my chickens are not laying as much as usual

[chickens and chics]

hello,
we bought 5 18-24 month old chickens last week and they are wonderful. in the first afternoon they played 3 eggs, they are really friendly to. but over the last couple of days there laying has reduced and we only got one egg today. we don't have nesting boxes but we have a very large coop (refurbished shed and outdoor area) and piles of hay on the ground that they really like, they make their own little nests and snuggle up. they get plenty of food and water and lots of kitchen scraps.
has anyone got any tips?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Moving (or any change really) is stressful on a chicken, so until they settle into their new home they won't lay/will lay reduced amounts. This can take a week or a couple of weeks.

The first eggs you got were already in their system before you got them, that's why you initially got some eggs.

 

[chickens and chics]

thank you so much, that makes sense!

 

[aart]

we don't have nesting boxes but we have a very large coop (refurbished shed and outdoor area) and piles of hay on the ground that they really like, they make their own little nests and snuggle up.

'Real' nests might help you find the eggs.