Lots of nestbox visits, very few eggs

[gritsar]

My girls have been laying like gangbusters all winter, but now I have a slow down going on. My egg count has dropped from its usual 7 - 8 a day down to 3, maybe 4 a day.
The thing is, everyone is visiting the nestboxes daily but not leaving any eggs behind.
It's been extremely cold for the past two weeks, with snow twice.
The last three days the eggs have been smaller than usual, as if they are starting a new cycle; but why visit the boxes if you don't have business there?

 

[Dust Bunny]

i had the same problem, turned out my dog daisy was snitchen eggs

 

[newchickmom]

I have about 45 laying age hens now. It seems that mostly the younger ones are laying. I'm getting anywhere from 17 to 28 eggs a day! They were only giving me about 10 a day till we had a warm-up, then the laying increased. I guess they are confused. I have also seen some of mine make trips to the nest box with no results.

 

[b.hromada]

Mine are doing the same thing here too.

 

[gritsar]

Don't understand it. The dogs can't get anywhere near the coop and I'm pretty darn confident I don't have egg eaters. Nobody hangs around in the coop longer than it takes them to lay their eggs.
Also, my Jezebel wants to sleep in one particular nestbox every night. At first I didn't allow it, not wanting a dirty nestbox, but after I realized she was sitting in it all night without soiling it I'm allowing it. Never know when one might decide to go broody and maybe she's leading up to that.
I guess it's time for an easter egg hunt again.

 

[b.hromada]

Quote:
Now that sounds like fun, not!!! Hope its just that they are on a hiatus for a little while!

 

[gritsar]

b.hromada :

Quote:
Now that sounds like fun, not!!! Hope its just that they are on a hiatus for a little while!

Especially when their favorite places to hang out on this farm are places that I won't go to on a dare.