One of the men involved in the bizarre Florida pub shooting — where a farmer allegedly opened fire over an argument about how many eggs chickens can lay — says the gunman was super paranoid … and took an honest question the wrong way.

Tyler McHargue joined us on “TMZ Live” Friday and explained how a harmless discussion about egg-laying hens turned into gunfire and multiple arrests early Tuesday morning.

Tyler says he was out with friends celebrating a birthday when they met Peter Riera at Harpers Pub in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Riera is the man cops say opened fire outside the pub following the argument.

Farmer P apparently sells his chickens’ eggs at a farmer’s market, and Tyler says he asked how many eggs the chickens lay … trying to understand the circumstances in order to help Farmer P sell his eggs.

Sounds innocent enough — but Tyler says Farmer P took things the wrong way and accused Tyler and Tyler’s friends of trying to “con him.”

Tyler says Farmer P pulled a gun on them and threatened to shoot … but backed off, and then opened fire from the opposite side of the parking lot … with one bullet whizzing by Tyler’s head.

As we reported, cops showed up and arrested Farmer P and a couple of Tyler’s friends.