Not laying when it's hot out?

[The Confused Chicken]

I've got two chickens, and for the last week or two, egg production has been down. My RIR is laying an egg every two days (a bit less than her usual schedule) and I haven't seen an egg from my Delaware in a little less than a week. Temperatures have been above 80 degrees consistently, and I've noticed that I get the least eggs when it's more than 85 or so in the afternoon. Everything else is good, as far as I can tell. Is this normal? What should I be doing to make them more comfortable? Thanks!

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

Yep very normal. All mine slow down dramatically over summer.

 

[The Confused Chicken]

Yep very normal. All mine slow down dramatically over summer.

Thanks! Have you ever done anything to help them cool down? I thought about freezing some blueberries for them as a treat.

 

[nuthatched]

Some deep shade and moist dust baths will help them, it's not great to give then icey things.

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

I just ensure they have constant access to deep shade, which they do with many thicket bush types zones. And make sure they always have water, they have at least 3 water access points in the yard as a fail safe. Other than that they have to grin and bear it like the rest of us! No such thing as air conditioning at my house.

 

[EChicky]

I give them half a watermelon and make sure they have more access to water with ice. I also add a small wading pool.