Random eggs outside of coop

[Marinefam2053]

So, every now and again, I’ll find a lone egg in my run. Once, it looked like someone might have pecked it open. Yesterday, it was just there on the ground by the waterer. How in the world is it ending up outside of the coop that is off the ground??

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

So, every now and again, I’ll find a lone egg in my run. Once, it looked like someone might have pecked it open. Yesterday, it was just there on the ground by the waterer. How in the world is it ending up outside of the coop that is off the ground??

So there's no way a hen could have laid it while out in the run? Sometimes, a hen will just wait too long and bam! it's egglaying time while she's in the run and the egg drops out on the ground. I watched this happen just a week or so ago. Poor planning on that hen's part.

 

[azygous]

Usually this random egg-appearing-in-the-run thing is associated with new layers not quite yet having the nest box habit. But I've had a lazy Welsummer well into her mature years do it.

I am grateful when I find such an egg unmolested, but I really have never been able to identify my shiftless little layer.

One other possibility is an egg is laid in the nest box but due to very fine butt feathers and an exceptionally wet, sticky egg, the hen then "wears" the egg out of the coop which eventually works its way loose and drops in the run. I got this photo of the egg stuck to my Cochin's butt feathers after solving the mystery of why so many tan eggs were ending up in the run.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Usually this random egg-appearing-in-the-run thing is associated with new layers not quite yet having the nest box habit. But I've had a lazy Welsummer well into her mature years do it.

I am grateful when I find such an egg unmolested, but I really have never been able to identify my shiftless little layer.

One other possibility is an egg is laid in the nest box but due to very fine butt feathers and an exceptionally wet, sticky egg, the hen then "wears" the egg out of the coop which eventually works its way loose and drops in the run. I got this photo of the egg stuck to my Cochin's butt feathers after solving the mystery of why so many tan eggs were ending up in the run.View attachment 2011459

Great photo!

 

[Marinefam2053]

So there's no way a hen could have laid it while out in the run? Sometimes, a hen will just wait too long and bam! it's egglaying time while she's in the run and the egg drops out on the ground. I watched this happen just a week or so ago. Poor planning on that hen's part.

I guess it’s possible, it would have been 2 different pullets doing it then..

 

[aart]

I guess it’s possible, it would have been 2 different pullets doing it then..

New layers?
Not unusual.......have even had hens 'drop' one in the run on occasion.

 

[Marinefam2053]

New layers?
Not unusual.......have even had hens 'drop' one in the run on occasion.

They are fairly new at laying. Only 2 have been laying since November and the rest are starting to catch up, slowly

thanks!