Are your chickens in a hen house without being able to roam? If not, they are probably laying “out” somewhere in preparation for setting an hatching. Could just be a coincidence with bringing in new girls. Could be you have a snake eating the eggs. If you suspect that, get glass eggs. The snake will eat the glass eggs and die when he breaks them up in his stomach. Nothing worse than reaching in a dark nest and grabbing a smooth snake skin. been there - freaked out LOL
They are in a hen house with a fenced yard for them to roam.. It did suddenly dawn on us that we might have a snake, so hubby is in town now getting the glass eggs to put out. Freeper “Alice in Wonderland”, also had mentioned this. Thanks so much.