Too hot for eggs??

[cmsagirl]

So here in Kentucky our temps have just gone from 50s&60s to 80s. And suddenly I've gone from getting 7-8 eggs a day to 4. They have plenty of food, water, and shade. Can the spring/summer heat affect their egg production?

 

[CascadiaRiver]

That could be the case, Its getting pretty hot here in Washington (70's-90's) and our girls have slowed down a bit too.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hot weather is stressful, especially sudden changes, some halt for a bit others slow down.

 

[aart]

Are you free ranging?
Is it hot in the coop nests?

 

[azjustin]

Heheheh....

We're in our normal 1 week Tucson Spring: 70's last week, 90+ this week with 100+ after.

Our hens quite literally, shut down until they acclimate. We're getting 12+ eggs now but I anticipate about half that (at best) for the next month until we get up to full temps. Once the 100's settle in and the box fan goes into the coop, everyone is right as rain.

I would probably be a little upset if I was wearing a heavy feather coat and pumping out footballs from my rear end when there was a major temp change! So yes, they will be discontented, and then acclimate.

 

[cmsagirl]

Thank you all! I do free range them in turns since they dont all get along, but their coops and yards have shade. The temps went back down to 60's and lower 70's. A good rain + a slight cool down has gotten them back to normal