Will chickens hide thier eggs by moving where they lay?

[MuddlinChickens]

We have six chickens that are just coming of age to lay. Last Friday we found four eggs (don't know when they were laid or by whom). I found one more on Sunday. We haven't found any more since, is this typical? The chickens free range during the day before they come to roost. Is it more likely that they are not laying eggs, or that they have become better hiders than we are finders. I tried putting a golf ball in some of their 'nesting' spots where they laid before, but have not had any luck. My wife thinks they have an egg stash back in the tall weeds, but we have not been able to locate it. This is all new to us and are not properly set up with a real coop with nesting boxes yet. Any ideas as to how to reel them back in to lay in a particular spot?

 

[Msbear]

Yes. I leave one egg there... mark it with a pen so you keep leaving the same one. This will keep them going in the nest. Some folks use golf balls.

 

[willheveland]

I use golf balls at first to get them knowing where to lay. It is also good if they are curious and like to peck on the ball. An egg may break and you may create egg eaters. This is not good. Stick with the golf ball. They will get a headache instead of your breakfast. Will

 

[Granolamom]

Do they have nesting boxes in their coop? If so, you could "coop them up" for a few days, and get them used to laying where you want them to (put golfballs in there, like others have said).

 

[fordmommy]

I put a fake plastic easter egg in there. My BA just layed today. Like an hour ago. I also noticed her being very anxious today. Going in and out of the coop and bawking like crazy. Digging in the bedding and looking in corners. A few times I put her in the nesting box. She didn't stay long. And she didn't lay the egg in the one I put her in either. But she did it!

 

[MuddlinChickens]

When you use golf balls or fake eggs, do you use just one per nest or do you use a few?

 

[fordmommy]

I put one in each.