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Chickens have stopped laying

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by chickiechick72, Aug 24, 2014.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Aug 24, 2014 #1
    chickiechick72

    chickiechick72 Out Of The Brooder

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    It has finally reached the mid-90's here in Atlanta, and I'm wondering if my girls are really not liking the heat. I have 5 Rhode Island Reds, and previously, for the last 4 months, we were consistently getting 4 eggs a day. Now, we're lucky if we get one.
    They get plenty of time to free range in the yard. Their coop & run is in a fully shaded area. They get plenty of fresh water every day in multiple locations. They get a variety of the best layer food and greens and scratch and oyster shells I can find for them. I'm just not sure what might help them lay better? I don't think I am holding them too much (each one might get picked up once a week) but maybe they just don't like that at all?
    I'm thinking about putting a large fan near the coop, to keep mosquitoes down as well. And I may cut them another window in the coop just in case they are hot. But then I worry, will the coop become too drafty in the cold?
    Any advice would be very appreciated!
    Thanks!
     
  3. Aug 24, 2014 #2
    lightchick

    lightchick Overrun With Chickens

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    It's probably the heat and it's also molting season. I wouldn't worry about them.
     
  5. Aug 25, 2014 #3
    aart

    aart Chicken Juggler! Premium Member

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    Heat..... and the days are shortening which can trigger molting in adult (over 1 year) birds.
    Chickens molt 4 times between hatch and 1 year.
    If you free range, they maybe laying out in their range area.....you could confine them to the coop until noon, or until it's too hot in the coop, that might help. Free rangers sometimes need to be 're-homed' to lay in the coop nests.

    Fans can help, more ventilation is always good...cut new vents, hinging what you cut out so it can be closed in winter if needed. Double action latches and/or 1/2" hardware cloth on all openings to deter predators.
     
  7. Aug 25, 2014 #4
    lightchick

    lightchick Overrun With Chickens

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    x2!
     

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