Woodcat Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Hi I'm looking after my daughter's chickens and they've all suddenly stopped laying. Is the hot weather likely to be affecting them? thanks C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutmeg Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Good question, mine went from four eggs to one yesterday and I assume it is down to the heat. Hopefully someone will know if this is the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 It won't be helping. Make sure you give them plenty of fresh, cold water. I've been putting ice cubes in my Glug! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Chickens find heat much more difficult to cope with than cold - so yes, it could be affecting them. Make sure they have got a shaded area in the run, the Omlet cover usually does the trick, and that they've got enough water. It'll cool down soon enough and then they'll pick up again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted July 26, 2008 Author Share Posted July 26, 2008 Thanks. this bunch have the whole garden so they've plenty of shade and I've added some extra water around so they can get at it wherever they are. hopefully they should perk up. They do seem a bit subdued though. They haven't attacked the dog for days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 They do seem a bit subdued though. They haven't attacked the dog for days. Couldn't help smiling at this. The hot weather does take it out of them, but shade and plenty of water is the answer. You could also give them chilled treats such as chopped cucumber, melon, tomato etc...from the fridge. They will love you forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surrey Hen Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 So far mine seem unaffected by the heat. They are still laying an egg each most days but having read this I think Ill just go out and pop some ice in their glug and get them some cucumber from the fridge - thanks for the tip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 You could also give them chilled treats such as chopped cucumber, melon, tomato etc...from the fridge. They will love you forever. Thanks for the tip here also.....some very happy hens with beaks in chilled salad at the moment! No eggs for 2 days don't think it's the heat though as they live under trees and don't look like they have noticed the hot weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Think it must be the heat as mine were all laying for weeks now only 2 are and the other day 1. they are all fine running around the garden though don't seem to be eating as much as normal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygal Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 I gave mine some cucumber earlier and they had a peck and then walked away with their beaks in the air- fussy girls!! My son dropped an ice cube by mistake out of his drink and again they ran up to have a peck then walked away in a disgusted fashion! There's just no pleasing some chickens, but what they do go crazy for is water in any other container other than their glug- the children have been filling up cups from the wendy house with water and the chickens have been going mad for them. Happy days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 I gave mine a couple of chilled apples from the fridge.. played beak football and certainly seemed to enjoy the cooled juicy bits as they didn't last long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted July 29, 2008 Author Share Posted July 29, 2008 we've found the eggs. they'd not stopped laying, just stopped laying in the henhouse. I was adding things to the compost and found a dozen all together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave36 Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 our chooks have gone of the lay as well, and when theodd one does lay the egg shell has gone from dark brown to light brownand the pepper pots have gone almost white Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
