Hens are Sitting on Eggs - other chickens won't lay eggs

[barnfarm]

We had the bright idea of hatching more peeps so we put some eggs under a hen. The next thing we know three hens are not moving from their nesting boxes. That's not the problem - the problem is where are the rest of the eggs?

We have 13 hens and we usually get between 9 and 12 eggs a day. But while the three hens are sitting on the eggs, we can't find where the other 10 hens are laying?

Help!

 

[Judy]

Could it be the whole flock is going broody? Are they just that good at hiding the eggs from you?

 

[Goose and Fig]

I've heard this is a common thing. The rest of the flock may not be broody- but they will sometimes slow or stop laying. If you can keep the setting hens seperate it usually alleviates the problem. But- it's also good for the hens to have a break form laying occasionally too.

 

[pdsavage]

i had same proublem,so i moved my broodies out to another pen...
now the bantams are laying agian even better than before...

 

[Mom2Cool]

ok so this answers this question.........

 

[dancingbear]

Look for hidden eggs. Hens are sneaky.....I've found many eggs in "empty" nests...buried right there under the straw. Sneaky chickens...

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:
Hubby gave me the eye the other day & accused ME of hiding them too.... LOL "Are you putting those eggs down start to wait for the bator again???" I told him I'd never do such a thing, of course I had my fingers crossed behind my back.