| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| herb19355 |
Posted - Aug 07 2008 : 06:15:25 AM
Good morning... I was wondering if any of you with chickens could give me a hand. I have 3 hens and for the past month, none of them have been laying much at all. I am getting an egg from 2 of them on occasion (about 1 per week) but the easter egg girl (Claire) is not laying at all. I am at work during the day and am wondering if something is getting in the pen... I don't see any egg shells or excessive feathers...
It has been very hot and dry in GA... I give them fresh water every day.. Does the heat have much to do with laying?
Thanks for your help.
Debi |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| RoseRed |
Posted - Aug 12 2008 : 10:34:21 AM
Ditto on the summer molting and the fan, too. I figure egg laying, like everything else, has seasons and will have highs and lows. We enjoy our girls for their goofy selves as well as their eggs, so it's all good :) |
| craftychick06 |
Posted - Aug 11 2008 : 6:53:22 PM
We have the same problem year after year. Summer is just not a good time for the girls to lay~we get the best egg production early spring fall and into the start of winter. In the summer we keep a fan in the window 24 7 for them and on really hot days we put a soaker hose on for awhile during the day they do walk and lay around it. Whenever chickens get stressed out they stop laying we have found keeping a low watt light on all day and night helps too. Yepper they usually molt every fall here which i think depends on weather too, but for the most part summer is the worst. We usually get up to 3 doz a day and 2 days ago we got 6!! I told the girls we need to have a talk!! LOL
Good luck!
**LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY** |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Aug 09 2008 : 7:21:15 PM
You can also buy heated water feeders as well that are made for outdoor use specifically for chickens. |
| luvnlife |
Posted - Aug 09 2008 : 6:15:59 PM
For year 'round eggs, an old neighbor man told me to feed them warmed water. He suggested a crock pot on warm during the cold winter months.I picked up two cheap ones at the thrift store. So far is seems to be working for me, plus I know they have water and not ice to drink. Not sure why your girls are not laying right now. Mine seem fickle and lay well off and on. I haven't had enough experience with them to see a trend or know why. Best of luck with your ladies!
Happy Farmgirl Sister #306! |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Aug 09 2008 : 2:11:12 PM
August is usually a slow down month for Hens. Heat related, molting or just tired. give them a rest, mist them occasionally if it is too hot and relax and they will be up (or down) and laying again. Don't be afraid of molting, it's not like the feathers all fall off all the hens at the same time. And they will lay again. We used to raise hens and sell eggs. MB
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"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
| mrsmorgen |
Posted - Aug 09 2008 : 09:33:28 AM
don't they stop laying for a molt around 18 months too> I am preparing since mine are only 18 weeks but I think I read that about the molt causing a temporary halt to laying.
morgen
I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all..
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| willowtreecreek |
Posted - Aug 07 2008 : 3:03:10 PM
Chicken will slow down or stop laying all together in the heat. I wouldn't worry if they look and act healthy.
Farmgirl Sister #17
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| Ms.Lilly |
Posted - Aug 07 2008 : 06:40:35 AM
Debi- I have been fighting the same problem here. I'll have 10 eggs one day and 6 the next, and I have 15 hens. Not sure what the problem is either. The heat has not been excessive here. I was on another forum the other day and this was a hot topic there too, so we are not the only ones out there with egg laying problems. What scares me though is mine are getting close to a year old and shouuld molt soon and then I will have no eggs-yikes.
Lillian |
