Chickens Can Lay “Fairy Eggs”
If you’ve ever discovered a tiny, yolkless egg in your chicken coop, you may have found what is often called a “fairy egg.” These miniature eggs are sometimes referred to as “fart eggs” or “wind eggs” and have sparked all sorts of myths and curiosity. Some even believe they are self-laid, meaning a chicken lays an egg without the involvement of her reproductive system. But here’s the truth: fairy eggs are real, but they are not self-laid.
Fairy eggs are unusually small eggs, often laid without a yolk. They may be as small as a grape and are often a surprise to even experienced poultry keepers. Unlike regular eggs, they don’t contain the essential nutrient-rich yolk, and they typically don’t develop into chicks.
Fairy eggs form when a hen’s body begins the egg formation process without the usual trigger: the release of a yolk from the ovary. Instead of wrapping albumen (egg white), membranes, and a shell around a yolk, the hen’s oviduct may start building an egg around a speck of tissue, calcium, or simply fluid. The result is a fully shelled, tiny egg—but one that never had a yolk to begin with.
A common misconception is that fairy eggs are “self-laid”—as if the egg materializes from the hen without her body initiating the process. But this isn’t true. Fairy eggs are still produced by the hen’s reproductive system, just like any other egg. The only difference is that the process started without a yolk being released. In some cases, a small piece of reproductive tissue or debris triggers the shell formation.
This is a natural, if unusual, hiccup in the egg-laying cycle. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong with your chicken, nor does it suggest she’s doing something abnormal. It just means the system got a little ahead of itself or missed a step.
Fairy eggs are most laid by young hens just starting to lay (called pullets) or older hens nearing the end of their productive laying years. Their reproductive systems are either getting up to speed or winding down, and occasionally, a misfire occurs.
Stress, sudden environmental changes, or hormonal fluctuations can also contribute to the formation of a fairy egg. But in all cases, they are harmless and usually a rare occurrence.
Fairy eggs may be small and unusual, but they’re a charming reminder of how complex and fascinating nature is. They may not hatch or feed a family, but they certainly spark conversation and wonder—just don’t be fooled into thinking they’re self-made. The hen still did the work, just a little differently this time.
