Dirty egg question

[ChickenDude12345]

I have 11 chickens and I got my first egg on Wednesday, October 6 2021 and had 3 good clean eggs in the nest boxes but today I checked on the coop at 3:00 in the afternoon and she was in the nest box so I came back about a half hour later and there was no egg in the box. I looked in the coop and about a foot from the box was the poopy egg. I don’t know have the egg got out of the nest because there is a lip so the egg couldn’t have been kicked out. I tried cleaning the egg but it didn’t work should I do something or just wait to see what happens tomorrow?

 

[Folly's place]

Especially pullets starting to lay eggs will sometimes pick unhelpful locations, and eggs can get really dirty. I throw them out, rather than clean a disgusting egg shell. some dirt, okay, but there are limits...
Mary

 

[ChickenDude12345]

Especially pullets starting to lay eggs will sometimes pick unhelpful locations, and eggs can get really dirty. I throw them out, rather than clean a disgusting egg shell. some dirt, okay, but there are limits...
Mary

Yeah it’s just weird because she was in the box and then the egg was out of the box

 

[Tonyroo]

Sounds like she got off the nest box and dropped the egg there. It happens, it's worst when they drop it from the roost after waking up in the morning. That happens too.

 

[MadamContrary]

I agree with @Tonyroo she probably just thought she was done and got up. Young hens are still learning what's going on, it's good her instinct is to start in the box. She'll get the hang of it. I wash poopy eggs in very warm water and store in the fridge or cook them immediately.

 

[ChickenDude12345]

I go ou

I agree with @Tonyroo she probably just thought she was done and got up. Young hens are still learning what's going on, it's good her instinct is to start in the box. She'll get the hang of it. I wash poopy eggs in very warm water and store in the fridge or cook them immediately

I agree with @Tonyroo she probably just thought she was done and got up. Young hens are still learning what's going on, it's good her instinct is to start in the box. She'll get the hang of it. I wash poopy eggs in very warm water and store in the fridge or cook them immediately.

Today I found an egg in the same spot. Hopefully she learns when she is done laying an egg

 

[ChickenDude12345]

Sounds like she got off the nest box and dropped the egg there. It happens, it's worst when they drop it from the roost after waking up in the morning. That happens too.

Found an egg in the same place today. Hopefully she learns soon before they get broke or dirty

 

[Tonyroo]

Found an egg in the same place today. Hopefully she learns soon before they get broke or dirty

You could leave a fake egg or golf ball in the nest, if she's not understanding. Chickens learn from example and other chickens.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

My girls have sand in the coop, run, and nest boxes, so I rarely have a dirty egg. The only time I do it when someone accidentally poops as she’s laying. If she stays in the box tho, the poop usually gets knocked off as she’s moving the egg around in the sand underneath her.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I agree with @Tonyroo she probably just thought she was done and got up. Young hens are still learning what's going on, it's good her instinct is to start in the box. She'll get the hang of it. I wash poopy eggs in very warm water and store in the fridge or cook them immediately.

Even if you cannot muster the courage to eat this egg yourself, you might consider cooking it scrambled, with or without the crushed shell, and feeding it back to your laying hens. It has the perfect protein & amino acid profile, making it a delicious and nutritious treat.