New Egg layers: What's normal vs not
Jul 28, 2025
New Layers? Here’s What’s Normal (and What’s Not)
Real talk on first eggs, funky shapes, and what your hens are figuring out.
What No One Tells You About First Eggs
Nothing beats opening up the nest box and finding that first egg. Whether it’s your first time raising chickens or you’re a seasoned pro, those early eggs are always exciting!
But new eggs aren’t always picture-perfect or even normal.
Just like any skill, it takes new layers a little time to figure out this new business of egg laying. So if you’re seeing strange shapes, soft shells, or eggs in weird places, don’t panic.
Let’s walk through what’s normal for new layers… and what might need a closer look.
When to Expect the First Egg
Most hens start laying somewhere between 16–24 weeks of age. The exact timing depends on several factors:
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Breed
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Season and daylight hours
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Diet and overall health
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Environmental stressors
Signs your pullets are getting close:
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Lordosis behavior (they squat when you reach toward them)
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Bright red combs and wattles
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Exploring nesting areas
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A noticeable increase in noise as they start practicing their “egg song!”
It might happen suddenly, or gradually over a few days. Either way, it’s a fun milestone to watch for.
What’s Normal for New Layers
Don’t be surprised if you open the nest box and find some oddities.
It’s perfectly normal to see:
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Tiny eggs (often called fairy eggs)
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Soft-shelled eggs: basically an egg without a full shell
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Misshapen eggs or double yolks
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Random laying spots: under the roost, in the middle of the coop, or anywhere but the nesting box
These things are especially common in the first few weeks of laying, but can pop up at any point in a hen’s life.
We have one hen, our Partridge Cochin named Chocolate Chip, who still lays tiny fairy eggs fairly often. The kids love it.
These are all Chocolate Chip's eggs shown with one of our coturnix quail eggs for a size comparison.
You might also see small streaks of blood on an egg, especially after a larger one. That’s usually just part of their system adjusting.
I like to add wooden or ceramic eggs to the nesting boxes around 16 weeks to help them figure out where to lay. A clean, quiet, dark nesting area helps a lot too.
What’s Not Normal (And Might Need a Closer Look)
Some things are not just a “new layer quirk” and are worth watching closely:
🚩 Red flags to watch for:
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Large amounts of blood or consistently bloody eggs
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Soft or no-shell eggs that continue
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Lethargy, puffed feathers, or sitting in a corner
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Straining or swelling near the vent
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Chickens eating their own eggs
If you notice fluid, swelling, or straining it could be a sign of something serious like being egg-bound or experiencing a vent prolapse. These can be common, but they’re emergencies when they happen. (I cover this more in my free Chicken First Aid Checklist guide.)
About egg eating:
It’s gross, and unfortunately, it can become a habit. Sometimes it starts by accident. A broken egg leads to curiosity, and then…they realize they found a tasty snack.
Overcrowding and boredom are also major contributors to egg-eating behavior, so make sure your flock has enough space and enrichment.
How to Support New Layers
Here are a few simple ways to help your pullets get off to a good start:
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Feed a complete layer feed (or starter/grower if they’re not quite laying yet).
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Offer free-choice calcium like crushed oyster shell or baked eggshells.
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Keep nesting boxes clean, dry, and dark.
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Provide consistent daylight. Chickens need light reaching the eye to stimulate egg production (especially important in fall/winter).
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Handle them gently! Laying is a big change for their bodies.
If you’re unsure about feed, check out my full Chicken Feed 101 guide, it walks you through everything you need to know.
Final Thoughts
New layers are awkward. That’s okay, think of them like teenagers. They should mature and grow out of this stage.
Weird eggs, strange spots, and missed days are all part of the process. Most of it sorts itself out with time.
