Only getting 8 eggs a day from 30 hens

[Thebossbaby]

I am only getting 8 eggs a day from 30 laying hens. It's mid June right now and we have hot temperatures but now hot enough to stop chickens from laying I don't think. I am paying for food to much than the money I'm making. Please help!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Generally production goes down as the temperature rises, temperatures over 85 will stress chickens. Other factors like age and breeds can be a factor too.

 

[Thebossbaby]

ok, thanks for replying I have had that question for a while and I just signed up and posted it. The temp here is around 90 a day so that might be it, but why do only some hens not lay and others do in the same conditions?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some breeds are better designed to handle warm temperatures. Breeds that are cold hardy like Orpingtons will suffer more than breeds like leghorns. Larger combs help cool them, and less weight keeps them cooler too.

Many lighter breeds are considered egg laying breeds so they will lay more than most dual purpose breeds.

Age is an important factor too, most hens lay the best for 2-3 years, than production begins to drop sometimes dramatically.

 

[Thebossbaby]

My hens are all 2 years old, I have 2 silver laced wayandottes, 2 buff orpingtons, 8 gorgeous black breeds, 4 comets, and a sickie plus a bunch of ameraucanas and 2 EE. I actually need to post a pic of my chicken that is sick. Her comb has lost her color. But that's a different story for a different time. Thanks for the info

 

[rebrascora]

"but why do only some hens not lay and others do in the same conditions?"

Have you considered that most of them may be laying but at a reduced rate? Having said that some individuals cope better with heat than others, much like humans or in fact many other species. Creatures are not machines so they do not respond to conditions in a uniform way.

 

[Thebossbaby]

thank you so much and have a blessed day

 

[rebrascora]

I now see that you have a mixed flock, so that will definitely account for lower production. You also need to check for mites as this hot summer weather is ideal breeding conditions for red mites, which mostly live and breed in the cracks and crevices of the coop but crawl onto the chickens at night to suck their blood.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Check for mites, (hard, grey-white desposits of eggs around the vent)
check for worms (poo on the eggs)
check for mineral deficiencies (particularly riboflavin and vitamin E)--riboflavin has very low toxicity even in large amounts, so if you need it, you might as well just crush some and add it to their water now.
Also, you might want to see if they're molting. If you see a few new feathers poking through, that's probably the problem.

If it is the heat, get a fan and give them ice-water.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My hens are all 2 years old, I have 2 silver laced wayandottes, 2 buff orpingtons, 8 gorgeous black breeds, 4 comets, and a sickie plus a bunch of ameraucanas and 2 EE. I actually need to post a pic of my chicken that is sick. Her comb has lost her color. But that's a different story for a different time. Thanks for the info

Some of your breeds tend to stop and start production throughout the season. At 2 years they don't lay as well as their first season. Some sex links like comets will quit laying totally at around 2 years of age and never resume. My production has dropped since spring, with my 1 year old hens laying the best, but they are slowing down too.