could this be the beginning of being broody

[Zwillingsmama]

2 of my chicken stopped laying eggs, one 3/4 weeks ago the other one about a week ago. But they will sit in the nest box/the EE made a nest in one corner of the coop for a decent amount of time every day without laying an egg. However eventually they will get off and do their usual chicken thing. There are no eggs in the nest box I collect them mid day. I am just at a loss why they stopped laying. There is no way they are eating their eggs, their abdomen/ vent is soft so I don't think they could be egg bound.

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

They might be going broody, or it might be the heat. Sometimes hens will stop laying during the summer.

 

[TK421]

@Sapphire Sebright is right. The heat could cause it. if they’re broody, they’ll stay on a “nest” all day and all night. If they are loitering on a nest for several hours during they day, they might be on their way to being broody, but aren’t truly broody until they hunker for 2-3 nights on the nest, or until they go right back to the “nest” when you physically move them. There are several other reasons why hens stop laying, including a sudden fright (like raccoon attack), big changes to flock makeup, Change to diet, etc.