Found Stash of Eggs Outside the Coop

[Margie123]

I have Bantam Chanteclers, and they have been great producers since they started laying for me around Christmas time. I was getting 6-8 eggs daily from 9 hens. The past few weeks (since we've had nicer weather), I have noticed a drop in production, going down to 4-5 eggs a day. I thought the roosters were getting on the hens' nerves, or my one broody was discouraging the others from laying (?), but today I was shocked to find a stash of about a dozen eggs under a raised patio stone near my deck stairs. I don't know how long this has been going on, or even how a hen would fit under there, unless she is laying under the deck and rolling the eggs.
Not sure what steps to take next?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

You should consider confining your hens to the coop until the learn where to lay their eggs. Also, make sure the nests are clean, comfy, dark and maybe put some fake eggs in. They probably were laying in that patio stone area because it had something the other regular nests didn't. So make the nests as appealing as you can.

Best of luck!