Getting worried-no eggs in 3-4 weeks. Any ideas?

[cphinney]

We raised six chicks up that we got in December, Five of them started laying on time 2-3 months ago. I had one hen with a badly hooked beak that was smaller and not laying so I gave her to a friend who had more room and replaced her with a pullet from the local feed store. A couple weeks after that the weather started getting in the upper 90's to 105 and one day when I got back from work a Rhode Island Red that (that we had raised since a chick) was dead in the coop, she was healthy and energetic the day before. Then, the four laying hens where giving 1-2 eggs a day, an Americans simply stopped laying all together but seemed healthy enough. They all seamed stressed from the heat and where obviously not comfortable but non seemed "sick". I then bough two other Rhode Island Red pullets and put them in the coop. About this time I was no longer getting any eggs, that has lasted a few weeks. We went through some serious rain storms over the last 3-4 days and the temperature did drop but the heavy rain might of replaced the source of stress. Today was hot with no rain and when I got home I found one of the Rhode Island Red pullets dead. Still no sign of an eggs.

Growing up we had very large quantities of chickens and frankly I don't recall heat effecting them this severe. I have ample water in the coop and have had a fan out their the last week or so. They aren't eating well at all. I don't see any signs of illness other than them just looking worn out. I don't free range them and they are limited to their coop, I have been keeping the coop rather clean. This weekend I am adding a 10' long x 3' wide x 3' tall run hoping to get them a little more air. I don't see any signs of a heavy molt.

Anyone have any thoughts? Has anyone else had them all the chickens just stop laying? I'm wondering if bringing in the new pullets might of bought in a disease, if so what might it be?

 

[loveourbirds]

i can tell you that here in southern ohio we are having alot of trouble with temperature stress. ive had 1 have a heat stroke, and some others severely affected by heat. they arent eating as much - especially any corn in the mix.

if this is your case, make sure their waterers are out of the direct sunlight. i change the water here at about 3 in the afternoon and in some cases it is hot!

if they are standing with their wings out, they are to hot. also look for dark tips on thier combs, roosters will show it first. thats a sign of dehydration. sometimes even when its hot and the water is cool they wont drink, you might have to relocate the waterer.

someone else may have better advice, but this is a place to start.

 

[sumi]

The hot weather followed by the storms could be to blame here. But I was wondering, have you treated your birds for worms/mites at any stage? It is possible that one of the newbies may have introduced something. Also, you say they are confined to their coop? Even with ventilation and a fan in there coops can get pretty hot inside, so adding a run for them and shade in part of the run at least may help.

 

[cphinney]

i can tell you that here in southern ohio we are having alot of trouble with temperature stress. ive had 1 have a heat stroke, and some others severely affected by heat. they arent eating as much - especially any corn in the mix.

if this is your case, make sure their waterers are out of the direct sunlight. i change the water here at about 3 in the afternoon and in some cases it is hot!

if they are standing with their wings out, they are to hot. also look for dark tips on thier combs, roosters will show it first. thats a sign of dehydration. sometimes even when its hot and the water is cool they wont drink, you might have to relocate the waterer.

someone else may have better advice, but this is a place to start.

Thanks,

I have the waterer away from the sun and I have been putting a small tub of water in there as well. I have not noticed any black tips on their combs but the two leghorn combs are super duper droppy. I really can't say they stand with their wings out as much as just lay around lazy like. Thanks for the input, I'll keep an eye out.

 

[cphinney]

The hot weather followed by the storms could be to blame here. But I was wondering, have you treated your birds for worms/mites at any stage? It is possible that one of the newbies may have introduced something. Also, you say they are confined to their coop? Even with ventilation and a fan in there coops can get pretty hot inside, so adding a run for them and shade in part of the run at least may help.

I sprayed them with a mite spray a couple weeks ago and plan on doing it again tomorrow. The coop is 4' by 9' with two raised nesting boxes and three raised 12" x 24" roosts as well as a 4' x 12" walk in front of the nesting boxes. The hens also sit on top of the nesting box walls, the nesting boxes are open at top. Today I added a 3' x 10' run onto it and the hens appeared to of loved it. The run is all open on three sides and the top and should have good shade during a large portion of the day as well as providing a fully vented area. I'm going to attach pictures here in the next hour of it all.

Thanks

 

[cphinney]

 

[teach1rusl]

This is just my opinion, but I think nasty heat is harder on contained birds than free ranged ones. Here in the Ohio River Valley we get the heat and humidity...been pretty bad over the past week or so. Other than early morning and late evening, the girls are pretty much laying low - a lot of open beaks and spread wings. But at least they can seek out the coolest spots possible because they're out and about. So mine have still been laying well. I run fans inside the housings each night...

Add ice to their water once or twice a day. Add shade cloth if needed - it allows air flow but blocks most of the sun. Run a fan into their run AND make sure there's a fan inside the housing if you're expecting them to go inside at night (have you taken the temperture INSIDE the housing?). Avoid any corn/scratch treats. You can try setting jugs of frozen water in the run (milk or oj jugs work fine)...

I'm sure many losts birds to the heat way back when, it just wasn't such a big deal back then - maybe ended up on the dinner table. Plus a lot of flocks were free ranged, so as I mentioned earlier, it was easier for them to find the coolest spots.