Hen Little Lil lays eggs the size of grapefruit

A primary school's pet chicken has astonished pupils and teachers by laying eggs the size of grapefruit.

Little Lil, a Columbian blacktailed cross hen, is the smallest of her flock but regularly lays eggs measuring 10cm across - more than twice the size of a normal egg.

Youngsters at Raikes Centre pupil referral unit in Gloucester have been unable to measure the weight of the eggs because they exceed 8oz, the maximum their scales will reach.



When pupils cracked open the latest oversized egg they found a yolk, an egg white and another small but complete egg on the inside, like a Russian doll.

The six-month old hen has only been laying since October but once a month she forces out an egg measuring an eye-watering 10cm by 8cm.

Teacher Kate Farminer, 54, said: "We've got four pet chickens here and Little Lil is by far the smallest and also the quietest. So we were amazed when she started laying these enormous eggs - you wonder how she gets them out."