Do I need to search my yard?

[sherrydeanne]

I have two gals laying: An EE who now lays regularly in the nest box and a sexlink who is a mystery. The sexlink started laying about a week after the EE and layed one egg (in the nestbox). That was about 2-3 weeks ago and I haven't seen another egg since.

They have a huge, huge (like 100' by 200') run and they also freerange in the evening. I've looked in her 'normal' spots and haven't found any eggs. I saw her in the nest box a few days ago, but no egg.

So, is it unheard of for a chicken to lay one egg and then not lay another for 2-3 weeks? I'll go out there and do a good search if it's just not possible. However, it's mostly wooded and I don't want to spend 2 hours combing it over if this happens on occasion.

Facts, just in case it matters: I have 7 hens, two of which are laying. Sexlink is head hen so she's not getting picked on. Did get rid of my rooster 4 days ago, but hadn't found any eggs before then. They have an awesome diet including oyster shell. All eggs (her one, and the EE's) are perfect.

 

[jenjscott]

If you are around, make sure you listen for their cackling after they lay, sometimes they tell on themselves and you can find it that way.

 

[sherrydeanne]

Never hear a peep, yard is too big.

However, today I found a nest with 9, yes 9 eggs in it. She was hiding them in the window well to one of my basement windows. I guess I'll be trekking over to that side of the house on a daily basis.

 

[cassie]

Put some fake eggs in there so she will continue to use her nest. Otherwise she will move it to a place even harder for you to find.

 

[sherrydeanne]

Oh ack, I didn't even think of that! Thanks

 

[NotTheMomma]

Quote:

One of mine layed there yesterday as well! My son said a chicken is in the window and sounds like she's dieing!

We went outside, and sure enough, there was a beautiful pullet egg! Today she layed in the nest though.

 

[ducks4you]

My friend's chickens (no coop) lay EVERYWHERE! He finds some of them after they have gone rotten. He free-rangies and they roost in the barn at night--they weren't HIS idea, so he really doesn't give them any special attention.

 

[cmom]

I would block off the window well and confine her to the coop for a few days. I have golf balls in my nest boxes.

 

[NotTheMomma]

I have fake eggs in all 10 nests! I even put a shopping basket under the nests, filled it with hay, and put an egg in there in case my nests were too small for some of the larger hens. STILL, I found a nest with two eggs in it BESIDE the chicken coop, and one was determined to lay in the window well today, but the other chickens kept getting in her way. I did get two eggs in the nests though. I'm going to try keeping them in the coop and run for the rest of the week, and see what happens. My coop is so very hot though that I hate for the chickens to have to stay in there.