Could the heat be delaying the laying?

[VannahRAe]

I got my chicks from a local TSC in march. Should they even be laying now or is the heat here delaying it? Yesterday it was 98-100 all day and gonna get hotter today. They free range about 6 hours a day and I try to keep it as cool in there as I can. Whoever can help I really appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Depends on the breed or strain. I just posted this on a similar thread. Hope it helps.


You might try this suggestion, for what it is worth to you.

I never let Point of Lay pullets free range. Depending on breeding, that is 17 weeks for early layers up to 26 weeks for later beginners. You can tell when they are about to lay by their bodies features and behaviors. Their faces will redden and the combs and wattles will spurt out and darken to a deep red. They'll squat for you, at least some will, when you startle them or approach them as if you were a rooster looking to breed.

At this age, the week of beginning laying, I do not allow them to free range. I want them fixated on the nest. They need to figure that out. It takes a few weeks sometimes before everyone is laying and everyone is laying where they should. Yes, golf balls as a visual clue seem to work.

I only let them out for some exercise and roaming after 5 pm. They still get a good 3-4 hours of "recess time", but there' not nearly as much chance of laying at that hour.
Once I am confident all the pullets have mastered the laying nests, then I gradually increase their free time. I'm frankly too old for Easter egg hunts.
Hope that helps.

 

[VannahRAe]

Thanks!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yes, excessive heat is quite stressful.

 

[VannahRAe]

I just wish they were laying by now! Hate hate hate waiting.

 

[karlamaria]

question, ....I got my girls last year and we got eggs at the 5 month mark from 3 and the other 2 at 6 month .mark now my question is, how big do the waddles have to be and the comb on rhode island reds as I have pullets that one seems to have bright red comb and waddle and looks more mature then the others. ( they came from the same flock ) but the combs are not nearly as big as my last years girls ( astrolorps and buffs) can she be close to laying now? ( she is coming into about 18 weeks old)

 

[BooBear]

Heat is a big egg reducer. This is the time of year that I am lucky to get eggs. Last summer during drought I only got 1 egg a day.
Now that we are hitting triple digits I am back down to 1 to 2 eggs a day.

Once it gets into high 90s and triple digits the hens are using up their body's moisture trying to stay cool. This means less moisture for egg making. The more heavily feathered the breed the harder the heat is on them.