Hens hardly laying

[chickenman111]

I have 12 hens and 2 roosters, 5 hens and 1 rooster are in one pen. Of those 6 chickens, ones a Dominique Rooster, two Dominique hens, and 3 RIR hens. They are 3 years old. The rest of the chickens (7 Dominique hens, and one Dominique Rooster) are in another pen. Those are only a year old. The younger chickens were laying pretty good, getting 5-6 eggs per day from them, and about 1-2 eggs from the older ones. Now I'm only getting 1-3 eggs a day. It's been pretty hot here, highs about 90-100, and heat indexes over a 100 most days. There haven't been any major changes to them that should upset them. Any ideas on what's wrong? Is it just the heat?

 

[sideWing]

It could just be the heat, but they usually adjust in a few days. Do you have oyster shell out? After they pick up laying for the season they can run low on calcium if they don't have any free choice.

 

[cochinsarecute]

Are any of them molting?

 

[chickenman111]

I just picked up some oyster shell, fingers crossed. The older chickens appear to be going through a stress molt. They have feathers everywhere. The younger ones don't seem to be molting though.

 

[sideWing]

I just picked up some oyster shell, fingers crossed. The older chickens appear to be going through a stress molt. They have feathers everywhere. The younger ones don't seem to be molting though.

If you didn't have oyster shell than I think that will get them back into action in a couple days.