I'm having a similar problem but no varmint. I have four chicks born April 8, 2015. Right around sept 1 my production red, that's what they told me she was called, started laying eggs, then my barred rocks, I have two, started right after her. My Rhode Island Red, yells a lot, seriously, she make sa whole lot of noise when she's laying, but she's been laying too. So we've been getting four eggs a day and one day I actually got five!! Needless to say we are extremely excited. But, the last six days, only three eggs a day. Now no one is acting weird. They each have their own nesting box, I am giving them the correct food, and they have free range almost every day. I got all my info about food, water, housing, nesting boxes, everything from this site and we've been doing great but I'm concerned something might be wrong. Please help. When they are loose I do check the entire yard thinking somebody went in the bushes or in the garden somewhere for some privacy . Anyone with advice, I would appreciate Thank you