Too scared to lay?

[Kim95037]

Last Sunday I lost my beloved Penelope. I let them out before I went to church because I thought it would be nice for them to get some sun and when I came home they were all hiding and I immediately recognized what were Penelopes feathers (brand new ones that she just grew back from her molt) all over the ground in one spot. I couldnt find her anywhere, she has pretty much just vanished. I found a few more of her feathers in my neighbors back yard. I am absolutely heartbroken and stunned at the same time. I have had chickens for seven years and this has never happened. My yard is completely enclosed by a 5 to 6 foot fence all the way around and the ENTIRE thing is covered with bird netting. At first I thought maybe a hawk had gotten her anyway because there was no blood no nothing, just feathers but I dont think a hawk would have had enough room to take off with a chicken the size of Penelope. After consulting with some neighbors near by it seems that we have had some bobcat sightings in the area. I am amazed that I bobcat could jump over a six foot fence with a huge chicken in its mouth. Anyway, my chickens havent laid for almost TWO months! I realize it is winter, and I know that they dont lay when they are molting but I have four egg layers and two of them aren't molting. The question is if something has been coming around here spooking them during the day, would that stress them out to the point where they would quit laying? Has anyone had four chickens stop laying for two months straight? At this point I think they are all still fairly traumatized, they definitely have been acting very paranoid and I dont blame them. I'm paranoid too. Yesterday I set up a 24/7 video surveillance system on my chicken coop so I can try and figure out what the heck happened. I dont know how I could make my yard bobcat proof, that seems like a daunting task. But I am going to try............

 

[ChickenCanoe]

So there are gaps above the fence to where the bird netting starts?

It could be a fox, bobcat or hawk. The two former ideas can jump extremely high but they can also climb depending on what type of fence.

It's likely stress from the attack and that added to the fact we're past the summer solstice is preventing ovulation.
I had a beagle get into a pen and traumatized the entire flock barking and pulling out feathers. That day I got one regular egg and one shell-less egg. Those were the last eggs I got from that flock for 2 months and it was before the summer solstice so you may have more time to wait.
The chickens even refused to come out of the coop for 2 days after the attack.

 

[Kim95037]

Yeah very tiny gaps and not a continuous one. The bird netting didnt stretch out in a perfect square so its attached to the top of the fence every five feet or so with little gaps in between. Yes my poor Tabitiha doesnt know where to sleep now, she used to cuddle up to Penelope every night, its so sad. She didnt come out of the coop for hours after the attack and my chickens are not wandering around as usual and stay huddled together under my trees. Sounds like I could be in for a long wait for some more eggs. Penelope was one of my best layers too. At this point my main concern is for everybody to stay healthy and safe.