If you got your chicks in the late spring, your young pullets (female chickens under a year old) should have just laid their first eggs. It’s a pretty exciting thing, especially if you are new to chickens.
But to the first-time chicken owner, it also be somewhat dismaying to see how small that first egg is. I’ve talked to a number of disappointed people who thought their chickens would provide them large eggs to crack open in a hot skillet every morning.
But fear not! The first eggs laid by pullets often are smaller than they will be later on. Early eggs also can have softer shells. I’ve found many eggs that were actually pliable when I picked them up.
Typically, as young pullets continue to grow, so will the size of her eggs. Usually eggs will reach full-size by the time hens reach their second laying season (after molting).
While you wait for eggs to get bigger, make sure your pullet is getting a quality layer feed with adequate calcium to make shells strong. If you are feeding a layer feed with the right vitamins and minerals, you don’t really need to offer extra supplementation, but some people do like to offer crushed oyster shells to their hens for additional calcium.
Remember, though, you shouldn’t be feeding your pullets oyster shell or layer feed that contains calcium until they have begun laying.
In the meantime, enjoy those first eggs from your young pullets. It’s just the beginning of a wonderful relationship!