Today's temperature = # of eggs.

[Savannah Soliz]

I'd do the same put some boiled eggs in there, if she a chicken egg theif she soon discover that your on to her! Lol

 

[Deb B]

It's 96 and climbing here in southern Maryland today. 2 out of 3 laid today. I lost my 4th hen to an opossum last week

But eggciting news:

I got my 600th egg today and it was the first in the extra large category. A whopping 66.6 g. I think it needs to be deviled

 

[Hooligans7]

Deb, sorry to hear of your loss, but congrats on the milestone egg. I should have been keeping better track of mine as well; I can only guess about 540 since early last November.
The main predators we here are raccoons, 'possums, and coyotes. We lost five cockerels in two separate raccoon attacks last summer — I found out that barrel bolts are easily operated by them, and I've also learned to never place a portable pen near a tree unless it has very high security (mine didn't). A big 'possum was sitting on my porch railing a couple of months ago, but my chickens were secure.
Since last summer's attacks, I've changed to padlocks on the coop doors and quite recently added an electric fence, which really helps me to sleep better at night. The shock doesn't kill, but delivers a very memorable and unpleasant jolt! The units are inexpensive and work very well as long as they have a good electrical ground.

 

[Deb B]

Deb, sorry to hear of your loss, but congrats on the milestone egg. I should have been keeping better track of mine as well; I can only guess about 540 since early last November.
The main predators we here are raccoons, 'possums, and coyotes. We lost five cockerels in two separate raccoon attacks last summer — I found out that barrel bolts are easily operated by them, and I've also learned to never place a portable pen near a tree unless it has very high security (mine didn't). A big 'possum was sitting on my porch railing a couple of months ago, but my chickens were secure.
Since last summer's attacks, I've changed to padlocks on the coop doors and quite recently added an electric fence, which really helps me to sleep better at night. The shock doesn't kill, but delivers a very memorable and unpleasant jolt! The units are inexpensive and work very well as long as they have a good electrical ground.

Thanks for the info. My pens are near the woods to give them some shade in this intense heat, so I've tried to be extra vigilant, but I do need to make my runs more secure. The one involved had chicken wire, not hardware cloth, and the opossum just ripped it open. Left his/her calling card in the form of hair stuck to some of the wire ends.

On a lighter note, I got 2 out of 3 eggs again yesterday despite the 97 degree weather.

 

[Hooligans7]

Thanks for the info. My pens are near the woods to give them some shade in this intense heat, so I've tried to be extra vigilant, but I do need to make my runs more secure. The one involved had chicken wire, not hardware cloth, and the opossum just ripped it open. Left his/her calling card in the form of hair stuck to some of the wire ends.

On a lighter note, I got 2 out of 3 eggs again yesterday despite the 97 degree weather.

Yes, hardware cloth (welded wire) provides good security against most varmints. I used the 1-inch grid type, however I had to augment it with smaller-grid wire because a raccoon was reaching through it and grabbing at my birds. It pulled out a lot feathers before they woke up enough to get out of reach. I added 1/4-inch WW to the door wire because that's what I had on hand, but half inch would work well, too.
Mighty warm up where you are! Are you on the eastern or western shore? We lived in Annapolis for eight years and loved it — except when it was horribly humid, or "close" as they say.

 

[Deb B]

I live on the western shore, south of Annapolis. It hit 100 today for the first time this year. Dew point is 72, so ,yeah, it was "close". We call it the 3 H's, hazy, hot and humid. But we did have a little breeze, which made it more bearable.

Despite the hot weather, I got 3 eggs out of my 3 hens today. I started giving them some electrolytes and probiotics to help them through the heat stress. And the hen that laid the 66.6 g egg a couple of days ago cranked out a 69.1 g egg today. Wowzers!

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Glad to see folks are still on this thread. I have been so busy this summer i haven't even been on to check anything.

We were 98 today & I got 6/12. 8 of my ladies are 2 years old so I am ok with an everyother day kind of cycle for them althoughI got 9/12 the other day which has probably been my best this summer so far.

I know you guys up north are dying in this heat, but it is about normal for us down here.

TTFN

 

[wolfbayfarm]

I am in the Panhandle of Florida and am getting nothing from my flock. hey are free range, but you don't even hear a cluck. The weather has been mostly cloudy everyday and rain. I have noticed that they even go in to roost about two hours before night. Can it be the weather? I have Barr Rocks, Reds and a few easter eggers. All have been good layers in the past. Some are getting older, but nine of them are a year or less. We have not had the dreadful HOT weather like last year.


Even my four ducks are not laying

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I am in the Panhandle of Florida and am getting nothing from my flock. hey are free range, but you don't even hear a cluck. The weather has been mostly cloudy everyday and rain. I have noticed that they even go in to roost about two hours before night. Can it be the weather? I have Barr Rocks, Reds and a few easter eggers. All have been good layers in the past. Some are getting older, but nine of them are a year or less. We have not had the dreadful HOT weather like last year.


Even my four ducks are not laying

Not sure why they would quit completly. they will quit or slow down in hot/cold weather but sometimes that depends on the breed and age of the birds. If they are free range you might look around for a new nesting site. Birds will sometimes pick a new place to lay eggs and if one does it, the others will follow. I have no duck experience so don't know if the same if true for them.

We are averaging about 50% on our layers and we are having heat index over 100 and our flock is 1-2 years old.

 

[samanthaburns]

Yesterday we got 7 eggs in Texas from BR flock and pekin ducks. 108 temp