Is it too hot for my hens to lay?

[Tlco]

I have had chickens off and on most of my life and I am 58 yrs old so a little perplexed.

Right now I have 2 Dark Brahmans 7 mo mo old, 2 Self Blue Cochins 6 1/2 mo old and 2 Brabanter 6 mo old (all hens no roosters). I feed a high quality feed for multi flock, fresh greens, fresh water and cracked corn daily. They have a very nice large hen house with attached run 24 L x 24 W x 8 H. The have 3 nesting boxes and a small coop with 2 boxes in it. They have plenty of shade 2 sides of the coop/run are open all the time.

I see several feathers in the coop and have probably raked up enough to make a small pillow..lol. During the heat of the day the 4 oldest ones appear to be out of breath, they kind of walk around with their beaks open or they roost in the soft dirt floor. The weather here in Texas is about 104 and its only gonna get hotter, it's also been very dry. Is it just too hot or are they just not old enough most chickens I have had in the past started laying around 5-6 months. The oldest ones get in the nest and make some clucking noises but no eggs, the 2 younger ones just seam to be curious only when the others are checking it out.

Thanks for your feed back.

 

[CindyinSD]

The Brahmas and Cochins may take longer to mature as they're gonna be big girls. Neither are expected to be heavy layers, but they are gorgeous, aren't they? My Cochins are feather-heads, though. The Brahmas seem of normal chicken intellect. I don't know anything about Brabanters.

And yes, I'm sure the weather will be a factor. Have you been plunking ice into their water now and then? They do like a fan--mine do, anyway. Only it hasn't been above the mid 80s this year so far, and cooler than that lately.

 

[Tlco]

Thank you will throw some ice in to help out. Thought about a fan but haven't made that move yet might give it a try. Yes they are all beautiful looking girls.

Will give all that a try and see if it help with the heat.

 

[aart]

they kind of walk around with their beaks open

Panting.....surely you've seen that happen before, eh, and holding their wings out?

My birds are confined with no great deep shade for last half of the day so I have to be vigilant during heat waves. I do have shade cloths up on run, which helps, but still not deep shade.

To help cool down the coop I have a box fan in the east window of coop, where it's shady most the day, and turn it on late afternoon...blows cooler air into coop and pushes hot air out.

To determine heat stress levels I go by activity level, if panting and wing holding seems extreme, I throw out a few treats to see if everyone is moving well.

Deep all day shade is best but....I don't have much of that.
This has worked very well to keep heat stress/stroke at bay:

I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves.
It really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.
Can mix up a smaller amount, just wrap the packet tight and store in a dry cool place.
Always have plain water available too.

BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.
Much more useful to the chickens than frozen foods and treats.

Make space in your freezer!

 

[Tlco]

@aart hello..just panting no wing holding out. Activity is good i check on them regularly throughout the day. Put tubs of water in the freezer today should be frozen by morning. I have been giveing freash water 3 times a day everyday since heat wave heat. Thankfully today we had some mild winds and it was onlu 98 instead of the 104 they predicted. The have walls on 2 sides privacy face with open slates then the other 2 side are chicken wire. A sun retarded roof so the sun never shine down directly on them also a tree that gives some shade. Will try and post photos tomarrow to late now. Thank you for suggestions.

 

[Emmeran]

Think about putting up a mist system in a shady part of your run, that will make a huge difference in temperature.