing beneath a bush but did come out eventually but hasn't pestered for food.

Anything I can do feed wise?

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Original poster

Wabbit · 22/05/2011 20:31

Well, she looks a little better now and has been in to lay her today's egg, it was much more normal - could class it as Large in boxed egg terms - not Outsized

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OhWesternWind · 22/05/2011 21:51

Some of our ex-batts lay enormous eggs, but never double yolkers. They are so big you can't close an eggbox lid on them, even one for extra large eggs. Don't know if you can do anything about it. I am not an expert but I just thought the size of egg was dependent on the breed and individual bird. Sorry, not much help but I am glad she is looking better.

alibubbles · 23/05/2011 10:30

How old is she, when they start getting older the egg producing system goes a bit haywire! Bit like women really!

My Speckeldy has been laying yolkless eggs and the White Sussex enorrrmous eggs! They are around three years old, getting on!

nickelbabe · 23/05/2011 11:59

Our ex-batts used to lay weird sized eggs, too.
eventually, they stopped being eggs with solid shells and became soft ones (no matter what we fed them!).
Eventually, Sandra stopped laying completely, but Rita became egg bound and had to have it dealt with by the vet.
and that put an end to her egg-laying days.

It is normal for "old" hens to lay oddeggs, just as POLs do.
it's why the farmers get rid of them after ayear, because they can't guarantee the quality of the eggs anymore.

Original poster

Wabbit · 23/05/2011 17:55

She'll be about two I guess, she was an escapee found outside the cages in an emaciated state, poor darling lays every single day when she's not moulting - is unrecognisable compared to the pathetic feathery rag my daughter brought home.

I don't really know how long hens live?

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Original poster

Wabbit · 23/05/2011 17:59

Thank you for all your anecdotes about laying, first time hen keeper here! so good to have something to compare her with! - bit of precious first hen syndrome

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Punkatheart · 24/05/2011 11:28

If you can, give her some other food to fill her up on some days - so that she doesn't overdo it on layers pellets or mash. Try giving her some protein rich foods, to replace what she has lost in energy. It may well be her age but if she keeps doing it, it might possibly cause a prolapse. Hybrids live from 2-4 years (ish) and some pure breeds can do 6-10 years. Farmers usually cull after they finish their laying life.

Original poster

Wabbit · 25/05/2011 20:04

Punkatheart - thank you, I'm sure it must be taking a lot out of her, I read somewhere not to give chickens meat or meat derivatives... what's the best protein food for them?

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Punkatheart · 25/05/2011 20:08

Dried mealworms might be good. Not too many though. She'll love them!

Original poster

Wabbit · 26/05/2011 00:20

Ok! but i'll have to close my eyes when she eats them - that's the only thing that weirds me out about my lovely chuck... her dietary mores... bleurgh!

Thank you

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nickelbabe · 26/05/2011 10:23

I'm not sure I agree with Punk -the idea of layer's mash/pellets is that it's perfectly designed for laying hens.
too much protein means hat she might not get enough of the other nutrients that she needs.

Punkatheart · 26/05/2011 10:49

She would still have some layers mash or pellets - but to supplement with protein. She is clearly reaching the end of the laying spree and things are going awry. Layers mash encourages laying - she needs to stop laying or lay smaller eggs. It is what our vet (an avian specialist) suggested when we had a hen with a prolapse. But if things continue, I think the vet might have to be involved. I know there are radical things that can be done to stop laying - but they are drastic and according to my vet, expensive and prone to other side effects.

This hen really sounds like it would be best for her to stop laying. So let's hope that it will stop itself. They only have a finite number of eggs in one lifetime.

If you would like some more opinions - pop over to the Omlet Forum. People like Eglutyne and others are extremely experienced henkeepers.

nickelbabe · 26/05/2011 10:58

that's a good point, actually, hadn't thought of that.

yes, Omlet's good, or try the poultry allotment website too.
there are lots of people on there that keep ex-batts.

Original poster

Wabbit · 26/05/2011 17:25

Oh thank you so much, funnily enough, she's not layed for the last few days, since my first post actually, I'm hoping she's going to stop laying all by herself and can relax a bit, she's not so manic in her demands for food either which may be a sign that she's a bit off colour or may be that her body's not demanding so much as she's not laying and not intending to lay... she's not staying in the coop but coming out for a strut/prowl around the garden, so she's not gone broody.

Very helpful advice - and I'll go and have a look at the websites

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