Blood on eggs

[AK mom]

I am a newbie and one of our hens has laid her egg in the pen rather than the nesting box the past two days. Previously she was using the nesting box. Also, both eggs have had spots of blood on them. Any ideas of what is going on? Thanks!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Is she a young hen, both are common to first time layers. Have you put some fake eggs in the nest boxes and are they a good size and slightly dark, blood on the eggs is caused by the egg stretching the skin of the vent and causing some bleeding.

 

[AK mom]

She is fairly young as she was hatched out in early May. We have three nesting boxes and eight hens. Sometimes there are three eggs in a single nesting box which makes me think they lay consecutively since we check pretty regularly for eggs. Thank you for responding!