Summer heat

[FLFirefly]

Hello everyone! This is my first question in the forum. I've used this website as my #1 source. It's great.
My question: Can heat impact chicken laying the way that the cold does? I am not completely new to chickens, but this is my first flock of my own. I think their birthdays are March 13th, as I had them shipped. So they are now almost 19 weeks and no eggs yet. We have 5 each of barred rocks, easter eggers and buff orpingtons. I do notice some of them have fully developed combs, and others not yet.
We are in northern Florida and July is hot and August will be too. We situated the coop in the shade and the run in partial shade because we are in Florida. In fact, we made it an open coop with good ventilation attached to the well fortified, predator protected run. They have good food, kitchen and yard treats (they LOVE bamboo) and SFL treats. So far they seem healthy and happy.
But no eggs yet - should I be patient since it's so hot? Does the heat affect things?
Thanks!

p.s. I have set up their nesting boxes with ceramic eggs. (about 2-3 weeks ago) I see evidence of them being investigated, but I haven't witnessed anybody actually IN them.

 

[Loving my girls]

Hi there, ,
The way to tell if they are ready to lay is that their wattles will become a bright red and they will crouch down when you approach.
Mine started laying at about 20 weeks but many start slightly earlier.
Yes, if the heat is extreme it will affect their laying.
What temperatures do you have where you are ?

 

[FLFirefly]

Hi there, ,
The way to tell if they are ready to lay is that their wattles will become a bright red and they will crouch down when you approach.
Mine started laying at about 20 weeks but many start slightly earlier.
Yes, if the heat is extreme it will affect their laying.
What temperatures do you have where you are ?

Bonjour!
Thanks for the info about the wattles and the crouching. I have one girl that I want to test for crouching because her wattle is fully developed. But overall, I know... I must be patient.
As for the temperature in FL, I've lived here 15 years and the interesting thing about northern and central Florida is that it is monotonously hot from mid June to mid September. It will be from about 88-94 F with some low 70s in the AM, 80s in the evening. Not 100s like in Texas or Las Vegas, or Arizona, and never variable, never any surprises. Just monotonously hot and humid. .
But mid October to mid May - lovely.

 

[Loving my girls]

Sounds dreamy, we have 96f here today with threats of 104f
The weather has been crazy over the last four years although I can’t complain because the wine and food are fab. and everything and everyone do things slower than in England. They have time to stop and chat too which is lovely. although annoying when in a rush and two cars have stopped blocking the road in opposite directions discussing a local wedding. I kid you not and no one seems to think this is weird
I love the French

 

[FLFirefly]

Sounds dreamy, we have 96f here today with threats of 104f
The weather has been crazy over the last four years although I can’t complain because the wine and food are fab. and everything and everyone do things slower than in England. They have time to stop and chat too which is lovely. although annoying when in a rush and two cars have stopped blocking the road in opposite directions discussing a local wedding. I kid you not and no one seems to think this is weird
I love the French

THAT sounds dreamy! I was such a francophile as a teenager. I would love to live in lovely cottage in the French countryside, eating amazing French food. Although here in North FL we do have some excellent BBQ, but I have yet to find a real croissant or pate.
But alas, moving to the French countryside might not be possible. I think getting 2 large Anatolian shepherd dogs and 15 chickens through customs might be a challenge.

 

[Loving my girls]

Ah yes, we couldn’t get our English girls into France (only quantities over 1000 due to DEFRA) so dumped, literally, them on my father who was a vegetarian.
He was none too pleased … initially

 

[FLFirefly]

We got our first 2 eggs this morning!! Small, lovely eggs with good shells. I'm so proud of them.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Hello! Sounds like it's just a matter of time. I have 6 hens that are 21 weeks old and only 1 is laying. She started a week ago. The rest are getting more round in the rump so I think it's coming soon, but we've been fighting 95-107 days here so I assume it's the heat because they definitely don't like it and they are also otherwise healthy. As another poster eloquently said, "hens won't lay until they're good and ready!"

 

[FunnyBunny89]

We got our first 2 eggs this morning!! Small, lovely eggs with good shells. I'm so proud of them.

Oh, just saw this. Congrats! That first one is oh, so sweet, isn't it??

 

[FLFirefly]

Oh, just saw this. Congrats! That first one is oh, so sweet, isn't it??

Yes it was. And delicious!