Finding broken eggs outside the nesting box...????

[mrbillwej]

I hope some one can tell me why, would I find eggs outside the nesting box, that appear to have been pecked or stepped on ? The egg shells are hard and over all the eggs look to be fine ( except the obvious damage). I thought maybe it was a territorial thing?? Any reasons, or theories would be welcomed. I'm finding one every other day and in between I'll get a good one. Thanks,
bill-

 

[kelck22]

What are your nesting boxes like? they could just be accidentally falling out.

 

[mrbillwej]

At fist I thought the same, but I have a 5" lip , so I took out a little hay to lower the bed. I just found a "greenish" colored egg in an area of the yard the peck around in ????????? It almost looks like a lightly colored Easter egg.

 

[kelck22]

Mine will lay in the middle of the coop or in the yard every once in a while.