Probably not the answer, but certainly worth the time invested. LOOK AROUND! THOROUGHLY! I have Six pullets. All were laying daily. About 2 weeks ago, things changed. Some days I got 4 eggs, some days 6. Being a novice, and taking to heart what I read here on byc, I chalked it up to Shorter days. 2 days ago I noticed one of my pullets was missing from the troop. Looked in the nesting boxes. No chicken. I have a Fort Knox type run, so was certain she had not gotten out or predated. My Coupe has double doors that open to expose the entire interior... so I thought. Surprise! Tucked tight in the front corner UNDER the nest boxes was the prodigal. A spot visible, but easily overlooked. Oh, she wasn't broody or anything. Later she was out scratching with everyone else. But when I went to extract her egg, I found 13 eggs in the makeshift nest. Laying had not curtailed. Just shifted to a new production facility. Like I said, probably not YOUR solution, but a 10 minute search for any spot a chick can fit in COULD yield surprises.
