Low Egg Production In Summer Months?
People typically associate the drop in egg production with the darker winter but, if you’ve noticed a significant drop during these blistering months, you’re not crazy and you’re not alone. Discovering less eggs in the nesting box during the hotter days is not a cause for concern, but a completely natural occurrence during this time.
H E A T S T R E S S
Just like you or I, heat stress for your birds is a very real thing. They can most definitely feel the heat and when you consider a chickens natural temperature rests somewhere between 105-107 degrees, you can see how that may cause some stress within the body. When your hens start to overheat, their body focuses their energy on coping with the rising temperatures vs laying eggs. This is just one way the body is designed to survive. Remember to have some frozen water bottles, frozen fruit or bugs, ice or other means of cooling down their water troughs and provide plenty of fresh clean water! High quality feed with proper mineral and nutritional balance can also help your hens with hydration.
R E D U C E S T R E S S
One of the ways we can help our hens is by reducing the amount of stress they experience if we can. Keeping them in a happy, healthy and comfortable environment and state of being can go a LONG way in the longevity of your flock and egg production. Simple but effective ways to accomplish this is -
Clean coop and upkeeps. Give the coop a good cleaning, and then every other day scrape off any waste build up and sprits safe coop freshener to create a clean comfortable space for them to hide from the sun.
Deep (or double shade), fans and ventilation - If you are able to create a form of double shade, this is one excellent way of keeping them comfortable. For example, if you had your coop under a tree and also added a shade cloth above the roof, it would be more sufficient than the sun beating down on the coop itself. If you are someone who operates with a chicken tractor, the shade cloth or a simple and cheap pop up carport can be moved along with the tractor. Plenty of screened windows and ventilation will help in moving air (and ammonia form droppings) out of the coop. You’ll notice when your hens are in distress, they open and elevate their wings to attempt to catch a colder breeze in an area that is not covered with feathers. Air movement by the fans will help them do this.
Frozen treats and cold water - Freezing rubber tupperware bowls or doughnut tins and adding fruits or any treats is an excellent way to keep the stress down. Refill water often if ice is not available.
Dust Baths - Dust baths with Diatomaceous Earth, clean soil (dirt) and safe essential oils like Lavender + Peppermint are great ways to help them feel relaxed through aroma and the cooling sensation of the bath itself.
H O R M O N A L F L U C T U A T I O N S
Chickens depend on light patterns to regulate their egg laying cycle. The long, drawn out days of summer may cause disruptions to their reproductive system. If we think about it, this is then just a normal and healthy response to the season as with all things from or in tuned with the earth.
Be patient and remember that they too, are more than their productivity. If you love and care for them as always, they will be ready to lay an incredible amount of abundance when the winds of Fall begin to blow.
