Egg mystery

[Smashlee83]

I have an olive egger and 3 ducks (1-3 years old) living in a coop with an auto door. They free range a small fenced yard during the day. They are super reliable layers. About 3 or 4 months ago we found a chicken snake in the coop and dispatched it. Trouble is, we haven't seen an egg out of all 4 since. I have looked everywhere. I have checked the coop all times of day and night. I don't get it. It seems unlikely that all 4 are just not laying, but I can't find the eggs!

 

[WingItRanch]

It's possible the snake stressed them out. Stress can have a strong affect on egg laying.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Are any molting? The stress could have caused the lack of laying for a month or so and then if they went into molting that would account for the longer than usual delay in eggs.

 

[Smashlee83]

They were molting a few months back. At first I thought that molting and stress were the reasons, but now it's been so long and not a single egg has been laid. Or found.

 

[aart]

They can be verrryyy sneaky.
Lock 'em up!!

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.