Old Hens not laying in the coop ???

[2dogsfarmagain]

I have 2 Black Star hens, 6yo (had them since they were 9wks) & an Ameraucana cross approx. 4 (got her a couple years ago,told she was 2or 3).
I freerange them on my 5ac from dawn until dusk.
They have all always laid reliably inside the coop, in the nestboxes.

Lately production slowed so I was getting just a couple eggs a week - mostly from the AmerX.
I figured this was normal as the production gals were probably slowing down & the AmerX's age may have been misrepresented - she came from a huge flock (100+ birds).

Then.......
Yesterday as I was shooing them back into the coop mid-day as I was not sure I'd be home before dark to close it up, I discovered {drumroll}
A Stealth Nest!!!
With the remains of probably 6-8 eggs!!!

Eggshells were neatly broken in half for the most part.
So I'm thinking some raccoon or possum thinks it has discovered the Golden Corral buffet.
And some hen thinks she has found the Best.Hiding.Spot.EVER!

If I put them all on lockdown (inside the fenced yard attached to the coop) for a week or so will this stop her laying outside?
Or do I need to do the Egg Hunt?

To complicate things further, I am getting three young Production Reds soon - 4H rejects about 1.5yo.
I had planned on keeping them in the fenced yard until the old gals accepted them & then all could wander the acreage.

Any ideas?

 

[nchls school]

I have 2 Black Star hens, 6yo (had them since they were 9wks) & an Ameraucana cross approx. 4 (got her a couple years ago,told she was 2or 3).
I freerange them on my 5ac from dawn until dusk.
They have all always laid reliably inside the coop, in the nestboxes.

Lately production slowed so I was getting just a couple eggs a week - mostly from the AmerX.
I figured this was normal as the production gals were probably slowing down & the AmerX's age may have been misrepresented - she came from a huge flock (100+ birds).

Then.......
Yesterday as I was shooing them back into the coop mid-day as I was not sure I'd be home before dark  to close it up, I discovered {drumroll}
A Stealth Nest!!!
With the remains of probably 6-8 eggs!!!

Eggshells were neatly broken in half for the most part.
So I'm thinking some raccoon or possum thinks it has discovered the Golden Corral buffet.
And some hen thinks she has found the Best.Hiding.Spot.EVER!

Locking the hens in for a week should help getting them back to laying in the coop. Destroy the old nesting site as best you can; if it is inaccessible the hens can't lay there; even a large rock on the old nest site will do.

When hens are hatched/born they possess all the eggs they will ever have. As they age egg production slows and stops.

If I put them all on lockdown (inside the fenced yard attached to the coop) for a week or so will this stop her laying outside?
Or do I need to do the Egg Hunt?

To complicate things further, I am getting three young Production Reds soon - 4H rejects about 1.5yo.
I had planned on keeping them in the fenced yard until the old gals accepted them & then all could wander the acreage.

Any ideas?