Help -- Hen laid egg while roosting (smash)

[farmin'chick]

Okay -- Maybe the problem will go away in a few days. I got 20 mature layers today. 8 of them laid an egg. One of them laid it while sitting on the roost -- a 3 ft drop to the ground. Should I chalk it up to stress from changing residences, or just figure I've got a not too bright chick that's going to lay eggs in the air every day?

 

[keljonma]

My guess is that it could be one of her first eggs. I've had that happen with pullets just starting to lay before. If you see she is going to make a habit of it, pick her up gently and carefully and put her into a nest box, so she gets the idea.

 

[Mahonri]

I've had it happen a number of times... I watched it happen once and a number of the other hens, jumped off of the roost and went down to feast. I hope I don't have egg eaters.

 

[crooked stripe]

For the past year I have been finding eggs laying on the wood chips under the roost at least once every week. I keep the bedding material piled up to keep the eggs from breaking. I figure the egg is laid while the chickens are sleeping do to the fact I always find them first thing in the morning when opening the coop. I have never read anything about this problem so I just deal with it. I wonder how common this is.

 

[farmin'chick]

Thanks! Your replies make me feel better...at least it's not just one chicken in the universe.

 

[duck walk]

I have had that happen a few times with first eggs...mine have gotten past it after once or twice and hit the nest boxes there after...I have a young group now that just started laying this past week and have found four or five eggs on the coop floor like they were just walking around and ploop! It is funny to see the reactions of the other birds when an egg just kind of ramdomly hits the floor...they get all excited and gather around chattering and seemingly wondering what the heck?! Is it alive? Can we eat it? You go first and if it doesn't kill you, we will help...they all just crack me up...