Egg laying and heat

[kingchickies]

Hi all! I'm in North TX and have 17 5 mo old pullets, 2 roos we raised from day olds. 2 days ago we got our first egg. Yesterday, I hung out in the run doing some yard maintenance and 2 were in and out of the coop and in and out of the nests. A 3rd was watching all the commotion. The 2 laid their eggs fine, and went back to their business. The 3rd started getting in all the nests, and out again. And did this for about an hour, it wasn't a miserable hot day yesterday but humid. I started getting concerned because she was panting and her face became very pale. She would come out of the coop almost frantic searching for any small spot she could find, then rush back in the coop. She got in a nest and stayed for a bit, but seemed so hot. I got a spray bottle and lightly misted her face and put a few drops of water in her beak as she was panting so much she would gag. She finally laid an egg. But all that lasted about 4 hours in the afternoon and I was worried she was going to have a heat stoke right there!. We are installing a fan today but what else can I do to help them not get so hot while Nesting?

 

[Kiki]

Put a frozen gallon of water infant of the fan...kinda like an AC.

She is still a new layer correct?
She will get the hand of it soon and not take so long.

I keep fresh ice water in my coop all day long..(lots of replacing it)

 

[kingchickies]

Put a frozen gallon of water infant of the fan...kinda like an AC.

She is still a new layer correct?
She will get the hand of it soon and not take so long.

I keep fresh ice water in my coop all day long..(lots of replacing it)

It was her first egg yesterday. I take them frozen treats in the afternoon and fresh cool water a couple times a day. Going to try the frozen gallon in front of fan! Thanks!

 

[aldarita]

Placing a fan in front of the nests helps a lot. I have a big fan right in front of the nests to circulate the hot air, also my nests are in the run and have plenty of ventilation around them. I know hens like cozy dark places to lay eggs but due to the circumstances, I much rather have them in the open (protected since the nests are inside the run).

This is an old picture but wanted to show it so you can get the idea. I have since then moved the nests to the corner and placed a big fan in front. We have a lot of breeze during the day so it also helps to point the nests towards the prevalent wind to get the most benefit from it. Big nests are great because the air can circulate around them while they are laying.

It looks like your pullets are just starting to lay so right now will be the right time to make any changes if possible so they can adapt to them. Hens are very persnickety about their nests and once they settle into a certain nest, it is hard to change their minds.

I am in South Central Texas and every year I have to battle the heat with my flocks, I keep busy inventing and doing all I can to keep them cool. Can't wait for October to get here !!!!

 

[kingchickies]

Placing a fan in front of the nests helps a lot. I have a big fan right in front of the nests to circulate the hot air, also my nests are in the run and have plenty of ventilation around them. I know hens like cozy dark places to lay eggs but due to the circumstances, I much rather have them in the open (protected since the nests are inside the run).View attachment 1065531

This is an old picture but wanted to show it so you can get the idea. I have since then moved the nests to the corner and placed a big fan in front. We have a lot of breeze during the day so it also helps to point the nests towards the prevalent wind to get the most benefit from it. Big nests are great because the air can circulate around them while they are laying.

It looks like your pullets are just starting to lay so right now will be the right time to make any changes if possible so they can adapt to them. Hens are very persnickety about their nests and once they settle into a certain nest, it is hard to change their minds.

I am in South Central Texas and every year I have to battle the heat with my flocks, I keep busy inventing and doing all I can to keep them cool. Can't wait for October to get here !!!!

Thanks for the info! Your set up looks great. Ours is still in progress. Lol we built a house for them the inside is 90% the outside still needs to be prettied up and they have a huge fenced in yard with shade on one side sunny and grassy on the other. I even have to mow in there!

We have windows cut in the sides now. This was when we just got sides up. We are getting there. Lol

 

[aart]

A dose of Sav-a-Chik solution can really help.

Had hen suffer heat exhaustion/stroke last summer, she was standing stock still and let me walk right up to her(not at all normal for this bird). I determined she could not see out of one eye at all and the other was dicey. I started hydrating her with Qtip soaked in Sav-a-Chik solution held against the side of her beak, had to rub under her beak and the front of her neck to get her to swallow at first. Did this until she got too stressed, about 10 minutes, put her in a cage with a fan nearby to rest. Repeated this about every hour for half the day until she would drink out of a cup held in front of her. She recovered and I also gave the rest of the flock a dose of Sav-a-Chik solution in an open waterer(I use horizontal nipples on waterers), it really seemed to reduce the heat stress so now do that regularly when the heat waves are extreme and days long. Just a half gallons worth every couple days.

 

[kingchickies]

A dose of Sav-a-Chik solution can really help.

Had hen suffer heat exhaustion/stroke last summer, she was standing stock still and let me walk right up to her(not at all normal for this bird). I determined she could not see out of one eye at all and the other was dicey. I started hydrating her with Qtip soaked in Sav-a-Chik solution held against the side of her beak, had to rub under her beak and the front of her neck to get her to swallow at first. Did this until she got too stressed, about 10 minutes, put her in a cage with a fan nearby to rest. Repeated this about every hour for half the day until she would drink out of a cup held in front of her. She recovered and I also gave the rest of the flock a dose of Sav-a-Chik solution in an open waterer(I use horizontal nipples on waterers), it really seemed to reduce the heat stress so now do that regularly when the heat waves are extreme and days long. Just a half gallons worth every couple days.

I have been wondering if I should/could give like Gatorade or something. Save a chick even better, I still have some from when they were babies! Thanks!