Perplexed

[Barb Root Hinkkanen]

I had to leave town for three days. Because of predator loss I confined all my chickens before leaving. I separated them so they would have plenty of room. They had extra food and water, were completely covered, and fresh bedding.

One coop had 13 eggs with four layers, averaging one egg per hen plus one egg today. Another had eight eggs, but, some only lay every other day. The Cochin coop had only one egg with three hens.

It has been quite cold. They still had food and have never eaten eggs. Could something be amiss?

 

[sourland]

The Cochins may simply be taking a break in their laying cycle. In my experience they are generally not high production birds.

 

[NatJ]

Some hens lay better than others.
The short days of winter tend to make this much more obvious.

It sounds like you have one Cochin laying a little bit, and the others not laying at all. Based on what else you said, I am guessing the Cochins are probably healthy, but just won't lay until the days get longer again.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/
Here's an article about telling which hens are laying, and which are not. (Basic idea: if she is laying, those little bones will be well apart and the vent will be stretchy, so the egg can come out.)

Comparing ones that are laying with ones that are not is the fastest way to learn the differences. So for example, if you check the hens from the 13-egg pen, you should find that all of them look like layers. will probably find that all of them look like layers. If you check the Cochins, you will probably find that most do not look like layers.

If you find that all the Cochins look like layers, you may have a newly-begun egg eating problem.