To hot to lay eggs???

[AlabamaChickenLady]

I was getting 12-14 eggs per day (give or take a few) and then it just dropped off dramaticly!! In the last 4 days I have only gotten 14 eggs total. Anyone else having this problem??

It has been hovering around 100 degree's, w/ high humidity and very little wind, everyday here in Alabama for about the last two weeks. The coop and run are in the shadiest part of the yard with tree's providing shade most of the day. I go out every morning and make sure they have plenty of water and food. Plus I throw them some scratch. I have noticed that they have cut way back on eating their food.

I do not think anyone is eating them, as I have not seen any mess of any kind or shells. We go out and check for the eggs several times per day... and nothing!! I think I have two broody hens, both are White Leghorns and they act funny when we go out to check for eggs. Refusing to get off the nest and making strange noises. I have checked for hidden nest, but did not see anything in the bedding.

I've heard that they may stop laying as much in the winter, but is this common in the summer time?? Could they have worms or something? I have never wormed them. Poop looks fine. Any idea's would be appreciated.

 

[ChicKat]

Hi Linda,

Somewhere I found a listing of the distress that heat causes chickens. They eat less in heat (and drink less too) and this reduces their egg-laying ability. We are having hot weather here as well 104-today, and I don't know what the heat index was. Meanwhile we have 30-mph winds. My chickens haven't stopped laying yet, but if this weather keeps up, I expect it.

I will try to post back the temperatures and the results in the next couple of days If I can locate them...but I remember that 100-degrees is stressful for chickens and they will eat less and thus lay less.

You may consider using some electrolytes in their water to help them deal with the heat.

 

[AlabamaChickenLady]

Thanks ChicKat.

I am soo worried that they may become egg bound since they are not laying. I'm going to take the hose out tomorrow and spray them and everything down with a fine mist setting on the garden hose. I've got to do something to help cool them off. I'm so worrie they will become sick or egg bound from this. Hope this helps.

 

[Rammy]

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[ChicKat]

That's a good idea! It seems to get much cooler here when I spray hose around the run.

People have lots of ideas on byc -- such as putting fans on extension chords around the run...etc. I take empty gallon milk jugs and put them in the freezer, and pull out to set in a big plant saucer of water -- so they can have ice water. And a beach/patio umbrealla to deepen the shade.

Here's a link---other searches on heat may produce more responses
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=204303

someome had first aid (sort of) for over heated chicken...dipping the feet in cool water, and I think wetting down the chicken, putting it in the house, drying with a towel....

One of the best things too--is letting them have acces to cool dirt or sand...they scratch down to get to where it is cool and flop into their 'hole'.

Here is the temperature rating I found -- not sure the source alas..a book or a publication from university...

'90-95 Feed consumption continues to drop. Heavier birds and full production layers some danger of heat prostration. Cooling proceedures needed.
95-100 Heat prostration probable. Egg production. feed consumption reduced. Water consumption very high. Emergemcy measures may be needed
Over 100 Emergency measures needed to cool birds survival a concern at these temperatures.'

Now let me add.... it is possible to be overly concerned about chickens and their adaptability, my spouse thinks I am overly concerned and 'the chickens will be just fine'. I do have a brooder thermometer on the end of the run, so I can tell exactly the temperature in their micro climate. I also think that this was from a comercial level production (most university stuff is for commercial and not backyard chicken keepers IMO)-- and the more space the chickens have, the cooler then can be. I think there is some lea-way in individual circumstances.

All that being said---it is probably heat and not being egg bound that is reducing yor eggs.

 

[Rubysieg]

I live in the florida keys, usa; the weather has been very hot and humid lately. All winter I got between 12 and 17 eggs a day from my 18 hens. (I don't have a rooster). For the past six days I have only gotten about 5 eggs a day, a marked decrease. Checking with Mr. Google, it is said that the hens may need to be wormed. I got them as chicks two years ago and have never wormed them. Mr. Google recommended "flubenvet" for worming, but it is not available here in the u.s. as far as I can tell. Instead I bought a product called "Rooster Booster", but so far it hasn't seemed to have much effect. It says it's a wormer, but I suspect it's mostly just a vitamin supplement. Could it just be the hot weather that has egg production reduced? I mean, aren't there chickens in Africa? Hens should be somewhat heat tolerant. I am considering putting in a fan/spray system but it seems excessive. I DID put a swimming pool in their pen but mostly it just collected mosquito larvae, so I emptied it. Hopefully this may only be a temporary problem? I check their water twice a day to be sure they have plenty, and they free-range from about 4pm until dark every day. What product do y'all use for worming your chickens? Do I need to?

 

[Deni322]

I have new layers (5 months old). Our weather has been extreme as well, between 100-105. My chicks should be starting to lay eggs, but nothing yet. I find that wetting the sand under their coop keeps them cooler. when it gets over 100, I place a fan outside the coop as well, if there isn't a breeze. This seems to work for my chicks. I check on them frequently and add cool water to their water drinker. Mine hasn't been eating or drinking much either, but they will eat cool vegetable treats. I let mine out of pen in evening and let free range when the sun isn't so hot. In the past I have used the above method and have never lost a chicken, because of heat.