Pullet Eggs: Why the First Ones Are Small
TL;DR: A hen’s first eggs are small and occasionally irregular, and both are normal — egg size climbs over the following weeks and keeps rising gradually through her laying life. They are ordinary eggs and perfectly good to eat; some buyers prefer them for the proportionally larger yolk. Two things worth watching in a new layer: floor laying (fix the nest boxes, not the hen) and shell problems that persist rather than settling.
The most common worry about pullet eggs is that something is wrong. Almost always nothing is.
Why They Start Small
A pullet has just begun laying. Egg size rises as she matures and continues to increase gradually across her laying life — which is also why older hens lay larger eggs with proportionally thinner shells, as covered in how many eggs does a hen lay in a lifetime.
So the small first eggs are the start of a curve, not a fault.
What Else Is Normal Early On
- Irregular timing for the first weeks before she settles into a rhythm.
- The occasional very small yolkless egg, which happens in hens just starting and is generally harmless.
- The odd double yolk, more common in young hens. Very large double-yolked eggs are worth noting, since passing them is a strain and a risk factor for prolapse.
- Getting the nest box wrong, and laying on the floor while she works it out.
What Is Worth a Second Look
Not the size — these:
| Sign | Consider |
|---|---|
| Soft or thin shells that persist | Calcium or heat — see soft-shelled eggs |
| Misshapen eggs, watery whites, sharp production drop | Possible infectious bronchitis |
| Hen straining, nothing produced | Egg bound — act promptly |
| Tissue protruding from the vent | Prolapse — emergency, isolate immediately |
| Persistent floor laying | The nest boxes, not the hen |
The pattern that distinguishes normal from not is settling versus persisting. Early irregularity that resolves over a few weeks is a hen finding her rhythm. Problems that continue, or that appear across several hens, are worth investigating.
Feeding at This Point
The switch matters here.
- Grower ration until she starts laying, then layer ration — see growing pullets.
- Free-choice calcium in a separate container once she is laying, so she takes what she needs — see calcium for laying hens and oyster shell and grit.
- Never layer feed to birds not yet laying, which is why the separate container matters in a mixed-age flock.
A hen in early lay is building shells for the first time and drawing on her own reserves if the ration is short. Getting this right now pays across her whole laying life.
Selling Them
Pullet eggs are a real market segment in some places rather than a discount item.
Why buyers want them: proportionally more yolk to white, which some cooks prefer.
How to handle them commercially:
- Sort by size rather than mixing them into standard trays. A tray of mixed sizes reads as careless — see egg grading and sizing.
- Say what they are. “Pullet eggs” is a description buyers understand, and pricing them separately is more honest than selling small eggs as standard.
- Confirm the local market before assuming a premium — the same discipline as everywhere else on this site. See selling eggs in the Philippines.
Not for Hatching
Most keepers do not set the very first small eggs. Wait until size has settled before selecting eggs to hatch — see how to store hatching eggs, which covers selecting for shape, size and shell quality.
Collecting
Frequently, as always — but pay extra attention with new layers:
- Watch for floor laying while they learn, and fix the boxes rather than blaming the hen.
- Remove broken eggs immediately. A broken egg in a nest teaches egg eating, and a flock of new layers is exactly where that habit gets started.
- Store properly — see how to store chicken eggs.
The Honest Limits Here
That egg size increases as a hen matures, and that early irregularity including occasional yolkless and double-yolked eggs is common in new layers, is standard poultry knowledge. This guide gives no egg weights, sizes or ages, because those depend on breed, strain and management. Whether pullet eggs command a premium is a local market question — confirm with a real buyer. Persistent shell or egg-quality problems, as opposed to early irregularity that settles, are worth discussing with a veterinarian or agrivet.
Related: pullet chicken, point of lay, soft-shelled eggs, egg grading and sizing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are pullet eggs?
The first eggs a young hen lays, before her egg size settles. They are noticeably smaller than the eggs the same hen will lay a few weeks later.
Why are the first eggs so small?
Because the hen is at the start of her laying life and her reproductive system is still settling into its rhythm. Egg size increases as she matures and continues to increase gradually through her laying life.
Are pullet eggs safe to eat?
Yes. They are ordinary eggs, just smaller. Some buyers actively prefer them.
Why do some people pay more for pullet eggs?
They have a proportionally larger yolk to white, which some cooks and buyers prefer. Where that market exists locally it can be worth selling them separately rather than mixing them in.
Is it normal to get an egg with no yolk?
Small yolkless eggs occur occasionally in hens just starting to lay and are generally harmless. Persistent problems are worth investigating.
Should the eggs be collected differently?
Collect frequently, as always. New layers often get the nest box wrong at first, so watch for floor laying and fix the boxes rather than the hen.
Can pullet eggs be hatched?
Very small first eggs are generally not chosen for hatching. Most keepers wait until egg size has settled before selecting eggs to set.