Eggs disappearing

[Elle]

Hi all,

I have 4laying hens about 1yr old. They were laying daily for weeks Id get 4 eggs daily. I ran out of feed 2 weeks ago so for a few days they didn't get too much food (didn't starve or anything just a lot less and they were hungry). I knew they were not happy as I was only getting 1-2 a day.

I made it up to them by getting them out heaps free ranging on my property and giving them unlimited food/water for last fortnight.

Anyways the last few days I've got 1 egg and multiple days with none... Despite the fact I have heard them laying and have gone out to find no eggs! They live in an enclosed large coop and no hiding places to lay. They're healthy no egg bound etc. The weather has been same. I'm in australia so temperature is mid to warm at the moment.

However, there are 100'sof feathers around the cage which is making me think my girls have been distressed. I've never had moulting feathers even close to this amount. I'm starting to think I have something stealing my eggs. My coop is enclosed but small animals could get in between the gaps but I have no evidence other than mice. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[Elle]

I may add I have never seen any predators like snakes or foxes in or around my property. I have a lot of big dogs and my property is sorrounded by limestone walls

 

[X_and_Z]

You may have put your chickens into molt by the reduced rations:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_molting

Rats will also take eggs and can cause panic in a flock - they are capable of squeezing into holes as small as 1".