Layers in a Texan summer?

[leeyuh]

I live in Central Texas where it's been, on average, 100 degrees everyday since early June.

Just wondering how many of you out there live in similar conditions, and how do your chickens fare through the heat? What are your best layers in the heat, and how many eggs per week do they lay when dealing with such extreme temps?

Our girls are just starting to lay and I'm wondering what I can expect in terms of August egg production.

 

[Kevin565]

I don't have chickens but I do have ducks. So far they have been laying very well in this heat. I make sure there is fresh water daily and occasionally add some electrolytes. I live in waco

 

[shellybean40]

I live in Boerne, just north of San Antonio. I have 3 bantam cochins, who lay a small egg for me almost every day. Cold weather, hot weather, they lay. I also have 4 barnyard mutts from a friend, and they probably lay 4-5 times a week. I have 3 EEs and 9 Tetra Tints who will start laying around the first of October and I expect they will lay well through the winter.

I think you will probably be alright as long as you provide them with shade, and let them free range. Mine lay better when they free range a couple of hours everyday. Also, I really have seen an improvement in laying since I switched to Purina Layena.

 

[BooBear]

The majority of my laying girls went broody. They are slowly getting back to egg production now that the chicks are older. Got 2 Silkies broodin now. The heat is not keeping them from raising babies to laying eggs.

 

[love those silkies]

I live in Victoria, and have 6 hens, they are 19 weeks old and have yet to lay any eggs, getting disappointed.

 

[pjknust]

My 5 hens are 3 yrs old. Some days I get 3, most days 2, and some days none. I also have to beat the dogs out to the hen house because they get them if I dont get out there first. My hens lay in the afternoon. Every time I let the dogs out to potty I have to trek out to the hen house ahead of them so I can get the egg.

pam in TX

 

[SarahBeth9394]

Mine are just starting but I can't help but wonder if the heat (Erath County) is making them have a slow start. I just went out to do an egg check. Yes there was an egg. Now Voldemort is the one who I've seen lay. I caught her standing in the next box with a wet egg under her and this look on her face like omg what just happened. But today when I checked Sunny was standing in the next box with a dry egg under her butt. So I might have two ee's laying or Sunny is just checking things out as she tends to do. I had a brown egg that was a dud two days ago. The ladies are 19 weeks old so it's time for things to get going.

 

[lindaweed]

I live north of austin and some days its hit or miss. Out of my 25 older hens somedays its 25, and somedays its 12. I usually get some every day. Its a totally different story in the winter. Sometimes its none, sometimes its 6 or 7. Mine are mostly RIR and Golden Sex Link. We leave out lots of water and run misters in the heat of the day. It looks like a waterpark for chickens!

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

It has been 103 here these past few days!

My easter eggers and barred rock are still laying!

They pant, sure, but everyone seems to be doing alright.

 

[wowmanacat]

I am in NW Arkansas and it has been in the high 90s and has hit 100 or so a day of so. I only have one that is laying and she has slowed down now that it is hot. I got one yesterday but not today, so I think she is going every other day now when she was going 3 or 4 days on, 1 day off. I have a calender that I keep track of eggs and for the last month and a have she is the only one laying. My other had to heal form the rooster the after she started to lay again she got sick from the heat, and stopped laying again after only laying for about 14 days.