Eggs are surely the part you’ll most look forward to when getting chickens. If you raise chicks for the first time, you’ll peek excitedly into the nesting box every day. If you stick to natural light, you’ll count the days until spring while you make do without fresh eggs during your hens’ winter break.
Occasionally you’ll get surprises like an extra large double yolker, which makes you feel sorry for the hen who laid it. And sometimes you’ll find a teeny tiny egg, also known as a fairy or, less politely, fart egg.
When I found one of these eggs today, it was still warm, but I couldn’t pinpoint which of the girls laid it. I suspect it was one of those who are now going into molt. The coop floor looks like someone split an old-fashioned feather pillow there.
An occasional fairy egg is usually nothing to worry about, though it could point to a reproductive tract issue if this happens repeatedly. When I crack these odd little eggs I just see some egg white with no yolk.
Looking at my hens molt makes me doubly aware that the days are getting shorter and fall is ahead (although it can be hard to believe given the level of heat we’re having). The summer is going by too fast.
Domestic Felicity 