I made some major changes to my yard last weekend and now I'm having some problems that I'm hoping will be simple to resolve. My yard was previously divided into a chicken-and-garden side and a dogs-and-people side. I started having second thoughts about this division and brought the chickens over to the dogs and people side, but had a problem with one of my dogs entering the coop and eating chicken food (and suffering the consequences of that). After a few sick dog incidents, I got the wise idea (same day I moved the coop) to close the normal door I would prop open for the chickens and open the second door which leads to the nesting boxes.
Now the hen that layed in the box that is most exposed in this new arrangement has either stopped laying or started a secret clutch somewhere. So I wanted some advice. Is it possible that she has simply stopped laying due to confusion? I've searched the backyard three times now with no eggs found, but I suppose it's likely that a dog could be finding the egg and eating it during the day when my roommate lets them out. But if a dog isn't eating an egg, where might she be hiding her clutch? Has anyone ever found a secret stash of eggs in an unexpected place?
Now the hen that layed in the box that is most exposed in this new arrangement has either stopped laying or started a secret clutch somewhere. So I wanted some advice. Is it possible that she has simply stopped laying due to confusion? I've searched the backyard three times now with no eggs found, but I suppose it's likely that a dog could be finding the egg and eating it during the day when my roommate lets them out. But if a dog isn't eating an egg, where might she be hiding her clutch? Has anyone ever found a secret stash of eggs in an unexpected place?