Hide n Seek with the eggs? What is up with that?

[DianaMallory]

I know they just started laying 10 days ago, and they were only 16 weeks old when they started to lay, But I started getting into a routine of collecting 2-3 eggs everyday from 11 of my golden comets. I put golf balls in the a couple of the nest that I was finding the eggs in the hens moved to a new box and I removed the golf balls. Then a couple nights ago I found one soft egg on the floor behind the feeder and one if front of the coop door. Of coarse I ran to BYC and started reading. Now this morning I go out and only 1 egg is to be found. I started my routine of cleaning out the nesting boxes, and I find another egg buried under the straw! Now a couple of things come to mind, either my nesting box is to big and 2 hens are sharing it, making 2 separate nest to lay in or my hen is hiding her eggs from me! Anyone know the what is going on here?

 

[DianaMallory]

ANYONE?

 

[Yessur Ebob]

Our chickens like to hide their eggs. If they can hide them they will.

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

You'd be surprised at how good they are at hiding their eggs. I once had a duck that was laying about 6 eggs a week. I was collecting them daily, but one day, she just stopped laying for about 4 days in a row. During those days, I would spend atleast an hour just looking to see if she was hiding them (Searched the entire run, every inch of it). Then , I went and got some of her eggs (3) from the fridge and put them in her nest and guess what I found the next day. 7 eggs in the nest, all from that duck. (I know, it's a duck, but chickens can still be the same way)

 

[DianaMallory]

Thanks guys for the replies that sets my husbands mind at ease! He thought I was going to make him get out the hammer and nails again! lol!

 

[Den in Penn]

It could just be a numbers game. You got 2-3 eggs from 16 pullets, so around 6 or so are laying. When they start out the don't always lay every day. So that means that a pullet is laying an egg every other to two out if three days. If their days off fall on the same day, you will get a big zero. I was so tempted to a goose egg, and confuse the issue.

 

[chickchickchiky]

See now mine started to lay last week and i have been finding 3 eggs a day so i think 3 girls are laying but yesterday nothing except the goose egg. i find it really strange that all of a sudden no pullet eggs i will see if i get any today.

 

[castillofa]

If you think that is fun, our guineas seem to lay on the run. I mean while moving, since we find eggs in different places all the time. Some are under a bush, in the middle of the run out in the in the open, and othe times in the hen house flour, but never in a box.

 

[DianaMallory]

If you think that is fun, our guineas seem to lay on the run. I mean while moving, since we find eggs in different places all the time. Some are under a bush, in the middle of the run out in the in the open, and othe times in the hen house flour, but never in a box.

That would drive me crazy! I did find a few on the floor in the beginning. I think it is one hen doing the hiding because it is only in one box and I usually only find one egg there.Everyday I have to dig through their bedding.

 

[DianaMallory]

I gathered 6 eggs today and 5 yesterday! We have had a cool down weather here in Ohio. I think that has had a lot to do with the increase. Warming up again but not to hot like last week I hope!