My hen laid an egg standing up in the yard

[Dcbenik93]

So this is my first time owning chickens and it's so fun and I'm learning so much, but I just hard my weirdest chicken experience yet.
Most of my girls are laying now, and Suzie (speckled sussex) went into the nesting box about 35 minutes ago to lay what I am quite certain is her first egg. I peaked out my window (after about 35 minutes) and saw she was out in the yard again with the rest of the flock. I walked up to the gate and saw her comb was very pale, her wings were drooped, she was lethargic (she's usually very spunky and follows me around), and she was panting. I check the box- no egg.
Now the freaky part. I go and stand next to her and she looks at me and I watch her comb turn back to a bright red before my eyes, so I crouch down, but then she walks away and I watch an egg just drop out of her vent! Just "plop!" The other hens went running over to it and tried to peck at it so I shooed them and picked it up.
Suzie seems okay now and her coloring is back, but is this normal?? All my other girls have just laid in the boxes! She was just out in the yard walking away from me and it's like it just fell out! Will she stay in the box next time until she's finished laying or is this going to become a habit? I'm so excited that she laid but also weirded out!

 

[sourland]

Suzie is just adjusting to the egg laying process. Eggs turn up anywhere until they figure out the process.

 

[Chickassan]

Normal, the color change is normal too. Kind of like when you have a really unplesant suprise poop you go a little pale too. Sorry couldn't think of a better comparison.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Normal, the color change is normal too. Kind of like when you have a really unplesant suprise poop you go a little pale too. Sorry couldn't think of a better comparison.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

One of mine laid her first egg standing up, and not in the nesting box. She has since laid the rest of them in the nesting boxes, thankfully.

 

[aart]

Suzie is just adjusting to the egg laying process. Eggs turn up anywhere until they figure out the process.

This^^^

..and did you know they actually do stand up when the egg emerges.

Normal, the color change is normal too. Kind of like when you have a really unplesant suprise poop you go a little pale too. Sorry couldn't think of a better comparison.

Glad I had just swallowed that mouth full of coffee.