Drop in egg production or hidden eggs?

[beckah1]

Hi all.
I have 2 RIRs who will be one June 1st, and 2 Buff Orpingtons/3 Black Australorp who I was told were 2 in January. During the winter we were getting between 5 & 8 eggs per day.
For the last month I rarely get 7 eggs, usually around 4. Sometimes the girls "forget" to go back to the coop and I'll find a nest in an outbuilding.
Last week I put a few golf balls in the nest and it seemed to help...for a day or two. I would get 6/7 eggs one day, 3/4 the next.
This week I tried confinement. They've been in their coop (this is day 3). The first day I got 4 eggs. Yesterday I got 7 eggs. Today I got 2.

So, I'm sure there will be a decline in egg production (especially for the 5 older ladies), but this drastically? I thought maybe I was just not finding them...but after 3 days it seems to not be working...unless they're just annoyed at not being able to free range?

Thoughts?

 

[A Chicken Owner]

I'm surprised that you managed to get 5-8 eggs a day during winter. Try adding a light to their coop and leave it on for some of the night

 

[sumi]

There are a few possible causes for this. Here are the most common ones:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-behaviours-and-egg-laying-why-are-my-hens-not-laying

 

[Reurra]

Temprature

Lighting

Wishy washy broodiness.

Moulting

Egg eating

Illness

Mites

Rodents

Snakes

Causes for egg disappearances.

 

[beckah1]

Thank you all for the responses.
I have researched this ad nauseum prior to asking (including the thread with answers).

I guess they're just stressed and I'll wait them out.

Perhaps I should be thankful for what the ladies are giving me.

They will certainly be happy to go back to free ranging this morning.