?? Would a chicken lay an egg, out, and still go to the coop at nite?

[kkm]

My chickens free range durring the day and return to the tractor/coop at nite. They have become attached to a stand of bushes. One has been seen less and less during the day and has taken longer to come in than the others. Last nite I had to go out with a flashlight and get her! I didn't think about it till today, but could she have a nest under there?

 

[justhatchin]

Yep could have. Mine lay in the goat hay sometimes. I just have to watch egg production. When they do this I keep them in a few days, add more hay to the nest boxes.

 

[hot wing stables]

when you go to grab her does she puff up and squak at you?

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

Very likely. Try keeping them in the coop until later in the day for a while and see if production increases. That's how you'll know even if you never find a well hidden nest. I don't let anyone out to free range untill 2pm (they can still get to an outside run).

 

[kkm]

I went out and looked, but no eggs.

It is all trampled down back there though so they spend a lot of time in there. They are right at 16 weeks old, could they be getting broody? These are my first chickens, so I haven't seen all the behaviors yet.