Broody Bird causing other Hens not to Lay or Lay Elsewhere?

[root_mama]

I have one Cochin Bantam that has gone broody. I don't even know if the ONE egg she is sitting on is fertile, but my guess is no, because my Rooster is not that old (though he is full size already). Plus I just haven't seen him at 'work', kwim?

So whatev, fine, let her be broody, but since she has been settin' I am not getting ANY eggs. I seriously am missing like 20 eggs at this point. Do you think the other hens are laying elsewhere or do you think they just stopped laying because of the broody one?

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
Whenever one of mine goes broody, everyone else will lay their eggs under her - so I put the broody hen in a cage inside the coop so they can't lay under her. If you havent checked under her recently you should, I'll bet you'll find your missing eggs there

meri

 

[root_mama]

Yes, that is what I *thought* was going on . . . but it is not the case! I checked under her yesterday expecting to find a stack, but I only found one.

One thing is that the coop is a little dirtier than I usually keep it, sometimes they will lay elsewhere in protest when that happens?