Is this normal?

[ChristieDB]

Hi there!

We have 6 hennys - as of last week all six are now laying. We are brand new to chickens... Got our girls this past March.

I've noticed that when they first start laying every once in a while there is some poop on the egg. Is that normal?

They are all very healthy and I'm probably freaking myself out for nothing...

 

[Chickassan]

Chit happens. And as long as it isn't all the time it is normal.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are you sure they're not tracking it into the nestbox? I used to have a less-than-ideal set up and sometimes the hens would track mud or poop into the box, as it was pretty much just sitting on the ground.

 

[PouleChick]

Are they sleeping (therefore pooing) in thier nest boxes?

 

[chickendreams24]

Do they have poop stuck in their butt feathers?

When the egg exits it collapses the excrement exit which is a crazy cool thing. Of course this means their shouldn't be poo but it can happen other ways and maybe even when a hen is straining very hard.

Btw congratulations on your 6 new laying pullets they will be considered hens when they reach a year old.

 

[Coop Z-ville]

I've heard from many experienced chicken raisers (I'm not) that this is a sign of worms. Some say they use diatomaceous earth in their feed, others use a commercial wormer.

 

[aart]

I've heard from many experienced chicken raisers (I'm not) that this is a sign of worms. Some say they use diatomaceous earth in their feed, others use a commercial wormer.

Naahhh...many things cause cause odd droppings.
.....and DE will not cure any parasite infestation, internal or external.

That poopy egg looks distinctly like a chicken foot print, poop could have been in the nest from roosting(sleeping) or tracked in.