You're right, this weather HAS been horrible! The orps free range all day, I started letting the silkies free range every other and leaving the orps in their coop while the silkies were out but this was after the fact that they hadn't been laying, we're going on about 3 weeks now without any eggs? I've gotten maybe 1-2 from my lav orp over the course of that time, but nothing like they used to be laying. I always 2 a day in the afternoon. I'm going to do some looking around in the woods today where they hang out when I get back from my lesson. There's a huge knocked down tree in the woods that they've been hanging around on, I even caught them roosting them up in a tree the other day, I wonder if they've been somewhere over there. But would they do that? I can see a new layer, but would they go from laying in the coop to outside some place? The do get some light in their coop as there are slits in the side above the door, I'm sure it's not much light, but again, these guys free range from early in the morning until dusk until they decide to go back into the coop themselves.Do they have light in the coop ( windows ?) this weather has been horrible ...I would think twice about laying a egg too ! Do they range all day or have a run ..that they can be let out longer during the day ? This is sure a Mystery ..
Could something be stealing the eggs ? Squirrels ?
This will probably gross you out ..A OT - Old timer said if she was really wanted to know if a hen was laying ..she would stick her finger in the vent ..& feel ..She was a nurse so she has seen a few behinds... I am sure Deborah