It started out like any other morning. After I got my husband and kids out the door for work and school, I went out to check on my flock and collect any eggs that may be out there. I was looking for eggs like I do every day (not all of my girls like nesting boxes). I walked through the coop with a train of chickens behind me waiting for their morning treat. And there, next to a few other regular-sized eggs, was this cute little, tiny egg. I had read about “fairy” eggs. Otherwise known as rooster eggs, wind eggs, witch eggs, or on the funnier side, fart eggs. No matter what you call them, finding one of these tiny eggs is a fun surprise!
Fairy eggs are a common occurrence in backyard chicken coops. These tiny yolkless eggs certainly live up to their whimsical name. If your hen is repeatedly laying fairy eggs, you may be wondering what’s going on. Here’s a comprehensive look at the causes meaning, and solutions for chronic fairy egg layers.
What Are Fairy Eggs?
Fairy eggs, which are also called wind eggs, cock eggs, or fart eggs, are very small eggs that don’t have a yolk inside. They are typically the size of a marble or smaller. When an egg is taken out of the ovary before it has time to get a yolk, it doesn’t have one.
There may be a small amount of yolk in some fairy eggs, but most of them don’t have any. The shell color matches the hen’s normal egg color. Other than that, these little eggs are fully formed, with a shell, membranes, and albumen (egg white).
Top Reasons for Laying Fairy Eggs
There are a few common reasons a chicken may lay fairy eggs on a regular basis:
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Age: Young pullets beginning to lay and older hens toward the end of the laying cycle are more prone to fairy eggs as their hormone levels fluctuate.
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Stress: When the flock, coop, or environment changes, it can stress out the chickens and stop them from laying eggs normally. Predators, new chickens, loud noises, etc. may trigger more fairy eggs.
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Food: Eggs that are too small or don’t develop normally can be caused by not getting enough calcium, protein, or other nutrients. Evaluate diet quality.
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Health Issues Reproductive issues respiratory infections parasites, etc. may sometimes manifest in fairy egg laying. Monitor the hen closely.
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Hormone Imbalances: Tumors, ovarian cysts, or other hormone issues could affect the hen’s reproductive system and egg development. Consult a vet if concerned.
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Egg-Laying Cycle: Natural variations in egg size and consistency happen in a hen’s laying cycle. A fairy egg here and there is usually normal.
When to Worry About Fairy Eggs
An occasional fairy egg is not a cause for concern. However, if your chicken is laying multiple fairy eggs per week, it could signify an underlying issue.
Look for other symptoms like decreased energy, appetite changes, drop in egg production, weight loss, parasites, respiratory issues, etc. Any combination of fairy eggs and other symptoms warrants a closer look.
Schedule a vet visit if you notice anything that concerns you or persists longer than 1-2 weeks. They can run tests to pinpoint any health problems.
What to Do if Your Hen Keeps Laying Fairy Eggs
First, review the hen’s diet, environment, and overall health. Ensure she has a nutritious feed, access to greens/insects, appropriate calcium levels, clean coop, and flock stability.
Monitor her closely for signs of illness and schedule a vet visit if issues persist. The vet can diagnose and treat any parasites, infections, reproductive problems, or age-related changes causing the fairy eggs.
You may wish to isolate and observe the fairy egg layer to identify any triggers and relieve stressors. Make gradual coop changes to avoid disrupting her normal routine.
If the hen is older and fairy eggs are age-related, you may opt to retire her from the flock. An older hen with declining production may fair better in a pet home.
While fairy eggs alone are not dangerous, chronic fairy egg laying merits some investigation into the hen’s health and environment. Addressing any underlying issues and minimizing stress can help restore normal egg production. With attentive care and monitoring, your fairy egg layer can thrive!
What is a Fairy Egg?
A fairy egg is an egg that is missing the yolk. If you crack your egg open to find only white, then it’s considered a fairy egg. These cute little eggs are nothing to cause you concern. They are laid more commonly by young hens early in their laying cycle. But they can also occur in hens that are nearing the end of their laying days. Fairy eggs can also be caused by a disruption or stress while the hen is creating her egg. So, while not as common, it could happen in prime laying years as well. Fairy eggs are produced when the egg white (albumen) begins forming before the yolk is released during ovulation. Is it true that a hen needs about 25 hours to lay an egg? The process of creation is so amazing that it blows my mind every time I think about it.
What is a Fairy Egg? – Five Minute Chicken Tips!
FAQ
Why is my chicken all of a sudden laying tiny eggs?
Stress. Predators, weather extremes, not enough water or feed and disease or illness can all cause a hen to temporarily lay smaller than expected eggs.
How to treat chicken laying lash eggs?
An infection like lash eggs needs to be treated with antibiotics. If she doesn’t get enough calcium in her food, she might lay eggs without shells or with thin shells. To fix this, she should eat more calcium-rich foods like layer feed that includes crushed egg shells and calcium-rich grit in the coop.
Who eats fairy eggs?
Bowtruckles were drawn to fairy eggs and ate them, along with woodlice. Hermione Granger mentioned this in response to Professor Grubbly-Plank’s question in a Care of Magical Creatures lesson on Bowtruckles in 1995 at Hogwarts.
Why are my chickens laying weird eggs?
… when chickens are just beginning to lay or when they are finishing their reproductive life, because the hormones that regulate egg production are changingMay 30, 2022.
Why is my chicken laying fairy eggs?
Your chicken may be stressed, have nutritional deficiencies, or be at the start or end of its egg-laying cycle if it keeps laying fairy eggs. Young hens just starting to lay and older hens tend to lay fairy eggs more frequently. Are Fairy Eggs Safe to Eat? Yes, fairy eggs are safe to eat.
Do hens lay fairy eggs?
Young hens that are just starting to lay eggs and older hens that are almost done laying eggs are more likely to lay fairy eggs. It’s part of the natural variation in egg production as hens age.
Can a hybrid chicken lay small fairy eggs?
You can avoid getting small fairy eggs for the most part by opting for a hybrid chicken rather than a pure breed, as hybrid chickens will usually lay medium and large-sized eggs. Nutrition is a large factor contributing to the health of your flock, as well as the size of the eggs they lay.
Why do hens eat fairy eggs?
These eggs can be recognized by their fragile shell or the complete absence of an eggshell and are not fit for consumption. Fairy eggs are shelled eggs but smaller and lack a yolk. Their cause can be a calcium or protein deficiency. If only one hen lays an occasional fairy egg, it has nothing to do with nutrition.
Why do hens lay small eggs?
Any hormonal fluctuations, particularly in young hens just starting to lay or older hens nearing the end of their laying cycle, can result in the occasional small egg. If a hen experiences an interruption in her hormone production, she may lay smaller eggs or even produce fairy eggs without yolks.
Do fairy eggs affect chickens?
Get you FREE Chicken Journal now! Want More? Every once in a while we all get a fairy egg. In the long run, it doesn’t affect your flock, or homestead unless you were really counting on that egg for breakfast. Miniature eggs are just one of the many things that you’ll find in the nesting box when you raise chickens.