Runner eggs

[MartinFamilyHomestead]

We have 2 blue runners and a fawn and white runner in our flock. Total of 12 hens. We are currently getting about 5 eggs a day and are certain who 2 of the eggs belong to but we just started getting a much smaller egg. Maybe size of chicken egg and it almost has a green tint to it. We tried to look into it and be believe it would be one of our runner ducks. If you have runners, are their eggs much smaller??

Also this egg is always in the nesting box and I read that rarely ever will runners lay in the boxes.

Just looking for personal experience on size of runner egg and also if they lay in your nesting boxes.

Additional info:

All of our hens-
Silver swedish
Black Swedish
Cayuga
Welsh harlequin
2 blue runners
Fawn and white runner
Buff
Saxony
Golden 300
Silver appleyard
Rouen

We know our Cayuga is laying. Her eggs started black and still have a dark grey tint to it. We also know our golden 300 is laying white eggs. Our hens are using the nesting box except one, it is the biggest egg we get and it is white.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I think it's possible it could be a Runner egg - at least one of mine laid a green-tinted egg. The smaller size could indicate a new layer (like a pullet egg).

While they weren't fans of nest boxes and would often lay wherever they pleased, it did occasionally happen. Maybe you have a particularly compliant duck.

 

[Callender Girl]

My original runner hen, Quinn, laid pale green eggs throughout her life. Those, and all of my other runners' eggs, were and are usually the size of some of my larger chickens' eggs. All my other runners lay white eggs.

As far as the nest box goes, my runners have varied habits. They don't have a nest box, per se, but some will lay on (or near) nesting pads in the corners of their shelter. Two are currently having daily arguments with the two geese -- who have their OWN shelter -- about the prime real estate up against the south side of the house foundation. Apparently, a little straw scattered over some rock mulch is a most desirable waterfowl nesting site.

However, it's also not unusual -- in fact, as recently as yesterday -- to find runner eggs simply laid on the ground, wherever they appear to have fallen out of the duck.

Your Cayuga eggs sound lovely!

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I found an egg in the bottom of a frozen puddle once. Naughty girls.

 

[indianaducks]

I think its definitely possible its a runner egg. I have 14 ladies right now, 4 are about a month or so too young to lay yet, so that gives me 10 laying ladies. Of those 10 laying ladies, I get about 8 - 9 eggs a day right now and I'd say 7-8 eggs are laid in a very small communal area, near my chicken nest boxes. Some are inside the chicken nest boxes. And out of those 10 laying ladies... 4 are runners. And I'm getting more green tinted eggs than I would just from my 2 mallard ladies. So yes, I think I'm getting green tinted runner eggs in or near a nest box. Sorry for the long winded answer LOL.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Black Runners Blue Runner and Silver Runner all lay a blue egg[when they are laying] they haven't started yet this year and almost 6 yrs. My fawn and while lays a white egg. She is the only one laying. Going on 3.

 

[MartinFamilyHomestead]

I think it's possible it could be a Runner egg - at least one of mine laid a green-tinted egg. The smaller size could indicate a new layer (like a pullet egg).

While they weren't fans of nest boxes and would often lay wherever they pleased, it did occasionally happen. Maybe you have a particularly compliant duck.

If that is the case a pullet egg, will it increase in size the more she lays??

And yes very fortunate to have some compliant ducks. All that are currently laying are in their nesting boxes. Only one is laying just on the floor. Nesting box eggs are always so clean and appreciated!!

 

[MartinFamilyHomestead]

My original runner hen, Quinn, laid pale green eggs throughout her life. Those, and all of my other runners' eggs, were and are usually the size of some of my larger chickens' eggs. All my other runners lay white eggs.

As far as the nest box goes, my runners have varied habits. They don't have a nest box, per se, but some will lay on (or near) nesting pads in the corners of their shelter. Two are currently having daily arguments with the two geese -- who have their OWN shelter -- about the prime real estate up against the south side of the house foundation. Apparently, a little straw scattered over some rock mulch is a most desirable waterfowl nesting site.

However, it's also not unusual -- in fact, as recently as yesterday -- to find runner eggs simply laid on the ground, wherever they appear to have fallen out of the duck.

Your Cayuga eggs sound lovely!

The egg we are finding on the floor of their house seems to be slightly larger than the other eggs we are getting. I wish we knew who was lying it. Yes always love our Cayuga eggs. Wish they stayed black though! So unique!!

 

[MartinFamilyHomestead]

I found an egg in the bottom of a frozen puddle once. Naughty girls.

Luckily we haven’t found any outside where they get locked up for the night. Well we did find 2 early on in a nest by our creek but not sense. We have even had a hen walk from the creek back to their home to lay an egg during the day. Thankfully most lay either in night or early morning. Our Cayuga egg we can identify and a few mornings when she first started she hadn’t laid yet so we kept her locked up but after those 2 days we have come out to an egg from her every morning. Usually let out as early at 7am.

Unfortunately we do have some hens that are just coming of laying eggs. So I’m hoping we will know when they are laying and they are doing in the house. If not and they start laying while they are free range we won’t know. Every few weeks there’s an odd day where we have to have them pinned up all day long and if we get more then, we know to expect more everyday if that makes sense

 

[MartinFamilyHomestead]

I think its definitely possible its a runner egg. I have 14 ladies right now, 4 are about a month or so too young to lay yet, so that gives me 10 laying ladies. Of those 10 laying ladies, I get about 8 - 9 eggs a day right now and I'd say 7-8 eggs are laid in a very small communal area, near my chicken nest boxes. Some are inside the chicken nest boxes. And out of those 10 laying ladies... 4 are runners. And I'm getting more green tinted eggs than I would just from my 2 mallard ladies. So yes, I think I'm getting green tinted runner eggs in or near a nest box. Sorry for the long winded answer LOL.

What’s your best way of knowing you have a new hen laying if she does it outside of their coop? We have some hens that are just getting to laying age and I don’t want them to start laying and us not know about it. One of our girls laid twice outside when she first started. Since we have been fortunate enough for them to all lay early in morning in their house.

They will be locked up for a whole day this weekend as we will be out of town and I suppose a good way to know is if we have more than the normal amount we collect everyday. Didn’t know if you had any other ways of knowing