Egg size

Does egg size really matter? … YES!

It’s super exciting when your girls start to lay again after the winter break, but large eggs are not something to get excited about - this can be due to a nutritional imbalance, including too much protein, too many treats and other dietary factors.

It’s not unusual for hens laying for the first time to lay a few small or large eggs (sometimes double yolks) while they settle into a rhythm, but encouraging hens to lay extra-large eggs long term will not only cause them discomfort, but it also risks long-term health complications. Large eggs can be very uncomfortable for your hens to lay.

You can check online to find out what egg size is appropriate for your breed of hens.

For context, a medium-sized supermarket egg is between 53g and 63g, laid by a hybrid hen that weighs around 2kg.

Need another reason to quit the treats? Sunflower seeds contain linoleic acid (and fats), which can increase the size of your girls' eggs, and contribute to excess body weight. This can create the perfect storm for an egg-bound hen; the eggs are too big, and the pelvis is too narrow.