Did My Chicken Lay a Tiny Egg?

[Maddyluvschickens]

This morning I found a tiny dark brown egg in my chickens aviary. It was not in one of the brooder boxes, so I don't know if one of my chickens layed it or not. It is darker than either of my chicken's eggs, and is tiny. I didn't see it last night, when I put them away, but I saw it this morning when I let them out. So I don't know if it is a wild bird egg or a chicken egg. I did not see any bird nests in the trees near the chicken coop or aviary, and there were no birds nearby that came to the egg. Does anyone know where it came from?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

More than likely a fairy egg, which is indeed from one of your chickens. They usually contain no actual yolk, just a small fragment of one, which their body processes as a fully formed yolk.

They egg is darker because the same amount of pigment is applied as would be a regular egg, so they end up darker.

I see them occasionally, especially as hens are starting back up or shutting down for a break.

 

[Maddyluvschickens]

Okay, thank you so much.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Back when producing eggs for the market our replacement pullets very often began by laying eggs that graded peewee or below. Next progressing up the grading scale to small, medium, and finally large eggs.

 

[Teila]

I too have had a couple of fairy eggs .....

 

[aart]

Fairy, fart, rooster eggs are usually from a tiny piece of tissue breaking loose from the reproductive tract, or an immature ova(yolk) and the body forms an egg around it. Color can be darker than 'normal' as the pigment coating released has to cover a much smaller area so is thicker. Can happen with any age layer.

Thinks it's explained in this video,
which is worth watching even if it doesn't explain fairy eggs.
Egg Formation Video

 

[Maddyluvschickens]

Okay, thank you, this is very helpful.