New layers laying eggs from roost?

[Catharinejo]

We collected our first eggs about 2 weeks ago and know that not all of our pullets are laying yet. Until today they had all used the nesting boxes. Today we’ve found 2 eggs on the floor of the coop under the roost. It looks like they were laid while the girls were perched on the roost bars. Is that normal behavior and will they (hopefully) figure it out? The first egg this morning was cracked and the 2nd one was shell-less and covered in something weird but I know that can be normal when they are just getting warmed up.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Sometimes new layers will lay from the roost during the night. Most sort it out quickly, but in my first Flock I had one pullet lay from the roost for over a month.
My second Flock sorted it out quickly. GC

 

[sealer39]

It’s normal. It takes them a little while to get the swing of things.

 

[aart]

We collected our first eggs about 2 weeks ago and know that not all of our pullets are laying yet. Until today they had all used the nesting boxes. Today we’ve found 2 eggs on the floor of the coop under the roost. It looks like they were laid while the girls were perched on the roost bars. Is that normal behavior and will they (hopefully) figure it out? The first egg this morning was cracked and the 2nd one was shell-less and covered in something weird but I know that can be normal when they are just getting warmed up.

Can be pretty common, especially with a group of pullets that don't have hens around to 'show them the ropes'. Also common for softshell eggs to be laid elsewhere than the nests.
Have you gotten eggs in the nests too?

 

[Catharinejo]

Can be pretty common, especially with a group of pullets that don't have hens around to 'show them the ropes'. Also common for softshell eggs to be laid elsewhere than the nests.
Have you gotten eggs in the nests too?

Yes we’ve collected about a dozen eggs from the nesting boxes, just the 2 yesterday we’re under the roost.

 

[aart]

Just give 'em time...can take up to a month or so for things to smooth out.

 

[Catharinejo]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Pabbott]

Okay I was putting my chickens to bed tonight. Always go in after I close up the coop to do a head check, a health check on them and collect the remaining eggs. Tonight I stood and watch the chickens find their spots on the roost a we have. Most of my chickens are turning a year old this month. My Roo and 12 hens were on the roosts. One of my larger hens laid and egg while on the roost and it was like a frenzie!!!! I didn’t have enough time to get the egg before about 5 hens jumped down and ate it. They never bother the eggs in the boxes but they sure jumped in the roost egg. Just set me back a little. How weird is that???