Got 12 eggs from 2 hens in one day thought it was broken math

I pulled 8 eggs from my Rhode Island Red and 4 from my Barred Rock yesterday morning, which should be impossible since they only lay one each. Turns out my neighbor's rooster had been sneaking into the run and both hens had been holding eggs for two days after a cold snap. Has anyone else had hens double up like this or was my timer just way off?

2 comments

2 Comments

linda_butler2811d ago

That cold snap could have messed with their internal clocks more than you think. I've read that hens can actually hold a formed egg for an extra day if their bodies sense a big temperature drop, almost like they're waiting for better conditions to lay. Your birds might have been sitting on two eggs each, ready to pop when the weather broke. Also, if your neighbor's rooster was sneaking in, that stress plus the cold might have triggered a weird hormonal response. I'd keep a close eye on them for a few days to make sure they don't go into a full molt after that double lay.

fiona_scott4411d ago

My Wyandottes did the same thing last January, @linda_butler28, and a little oyster shell in their feed helped them bounce back fast.