What are my girls doing?

[Junior1]

Lately two of my hens have been laying an egg from the roost and then eating the eggs. I haven't seen them lay from the roost or push the eggs from the nest but the two eggs are always in the same spot under the roost.

I think they are eating the eggs because we changed their food...possibly not enough protein. But why would they be laying from the roost?

Also, 3 days ago a black snake got into the coop and curled up with the eggs. We got rid of him but since that day the chickens have not been laying as big of eggs or as many. I have 14 hens and have been getting about 8 eggs a day since the visit from the snake. Could the hens just be stressed out from the snake coming in?

 

[Den in Penn]

My vote is stressed from the snake and not wanting to laying the nests. Stress will also slow down their laying.

 

[Aeropennchick]

You should really think about culling the ones who are eating the eggs - the other hens will learn from them. You will have a lot less eggs.