Lost a hen! 1yo, HELP!

[kahi00]

We have had 5 hens since 5/2011, got 3hens/1 rooster 5/2012. They are in seperate pens. We found my favorite year old hen dead today laying in her nesting box with a half layed egg. We are pretty new to this, so her death was unexpected. We haven't changed her food (gets 1/3 mix of flockraiser/layena/cracked corn). It has been very hot (heat index 100-108) over several days but we have been misting them with the hose every day. What can I do to prevent this from happenening to the rest of my flock? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[bobzant]

I recently lost 2 hens due to the heat. One was in the nest box on an egg...I have blocked my ladies out of the nest boxes until the heat wave is over. I'd rather them lay eggs all over the yard than die in that stuff nest box.

 

[bj taylor]

what's working for me right now is keeping them out of the coop during the day. i run two misters from around noon until i put them up at night. they have loose dirt they use to make a hollow & lay eggs.
they use the mister a great deal. they all hang out in the mist for the afternoon. it doesn't take much water. i barely turn the faucet on.