A chicken called Holly Willoughby has proved to be a little cracker by laying the smallest egg in Britain.
Owner Neil Foster raised eight month-old Holly from a chick and even built her an 18-room run as the perfect egg-laying environment.
He checked the roost every day to see if the Sussex star – named after his favourite day time TV star – had laid her first egg.
But he was a little surprised when she finally produced an egg just 2cm wide – the same size as a pound coin.
The egg is so small Neil says its not worth eating and he is now hoping it will be confirmed as a record breaker.
Hens sometimes produce smaller eggs when they first start laying – or when they experience stress.
Father-of-four Neil, 44, said he feared he may have put Holly under too much pressure by naming her after Holly.
He said: “We have three chickens, Keith Lemon, Holly Willoughby and one with a funny beak called Ferne.
“Holly is definitely the most popular of the hens so maybe she has been under too much pressure.
“Her coop and food are all excellent so there must be another reason.
“We collect the eggs to give away to friends – but we’re going to hang on to this one, it’s special.
“It’s certainly the smallest egg I’ve ever seen.”
Bike shop owner Neil, of Peterborough, Cambs., started collecting animals to make a small petting zoo at his home for his family.
His wife Michelle, 41, and their children Nathan, 22, Kia, 21, Jasmine, 16, and eight year-old Finley all help care for the hens.
Guinness said they are investigating the claim.
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