I tried a golf ball in the nest, and even a second one, after the first one vanished.
I never figured out where they got to, no sign of them anyplace.
Only one egg got laid on the floor, all the rest in nest boxes.
At first, I did not know who was laying eggs, but it turned out Red was the only one, till Goldie finally laid her first egg.
and, hers are slightly lighter in color. My Australorp has yet to lay an egg.
Most of the time, it is two eggs in same nest, once in a while, one in each nest.
I hope to raise more chicks this spring, so I'll have more eggs, and another roo. Mine escaped, and fried himself in the donkey pen, sad to say.
And he was very protective of his girls. Defended them from the old hens, who finally got rehomed.
It has been an experience raising chicks. My first time ever...