Breeds that lay in 100+ degeree heat

[aldarita]

Gosh that is really reassuring. I was hoping that it wasn't hurting them. Today will be 108 and tomorrow 111 so I am providing ice water in their waterer every 2 hours and misting the yard at the hottest part of the day. They are in the shade of trees all day long but it is still so hot here. Thanks for taking the time to respond. You have eased my mind. Oh and yes I have provided decoy eggs in the nesting boxes but they rarely go in the coop during the day. They prefer the outdoors. I hope they figure out where to go and don't use the dusting hole they have been "building" under the coop.

Actually it is good for them to dust, it is a way of cooling. I am in South Texas and it is getting very hot already

and it is just the beginning of the long infernal summer heat. I read in BYC that the deeper the dust boxes the better because the dirt is cool once they dig on the top, so this year I made my dirt boxes deeper and my hens are enjoying it. Also put some pans with 2 or 3 inches of water, they get inside the pans to cool their feet. Whatever they need to make them comfortable.

 

[MommaBee]

Guess what everyone. It happened!!!! 109 yesterday and my white Leghorn hen laid the cutest little egg! Super excited. If one can do it they all can. Today will be 112. Thanks again for the encouragement. I must sound like a worry wart.

Yay! And don't worry I am positive I asked the ole "Whats wrong with my hens, they are 18 weeks and not laying!" question on here too! I am glad you got your first one of many to come! And yes dust baths are amazing. Where we live the dust is plentiful!!! Chickens are pretty hardy and resourceful animals if you ask me!

 

[azcookchicks]

I can see that my hens are also adapting well to the heat. I may have to make the dusting area more desirable. Our land is very rocky in an old creek bed with lots of river rock. They have dug up so many rocks it is unbelievable. They then find enough dirt to make themselves filthy. I have had 4 eggs in a row now each a tiny bit bigger than the day before. Now just waiting on the others to follow suit. This is so fun, I should have done this years ago. What was I thinking .