something wicked this way comes.

[justusnak]

Wow, thanks Cynthia.....so, thats it then. Its the heat! I have tried everything to keep them cool, and hydrated. Cool veggies from the fridge...watermelon, cantelope, cucumbers, tomatos......Electrolytes in the water....Fans....and removed ALL of the straw from the coop so they are on cool dirt/gravel flooring. Not much else I could do, except install AC, and well....i KNOW DH will not go for that!! LOL

 

[rooster-red]

We've been having 100+ degree days but the hardness of eggshells from my older girls has stayed the same.
My pullets eggs are like everyone else has said, normal & hard.

My older girls are not laying as often though.

 

[speckledhen]

You can only do everything you can do, then it's up to them. I just hope neither one of us loses a bird before this is all said and done. I haven't had any of those soft eggs except from my brand new pullet layers, but it could happen in this heat.

 

[Chelly]

Join FREECYCLE or look around on Craigslist - could be you find an AC for free or almost free!!!

Worth a shot - I've been thinking about that myself with this horrible heat we're having!

 

[speckledhen]

Chelly, I understand the thought, but actually, I'd worry about them getting too used to it and then if it shut off for any reason, they'd be more likely to keel over from heat exhaustion. Same with heat in the winter. Now, I'd worry much more about them getting too hot than getting too cold, though.

 

[Jimagination]

Justusnak, not to change the subect, but have the Ameraucanas layed eggs yet? Mine haven't. I keep checking, but nothing.....

 

[lurky]

I dont think anyone mentioned this, but i read in a chicken magazine that it can be from a vitamin deficiency (sp). I would imagine to do with the heat too. But maybe you could look into that. I kinda thought the electrolytes had vitamins, but anyway i just read it yesterday.
I think it was in backyard poultry.....some stuff is on line. Good luck.

 

[justusnak]

Quote:
Nope...mine either. UGH!! Im thinking it the heat....praying for cooler days.

 

[2mnypets]

My girls did that too a couple of weeks back. Mine have an A/C in their coop along with fans and it was still 105 in their coop. We had windows opened and closed depending on the time of day not to mention cool veggies, electrolytes in their water, oyster shells that they could eat at will etc. Mine had the membrane just no shell. I had given them vitamins too.

 

[FamilyOfChickens]

Hmmm...We haven't had a problem with egg shells like that in this heat. For a day or two one of the girls had stopped laying, but the shells were as thick and rock-hard as ever.

And they don't have ANYTHING to help keep cool besides a window and fresh water.

BTW, how old are your Ameracaunas?