Possible egg-eater issues... Not sure.
I was gone for a week and my hubby kept an eye on the coop. He and my sons spent a whole day babysitting it to see who the egg-eater was. There's one who was loitering and checking all the nest boxes but really none of the other 5 who should be laying even visited the nests. Of 6 who should be laying (3- 2yo, 3- 1yo), they got 4 eggs all week.
::Not hearing egg songs frequently like we were.
::Upon inspection, no mites, no molting, no evidence of egg binding or predators.
::Bright red combs and wattles and all are doing submissive squat. Seems all are perky, happy and healthy.
::Free-choice layer feed and oyster shell available. Time outside of run for grass and bugs in the yard daily.
My next thought was, could there be a weed in the yard that would not necessarily hurt them but prevent them from laying?
TIA for any feedback
I was gone for a week and my hubby kept an eye on the coop. He and my sons spent a whole day babysitting it to see who the egg-eater was. There's one who was loitering and checking all the nest boxes but really none of the other 5 who should be laying even visited the nests. Of 6 who should be laying (3- 2yo, 3- 1yo), they got 4 eggs all week.
::Not hearing egg songs frequently like we were.
::Upon inspection, no mites, no molting, no evidence of egg binding or predators.
::Bright red combs and wattles and all are doing submissive squat. Seems all are perky, happy and healthy.
::Free-choice layer feed and oyster shell available. Time outside of run for grass and bugs in the yard daily.
My next thought was, could there be a weed in the yard that would not necessarily hurt them but prevent them from laying?
TIA for any feedback