Less eggs due to heat?

[Annalyse]

I have 6 hens, I’m only getting 2-3 eggs a day. My one hen is always panting and wings out at night even when the others are fine but she does eat a lot. I have a rooster who is causing feather loss when mating. There’s a lot of stressors and the heat is adding on to it. They are 2 years. How can I cool them down and cause less stress.

 

[CFLRanching]

Heat can effect laying but here's a couple questions?

What breed are they? Once you know how many eggs that breed averages laying a month, then you will have a better idea. I think for 6 hens, 2 to 3 would be normal (again depending on breed) (they aren't all going to lay daily (probably) and 3 might be laying on a day when the other 3 aren't and vice versa (sneaky girls).

How are they housed, what's your ventilation like, is there anyway to safely mouth an exterior type small enclosed fan to keep air circulating and keep them cool?

As far as the feathers, I've seen the fabric saddles you can put on the chicken that are supposed to help, but never personalky used them.

 

[Annalyse]

Heat can effect laying but here's a couple questions?

What breed are they? Once you know how many eggs that breed averages laying a month, then you will have a better idea. I think for 6 hens, 2 to 3 would be normal (again depending on breed) (they aren't all going to lay daily (probably) and 3 might be laying on a day when the other 3 aren't and vice versa (sneaky girls).

How are they housed, what's your ventilation like, is there anyway to safely mouth an exterior type small enclosed fan to keep air circulating and keep them cool?

As far as the feathers, I've seen the fabric saddles you can put on the chicken that are supposed to help, but never personalky used them.

I have 2 Plymouths and I beilve only one is laying but I could be wrong. I have a BO, starlight green egger which she does lay but like everyday other day or she skips a couple days. Australorp and a silkie who isn’t laying because she was broody and they pick on her causing more stress. (We are working on the bullying and separating them soon).

I bought a small camp battery powered fan. When I had it in the coop it felt like it was blowing hot air. As for ventilation I have a lot and windows are always open and so is on wolf the doors. I also keep a window open at night. The coop still gets very hot at night when everything else gets shut.

I do have one saddle but I heard it’s better to leave it be because the saddle could cause irritation to the feathers growing back.

 

[Mrs. K]

Feather really start to wear out, this time of year. Those two year old birds will probably have a good molt in the next 6-8 weeks, and then the new feathers will look like new clothes, so it is really not your roosters fault. I would not add saddles in the summer - too hot. But I tried saddles once, and hens did not like them.

The heat does reduce egg production. Hey, it reduces my production, it is too damn hot.

Mrs K

 

[Annalyse]

Feather really start to wear out, this time of year. Those two year old birds will probably have a good molt in the next 6-8 weeks, and then the new feathers will look like new clothes, so it is really not your roosters fault. I would not add saddles in the summer - too hot. But I tried saddles once, and hens did not like them.

The heat does reduce egg production. Hey, it reduces my production, it is too damn hot.

Mrs K

Thank you. And yes I have so many orders of eggs and I have to tell them it’s too hot for them to lay all these eggs they used too. let them have a break.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Thank you. And yes I have so many orders of eggs and I have to tell them it’s too hot for them to lay all these eggs they used too. let them have a break.

While it may not be ideal for your egg business, it is a good opportunity to educate egg buyers about the natural cycles chickens who are not raised in unnatural production settings (like battery cages) experience. Your ladies will likely have lower production in extreme weather and when they're molting...something buyers who are used to getting eggs whenever they wish at the grocery store may not understand.

When I sold eating eggs, I set expectations from the start that hens are not egglaying machines. I also respect their needs, like a break from laying in shorter daylight seasons - I don't artificially light their environment. Healthy, happy hens produce the best eggs, and I think honoring their biological cycles helps achieve this goal.

I put frozen soda bottles in their 5-gallon nipple waterer to cool it, and add electrolytes when it's really hot and humid. I can tell from their reactions that they appreciate these efforts.

Best to you and your hardworking ladies!

 

[Mrs. K]

It is so hot, mine are really not even eating very much.

 

[Annalyse]

It is so hot, mine are really not even eating very much.

My one Plymouth I call her big girl cause man she eats like crazy. She will eat anything. She’s also the heaviest girl I have. The other day she ate a black beetle the size of her head. She was playing with it and then swallowed that thing whole. I have no idea how that happens.

 

[Annalyse]

While it may not be ideal for your egg business, it is a good opportunity to educate egg buyers about the natural cycles chickens who are not raised in unnatural production settings (like battery cages) experience. Your ladies will likely have lower production in extreme weather and when they're molting...something buyers who are used to getting eggs whenever they wish at the grocery store may not understand.

When I sold eating eggs, I set expectations from the start that hens are not egglaying machines. I also respect their needs, like a break from laying in shorter daylight seasons - I don't artificially light their environment. Healthy, happy hens produce the best eggs, and I think honoring their biological cycles helps achieve this goal.

I put frozen soda bottles in their 5-gallon nipple waterer to cool it, and add electrolytes when it's really hot and humid. I can tell from their reactions that they appreciate these efforts.

Best to you and your hardworking ladies!

Yes I do my best, I’m not taking any more orders until I can fill the 3 I have. They know that the weather effects the egg laying and they are very patient with the hens.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Yes I do my best, I’m not taking any more orders until I can fill the 3 I have. They know that the weather effects the egg laying and they are very patient with the hens.

It's worth the wait.