susanb Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 We have 3 hens who are about 2 years old and have had very few eggs recently and now not a single one for 10 days. One hen is moutling - fair enough, but the other two are not and do "crouch" for us really well. Is it possible that they are laying eggs and then eating them and not leaving any trace? I would have thought that we would find some egg shell or some white or yolk or something around in the nest box to give us a clue that they have been eaten.......do they eat every s"Ooops, word censored!" and not even leave a little damp patch?? thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 I've always found evidence - usually a damp patch, as you say! Could they be laying under a bush somewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanb Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 I've always found evidence - usually a damp patch, as you say! Could they be laying under a bush somewhere? For a week they were confined to their run - as we were away and my parents were checking on them each day. The run is 15ft by 9ft. Since we have been back, they have not been out much, and mostly in the run - and I have scoured it every day. I suppose if they laid it in the run, rather than the nest box, then any "damp patch" would be harder to spot. my next plan is to worm them just in case - but the two that are not moulting look so bright and happy that it seems odd that they are not laying at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlisonH Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I have exactly the same at the moment, one hen moulting, which she's never done before and one stopped laying for no reason to which I wondered if they were eating them. but having watched them for a bit neither are going into the coop to lay and I'm limiting FR until later in the day. Both also 2 years old and looking well and eating and drinking. Having read bits from others doing similar I'm wondering if it's somehow weather/temperature related??? It's all very peculiar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanb Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 I think the peculiar weather has not helped, for sure! Funnily enough, I gave them some poultry spice yesterday & got one egg yesterday & one today - but I think that may be coincidence! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 When one of my girls decided to be an evil egg eater, she always left a bit of shell to taunt me, and there was a damp patch Snapped her out of it by isolating her for a few days. When did you last worm them? And what with? I always worm with Flubenvet every 3 months. My girls went through a spell of not laying just after the thunder storms, I had one weekend with NO eggs, and when you have 25 chickens that it disaster territory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 I have found that a couple of times some of mine have had a break for a couple of week in August then have started again until October time. I have a sporadic egg eater, then she seems to forget for a while until one of the thinner ones gets broken when it is laid then she starts agin, but I usually see some evidence, splashed yolk a bit of shell etc. she had one yesterday, but had been ok today. She is a very greedy hen all round though, she is the cat food eater if she gets the chance to raid the kitchen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
