Last Sunday I got back from vacation, had a good time, and all my birds were fine. The people looking after them said they were averaging 3 eggs a day from my four pullets. This seemed reasonable so I didn't think anything of it. On Monday I found out that one of my EEs had hidden her eggs, I found her laying a new egg on a huge pile of eggs in the greenhouse/shed. When she was finished I pulled out 15 eggs, almost one for each day we were gone. Yummy dinner! The problem, I haven't found any eggs since Monday. She isn't broody, but has changed her laying place several times since she started laying. Yesterday, I shut everyone up in the run in an attempt to get her to lay where I could find the eggs; but when we came back home she was the only one out, over the 5 1/2 ft fence. They usually have the whole backyard, and she thought she was in chicken jail. She is an evil crafty devil, and I need some advice on where to look for her eggs. We've quartered the entire yard several times and haven't found any. Could she have suddenly stopped laying? Would she leave the yard to lay eggs? Our back fence is only 3 ft, but no one has ever gone over it. How high would she go to find a secure place? Each place she has chosen to lay has been low. The last place was about 10 inches square, on pea gravel, under a couple of sawhorses. She has only used the nest box once or twice, all the other birds use them This is driving me nuts. I can't stand being outsmarted by a bird! Karen
Karen, I'm sorry... Im in the same boat... yes they will leave the yard to lay... I am still trying to find my eggs... everytime I find a hiding spot, they move spots... and I know I hve more than just one hen laying... have you tried in the weeds, under the porch, under the house even, under the shed... mine was laying at the end of the house in a bush of ivy.. sneaky little things. I wish I could be of more help... I'll keep an eye on this thread... maybe someone out there will give me an idea as to where to look too. Good Luck Tes
Well, I was having troubles of the same sort. 12 girls of laying age and only 3 eggs a day. We have an enclosed run, which I generally use for chicks, or kittens or puppies, lol. Anyway, I closed the girls up in the run for two days, and lo and behold, 7 eggs the first day and 6 the next. I was going to leave them in another day, but my 4 year old left them out. Since we had them in the run those 2 days, I have had 4 eggs in the coop and three in the run shelter. At least they're laying closer to home. I have *searched* our woodline for those other eggs. All I can figure is they either have a really good hiding spot or some predator in the woods has been having a lot of egg dinners. Jess
I've gotten an egg from Eggo, the sneaky nest hider, for several days in a row now. I think there must still be some hidden somewhere or I had an egg theif. I'm very careful not to go near her when she is in her new spot, also in the greenhouse, under a shelf, behind a water can. The other three all lay in one nest box, and I've even seen them on top of one another. Silly birds! But it still bugs me that she can hide a nest where I can't find it. The danged lot isn't even a quarter acre.
In times past when I have had this problem I will shut hen up at night and the next morning I let her out and hide and watch her. It may take a few tries but I always found her nest. Sometimes on first try. Actually it can be kinda of fun following her. You can kinda go about your business in the area and just keep your eye on her. She can't hold that egg in, but for so long. Good luck and have fun!!!