Hen laying in secret spot or stopped laying?

[HillGuy]

Have a Partridge Cochin who was laying. First eggs were small then they became regular large size for a couple of weeks. Then there were a couple of jelly eggs. Then nothing. She is the roosters favorite and they're pretty much inseparable. She is probably over-mated. We were down to 1 rooster & 2 hens. The cuckoo marans has continued to lay and she doesn't get nailed anywhere near as often. Started to wonder if the Cochin was laying elsewhere, but she will go into the nesting box alone and disappear for a while, but I don't think she's laying. Have added 4 more hens, two have come of age and are laying and the rooster has his way with them from time to time. The other two aren't far behind. Wondering if the Cochin has been been nailed so often that she stopped laying, if that's possible, or if she's laying elsewhere. If she is, I could use some suggestions on how to track down her spot. These guys free range and they're all over the yard and go into the woods also. Naturally I don't have tons of time for observation. Thought about keeping her locked-up for a day or two, but I think rooster might get testy. He's been known to have an attitude. I read people calling their roosters sweet, this guy is more salty, but he did drive off a fox

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Cochins in general don't lay a lot of eggs as they are considered a meat breed. Mine lay for a while than take breaks. Averages are 100- 180 eggs a year. In my experiences most fall around 100 a season.

 

[HillGuy]

So now the other 3 who were laying have either stopped or they've found somewhere else to lay them. It's weird, the 2 newest layers were laying pullet size eggs. Then they were laying large eggs and now nothing. Unless they have a secret spot. They all disappear throughout the day.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

So now the other 3 who were laying have either stopped or they've found somewhere else to lay them. It's weird, the 2 newest layers were laying pullet size eggs. Then they were laying large eggs and now nothing. Unless they have a secret spot. They all disappear throughout the day.

This would be my guess. Is their ranging area semi-protected? (bushes to hide under, scattered around the property, etc.)

 

[BoundlessLove]

They are playing hide and seek (the nest) with you.
There is probably a nest somewhere.

Our ducks kept moving and hiding their nests earlier this summer.
So, I separated the hens and drakes. Gave them fresh hay.
Kept them in their duck hut until they started to lay in there.

 

[HillGuy]

This would be my guess. Is their ranging area semi-protected? (bushes to hide under, scattered around the property, etc.)

Too many areas like that. Need a chicken sized go pro camera.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Too many areas like that. Need a chicken sized go pro camera.

Sometimes it’s the only way that you can really know what’s going on on your property.

 

[HillGuy]

I spent about an hour and a half wandering around after going through some heavy cover that included burrs & poison ivy. Only thing I found was the chicken's party area. Some clearing with grass in a dry creek bed. I could tell they have been dust bathing there. I watched them for a while and did not see any sneak off to go lay. I didn't realize how far into the woods they've been going. I figure any they lay outside of the coop feed the local critters at night.

The nesting boxes in the coop are moveable. I rearranged things a bit and got 2 eggs from the newer birds. LOL.

I may have to build a run, but really don't want to.

 

[Mrs. K]

When I have a sudden drop - it is almost always a hidden nest. Sometimes they are hidden in what is almost plain sight in a run or a coop.

BUT, not sure where you live, but we are headed into molt, and they tend to drastically slow down to few or no laying at all.

Mrs K