Hens' Bottoms Going Up and Down?

[ClareScifi]

We are in a heat wave. It was 105 F here yesterday, setting a record. My 7 year old hen is such an awesome layer, laying in 100 degree heat with no problem, but yesterday she seemed to have trouble laying. She would go to the nesting box and seemingly try, with no results, then head to the deep shade to cool off, and then go back to the nesting box, with no results. I never did find an egg. Her bottom pumped up and down a lot, like she was trying to lay an egg. Today her bottom is pumping up and down quite a bit, but she'll walk around and eat watermelon and lie in the sun with wings stretched out and then go back into the deep shade. I gave her a bit of a bath to try to help cool her off. Some of the younger girls seem to be having trouble laying, too, and their bottoms also seem to be pumping a bit. Is this common in hot weather? Can the hot weather actually cause egg-binding, or does it just shut down the system temporarily, making it impossible for the hens to lay until cooler weather comes along?

 

[ClareScifi]

I should add that she is a heavy girl, a Barred Rock, the 7-year-old who seems to be having trouble laying in this heat.

 

[Eggcessive]

Dehydration can cause egg binding, but I would say that she may just be dealing with the hot weather. If you want, you can insert a finger into her vent an inch or so, to feel for an egg, and normally it should feel soft if there is no egg. Hot weather can cause a decrease in laying.

 

[ClareScifi]

Thanks, Eggcessive. I feel better. I don't think she's dehydrated. She's been eating watermelon pretty well.

 

[ClareScifi]

She seems better today. I found an egg last night around 7. It might be hers.

 

[ClareScifi]

I got her through another triple-digit temperature day (103 F here yesterday). Today is more of the same and tomorrow, and then it will cool down to the 90s with triple digit high temps to return next weekend.