I have female quail on DL.They build deep nests hours before they lay, so I know where the egg is going to be. I don't mind them laying where they want. My issue is that they sometimes cover/bury the eggs in the deep litter.
I like this style for my birds. It can hold enough water to last all day. It doesn't use much space in a brooder. Water can be wasted when cleaning this style of dispenser. Sit them inside tiny bowls to prevent spills/mess in the coop.
Thanks for taking the time to share this with us. It's informative. Sharing pictures with descriptions is good. I like that you gave possible causes for the odd eggs and reassurance that they may be unattractive yet they are safe to eat.
Sandy lays in the evening. Thank heavens she doesn't lay in the morning. That high-pitch strangulation sound before my coffee could possible tip me over the edge if she was a morning layer 🤣