Have scorching temperatures caused your hens to retreat to the shadiest corners of the run and slow down their laying? Every summer we deal with 100°F days with heat advisories and temperatures that can kill. Here is how I keep my hens hydrated, nourished and laying some eggs in the heat.
Why are Hens not Laying Eggs in the Heat?
As temperatures soar over 95°F your hens – especially large breeds and dual purpose hens – must find some way to keep cool. Their bodies may pause ovulating if they are under heat stress. Hens over three years old seem especially prone to this egg slow down in sizzling temperatures. None of the tricks I mention here will force a hen to resume laying, they will simply help support her body system so ovulation can continue unimpeded.
How to Help Hens Continue Laying Eggs through the Sizzling Heat
Ensure waterers are sparkling clean. Reduced water intake because of dirty waterers is known to slow down laying in commercial poultry facilities. Hens need adequate water intake to keep up their egg production. Smaller-than-usual eggs can be a symptom of heat-related dehydration. Hens also appreciate being brought cool, fresh water in the middle of the day if possible.
Sweeten Water Drinks
Offer water sweetened with 1 Tablespoon of molasses per quart. This can encourage eager drinking and good rehydration while B vitamins and trace minerals in the molasses will nourish the hen’s body. Offer 1 quart of molasses water for every 6 hens and 1 gallon for every 24 hens. Molasses water can ferment in warm weather so it must be given fresh and any remaining portion dumped after 6 hours.
Find our Recipe for a Homemade Hen Rehydration Drink Here!
Cool Melons Appreciated
Giving your hens cool melon rinds really does help! The water, vitamins, and minerals melons contain act like a natural electrolyte drink to replenish the body. Offer fruit and veggie kitchen scraps as often as possible.
Skip the Corn
Give Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, NOT corn. A heavy corn-based diet creates liver stress, which can result in developing fatty liver that eventually slows down laying. (Afflink) The healthy fats in black oil sunflower seeds will give your birds energy while being easier on the liver. Opt for sunflower seed as the only scratch treat if you’re wanting the hens to continue laying through the heat. Tractor Supply and local feed stores typically carry it.
Click to see our Homemade Non-GMO Corn-Free Scratch Recipes!
Older chicken keepers swear that feeding corn in the summer heat will stop the hens from laying. Black oil sunflower seeds, green garden weeds and fresh fruit kitchen scraps are believed to be better foods for the heat.
Skip Refined Flour Foods
Do not give white bread or pasta at all. Most flocks get a few kitchen scraps that contain bread but I have found that a bird filling up on even a little bread or pasta will suddenly experience a slight drop in laying. White flour products are junk food that reduce her total intake of greens, grains, good fats, and high quality proteins. Whole wheat berries – and the choline they contain – are good for your laying hens so don’t fret about the whole wheat in your organic feed mixes.
Provide Shade
Even if you must purchase shade cloth to drape over or in front of the panels of the chicken run, provide the hens with some shade so they can keep their bodies cool. Ample shade can also help reduce the number of hens who go broody in the warm months.
Increase Free Ranging in Dense Woody Areas
If you’re able to provide free ranging in the woods or deep shade areas, try to do so. The hens will hunt for the bugs they need then settle down to rest into the cooler patches of earth they have kicked up.
Oscillating Sprinklers to the Rescue
If you’re worried your girls are going to collapse but don’t have the time or ability to outfit the run with misters, try this! My flock has been LOVING when I let my big metal oscillating garden sprinkler over-spray the raised beds and sprinkle a portion of their run.
Pool or Pan of Water to Wade In
Hens like to wet their feet in order to cool off. Don’t underestimate this trick! Place a 3 gallon pan or small kiddie pool in a shady area (so the sun doesn’t heat the water as quickly) and let the girls wade.
Frozen Treats
Clean out the freezer! The flock will love any frozen berries, veggie blends, or ice cubes you don’t want. Feel free to toss these in the wading pool when you first fill it up. Dipping their wattles into water helps chickens cool off.
If you’d like to make them a frozen treat, freeze raisins, craisins, or blueberries in a shallow pan of water. Once frozen, remove it and give to your flock in a clean feed pan.
I hope this short article helps you keep your hens happy, healthy and laying eggs in the heat as summer temperatures scorch our poor flocks!
You Might Also Enjoy Reading:
Chicken Breeds that Lay Well in the Heat
Pin for Later:
Leave a Reply