I don't know if my chicken is secretly laying eggs!!

[aart]

If you don't enjoy the 'egg hunts'.....

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[Chicken_Girl07]

I was looking for the egg like a crazy person and my efforts paid off I managed to find 1 egg. (thank you for the help)

 

[Gdove419]

I frequently find hidden egg stashes around my yard (and neighbor’s). Especially in the warmer months when everyone is fighting to sit in the same box

 

[IamRainey]

I had the same problem once, exept she was laying in the loft of our coop. Didn’t find out until there was a clutch of 5.....And once in a corner in the far back were the leghorns like to roost. I found a few covered in poo. Sigh. Chickens.
Since they free range I would check under some bushes and look in any private spots that she might want to ley eggs. And letting them out later is a good idea too.

That happened to me too. By the time I found them 2 dozen had collected in the corner of the coop under the roost.

We ate them. I figure with 11 laying hens that was probably only a couple week's eggs. They had their natural bloom to protect them and it was cool enough outside that they weren't going to spoil. I just washed them before I broke the shells.