Why Are My Eggs Small? Pullet Eggs Explained
Small eggs usually mean a young hen, her breed, or her diet. Learn why pullet eggs start small, when they grow, and how feed and stress affect egg size.
Small eggs are most often completely normal, caused by a young hen, her breed, or her diet. New layers start with small pullet eggs that grow steadily as the hen matures, some breeds simply lay small eggs by genetics, and a diet short on protein or heavy on treats can shrink eggs in otherwise healthy hens. In the vast majority of cases, small eggs are a sign of a young or small-breed layer rather than a problem. Here is how to tell which explanation fits your flock and what, if anything, to do about it.
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The most common reason: pullet eggs
If your small eggs are coming from a hen that just started laying, this is almost certainly the answer. A pullet typically comes into lay around 18 to 22 weeks of age, and her reproductive system is still maturing. Her first eggs, called pullet eggs, are noticeably small, sometimes barely larger than a large marble. This is completely normal and even a good sign that a healthy young layer is getting started.
Egg size then increases steadily. Over the following weeks and months, eggs grow from small to medium and eventually reach the standard size for the breed, usually within a couple of months. The fix here is simply time and good nutrition.
Breed sets the baseline
Egg size is largely genetic, so a mature hen's normal egg size depends heavily on her breed:
- Bantams lay small eggs by nature, often half the size of a standard egg.
- Light and ornamental breeds tend toward smaller eggs.
- Large dual-purpose and hybrid layers are bred for big eggs and lay accordingly.
If a healthy, mature hen consistently lays small eggs, her breed may simply be a small-egg layer. That is normal and nothing to fix. Knowing your breed's typical egg size helps you set realistic expectations.
Diet drives size in mature hens
For a grown hen, nutrition is the biggest lever on egg size. Eggs are built from protein and energy, so a diet short on either can produce smaller eggs. The most common mistake is feeding too many treats and scratch, which dilutes the complete layer feed. To support full-size eggs:
- Make a complete layer feed the bulk of the diet, with protein around 16 to 18 percent.
- Provide free-choice calcium like oyster shell so shells stay strong as eggs grow.
- Keep treats and scratch to about 10 percent of total intake.
- Ensure constant access to fresh, clean water, since eggs are mostly water.
Improving the ration often increases egg size over a few weeks in mature hens.
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The occasional tiny egg
Sometimes a hen lays a surprisingly tiny egg, often nicknamed a fairy, fart, or witch egg. These usually contain little or no yolk and tend to appear when a hen is just starting to lay, returning to lay after a break, or experiencing a brief hiccup in her system. A one-off tiny egg from an otherwise healthy hen is harmless and nothing to worry about. It is only persistent abnormal eggs that warrant a closer look.
Heat and stress
Environmental stress can temporarily shrink eggs. Heat stress reduces feed intake and can lower both egg size and shell quality, which is why summer eggs sometimes run smaller. Overcrowding, predator scares, parasites, and abrupt feed changes can do the same. Provide shade and cool, fresh water in hot weather, avoid crowding, and keep conditions calm. Once the stressor is removed, egg size typically recovers.
When to look closer
Small eggs are rarely a health concern on their own. Suspect something more when small eggs come alongside other signs: a hen that seems unwell, persistent shell problems, sudden drops in laying, or other abnormal eggs. In those cases, consult a poultry or avian vet or your local extension office. But for the everyday case of small eggs from a young hen, a small breed, or a treat-heavy diet, the answer is reassuring: feed well, give it time, and the eggs will grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my new hen's eggs so small?
Small first eggs are completely normal. When a pullet first comes into lay at around 18 to 22 weeks, her reproductive system is still maturing, so her early eggs, called pullet eggs, are noticeably small. Egg size increases steadily over the following weeks and months as the hen matures, usually reaching her breed's normal size within a couple of months. Small pullet eggs are a sign of a healthy young layer just getting started, not a problem.
Will small pullet eggs get bigger over time?
Yes. Pullet eggs are small only because the hen is young, and egg size naturally increases as she matures. Over the first few weeks and months of laying, eggs grow from small to medium and eventually to the standard size for her breed. Good nutrition with a complete layer feed and adequate protein helps support this growth. So if small eggs are coming from a brand-new layer, simply give her time and feed her well.
Does breed affect egg size?
Very much. Egg size is largely genetic, so some breeds simply lay smaller eggs than others. Bantams lay small eggs by nature, and light breeds like Leghorns and small or ornamental breeds tend toward smaller eggs than large dual-purpose or hybrid layers bred for big eggs. If a hen consistently lays small eggs and is mature and healthy, her breed may just be a small-egg layer, which is normal and nothing to fix.
Can diet make eggs smaller?
Yes. Egg size depends heavily on nutrition, especially protein and overall calorie intake. Hens fed too many low-protein treats and scratch, rather than a complete layer feed, may lay smaller eggs. Make sure layer feed makes up the bulk of the diet, keep protein around 16 to 18 percent, provide free-choice calcium, and limit treats to about 10 percent of intake. Improving the ration often increases egg size in mature hens over a few weeks.
Why did my older hen suddenly lay a tiny egg?
An occasional tiny egg, sometimes called a fairy, fart, or witch egg, is usually a harmless hiccup in the laying system. These tiny eggs often have little or no yolk and tend to show up when a hen is just starting to lay, getting back into lay, or experiencing a brief disruption. A one-off tiny egg from an otherwise healthy hen is nothing to worry about. Persistent abnormal eggs warrant a closer look at diet and health.
Do heat and stress shrink eggs?
They can. Heat stress reduces feed intake and can lower both egg size and shell quality, which is one reason summer eggs sometimes run smaller. Other stressors like overcrowding, predator scares, parasites, or a sudden feed change can also affect size and output. Provide shade, cool fresh water, and calm, low-stress conditions, especially in hot weather, and egg size usually recovers once the stressor is removed.
Should I worry about small eggs?
Usually not. Small eggs are most often explained by a young hen, her breed, or her diet, all of which are normal. Focus on a complete layer feed, free-choice calcium, fresh water, and low stress, and give pullets time to mature. See a poultry or avian vet if small eggs come with other signs of illness, persistent shell problems, or a hen that seems unwell, since those can point to a health issue rather than simple egg size.
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