Predators or Just not laying?

[winston10015]

I am new to raising chickens and only have three hens, one of which is not old enough to lay just yet. I was getting two eggs a day, one from each hen and a couple of weeks back it was hit and miss. My dog located a snake in the yard and that was definitely the problem. I began to get two eggs a day again for a while and now nothing. I think I got one two eggs total all week. My one hen, Buff Orpington, is also acting strange. She is roosting all day and not getting up being her normal active self. Not sure what is going on and why no eggs. I have tried checking the box at different times of the day to try to locate a problem, but nothing. They don't seem unusually stressed for any reason. They have a nice coop and then a covered fencing all the way around and then I often let them out in the yard to feed also. I watch them though to make sure not laying somewhere else in the yard. Does heat affect laying? It is about 100 degrees here in the daytime.

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas and

! Pleased you joined us! I think I might have some ideas of what's going on:
-my chickens slow down in the heat...this could be part of it.
-also in the heat they will often lay in areas cooler than the coop - look for dark shady areas where they have had access
-a scare like they had will interrupt egg laying. Even though you've looked, they will sometimes lay in the oddest places!
-your Buff Orp sounds broody....during this time she will not lay but has the nesting instinct. They appear grouchy as all get out during this time.
-if you see any shell fragments or egg matter in a nest, you may have an egg eater on your hands

Here is a link that discusses breaking a broody:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/181289/how-to-break-a-broody-hen

Good luck to you!!

 

[novanod1966]

might be a combination of things: heat, moult, and possibly a change in diet......

don

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

if your hen is truly going broody, you could get fertile eggs (from any breed you want) and put them under her to hatch.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! My chickens are moulting right now (losing feathers and re-growing them) so egg production has slowed way down. Sounds like you may have a broody hen like others have suggested. Good luck to you.