Heat and it’s affects on egg laying

[roxanne]

Hello everyone! It has been a very sweltering hot summer here in Virginia. We have had several days with temperatures near 100. My hens have been feeling the heat
it’s seem to me that the heat has egg production affected. Does anyone have similar experiences who can confirm my concerns that the heat is causing a slow down in egg production?

 

[SmiYa0126]

Hello! I'm in SE PA, we also have had a heat wave, I didn't see much of a drop though. My hens have lots of shade, cool water and I give them cucumbers and watermelon.

 

[MommyGirl]

I’m in hot and humid Georgia and I always see a drop in egg production in July and August!

 

[Susan Skylark]

Can’t speak for chickens but dairy cattle always drop in milk production with heat or even after certain vaccines or other significant stress, perfectly natural response to stress: shunt energy to vital systems (keeping cool) instead of secondary functions (milk, eggs, hair growth…).

 

[GlicksChicks]

I live in Texas, and everyone knows how hot Texas is. This is my first summer having laying hens down here, and they have dropped their production a good bit due to the heat. Just like how they drop egg production in extreme cold weather. Their body focuses more on regulating body temperature than producing eggs.

They have shade, fans, water, and I give them popsicles and large ice blocks with treats in them. Despite that, I still get a drop, but that is okay. Once the 14 pullets I am raising up start producing, an egg drop will hardly be noticeable.

A couple of my pullets should start laying within the next week, if they haven't already!

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes, excessive heat will drop egg production. They should all still be laying in July and August, but they lay every other day or even every 3 days when it gets hot...so the number in the egg basket is less.

Sometimes a break in the heat, will cause more eggs to come on, but sometimes, they are just slowing down as molt is coming in a month or two.

Mrs K