High Heat And Egg Laying

[Tumbleweed Farm]

I have 5 red sex links that are 18 months old and close to lay--I hope. But, the temps are in the high 90s low 100s. Is it possible they won't lay due to the heat. Say it isn't so LOL

 

[Mahonri]

Mine almost stop laying when it get's over 100. It's 110 degrees in my backyard right now.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm sure you meant 18 weeks.
They'll be slower at 100 but they'll still lay unless something else is wrong.
Limit scratch which raises body temp.
Put ice in waterer. Put a pan of cool water for foot baths.
Shade. Temps are measured in the shade, they hate the sun in this weather.
Free ranging helps if there are bushes and trees to hang out under. They take more dustbaths now.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

Mine are still laying, though we did get a soft shell this week. It's in the 90's here. I agree with the previous poster. Lots of shade, cold water, watermelon rinds (which we freeze and then offer), frozen veggies and anything else you can do to keep them cool.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Thanks to all with your good suggestions. I did mean 18 weeks, sorry!

 

[callahanrickey]

We are having extremely high temps (96-100) and high humidity (70-90%) here in the Panhandle of Florida, and it has caused a drastic decrease in laying.

 

[redeye roy]

been 90 to 100 temp here in carolina an got my first egg today 20 week BR & BS

 

[theRURALgirl]

That is really interesting, I am in KY and we have been in the 3 digits for some time now and my girls (just over 4 months old) just started laying. Though I have only gotten three eggs in two days. I was sooooo excited!

 

[dewey]

Temps here are the same as Mahonri's and mine haven't missed a beat with their laying. I expected them to slow down when the heat really started, but they didn't. They'll probably stop right when the weather turns nice.

 

[CowgirlPenny]

Very hot and dry upper 90's here. Mine are still going but it's a battle every day to keep them cool. I think it makes a difference. Mine just started at the beginning of the month and I want to try and keep them going. We do frozen veggies, watermelon, cold tomatoes, ice cubes in the water and more. I even make instant oatmeal with nothing in it then put it in the fridge overnight. They will gobble it up CRAZY fast during the peak heat of the day.