Can Excessive Rain Slow Egg Production

[LouiseHP]

This is my 3rd week with backyard chickens. I have 4 New Jersey Reds. The hens are 6-7 months old. The first week we got 12, the second 4. I have a coop that can house 6 with a large outer run. I live in North Texas and its been non-stop rain and the heat and humidity is on the rise. I have a fan out there all day and night. Can the rain be affecting them??? Cuz this is a LOT of work for 4 eggs/week!

 

[junebuggena]

It's not likely to be the rain. It is more likely that they are a bit stressed from being confined. If they are in a prefab coop that fits 6, the reality is more like it only fits 3 large breed. New Hampshire Reds are a large breed and need a bit more room than the standard 4 sq ft per bird in the coop and 10 sq ft in the run.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

This is my 3rd week with backyard chickens. I have 4 New Jersey Reds. The hens are 6-7 months old. The first week we got 12, the second 4. I have a coop that can house 6 with a large outer run. I live in North Texas and its been non-stop rain and the heat and humidity is on the rise. I have a fan out there all day and night. Can the rain be affecting them??? Cuz this is a LOT of work for 4 eggs/week!

Welcome to BYC
More than the rain, I would suggest you consider the apparent recent upheaval for the birds as the primary cause of the disruption in production. One of the first systems to be impacted by any sort of stresser is a hen's reproductive system - and it sounds like the birds were recently moved into your possession and that is a stressor. Now, add the weather on top of that and it likely is a contributing factor, but not the primary cause. The age of your birds also must be considered - they are what would be referred to as 'new layers' and a new layer is already expected to be a bit wonky at first with regards to production until her system is able to really 'get in the groove'. In short, it really just sounds like you are in the midst of a perfect storm of contributing factors for some off production - the good news is that the "fix" for all these factors is time.....just give it a few weeks, provide the best environment for them and you'll see things turn around.

 

[hillbillygreen]

I was going to ask the same question. I'm in Illinois and we've had lots of flash flooding. We don't even live near a river and we've got soggy issues... just broke a record for June. I definitely noticed a drop off, but it is also picking up slightly.

I was also gone for 9 days and my husband was their caregiver. I figure they missed me