A few weeks ago, our Barred Rocks stopped
laying in their nest box. Something must have clicked in the lead
hen's head, because she suddenly decided it made a lot more sense to
lay her eggs hidden back under the weather flap of the chicken
tractor.
A quarter of the time, I'd catch the first hen to lay and move her egg
to the box, then the other hens would lay in the right place.
Another half of the time, we found the eggs before dragging the tractor
across them. The rest of the time, the eggs got smashed and Lucy
got a treat.
Last week, I tossed a golf ball in the nest, hoping it would act as a
nest egg and prompt the hens to lay in the right place. Sure
enough, the ball did the trick! The few times I manage to
outsmart them, I'm awfully glad that chickens are none too bright.