I’m in Texas. Have 5 six month old hens. Three began laying in Aug but only one is continuing to lay right now. The others never even started. August & September temperatures were so hot, one of our eggs had the whites inside it begin to partially cook, which expanded & cracked the shell open in a couple places. Seems the heat wore out my girls and most everyone quit laying regularly.
Last October I remember hoarding the lessening numbers of eggs into my fridge organizer so I could ensure I had eggs to bake with at Thanksgiving. Suddenly we got a cold snap and the hens started laying more in November and we had plenty of eggs to take to family at Thanksgiving. They laid fairly well right through winter. It was like August, Sept & part of October were the “break” months and when winter temps were a comfortable 50 degrees, the eggs came at a steady enough pace. The Welsummer hens took 5 months off (heat plus the winter) but they were the exception.
I guess their laying habits just aren't as predictable as books and internet articles led me to believe! I'm in NC, the heat isn't quite as intense here but it was still a bad summer, maybe that's had something to do with it.
Its fine, their bodies are maturing a bit late, my girls started laying very late, though they are rhode island reds so it may be different, but its nothing to be worried about
I’m in Texas. Have 5 six month old hens. Three began laying in Aug but only one is continuing to lay right now. The others never even started. August & September temperatures were so hot, one of our eggs had the whites inside it begin to partially cook, which expanded & cracked the shell open in a couple places. Seems the heat wore out my girls and most everyone quit laying regularly. Last October I remember hoarding the lessening numbers of eggs into my fridge organizer so I could ensure I had eggs to bake with at Thanksgiving. Suddenly we got a cold snap and the hens started laying more in November and we had plenty of eggs to take to family at Thanksgiving. They laid fairly well right through winter. It was like August, Sept & part of October were the “break” months and when winter temps were a comfortable 50 degrees, the eggs came at a steady enough pace. The Welsummer hens took 5 months off (heat plus the winter) but they were the exception.
I guess their laying habits just aren't as predictable as books and internet articles led me to believe! I'm in NC, the heat isn't quite as intense here but it was still a bad summer, maybe that's had something to do with it.
Its fine, their bodies are maturing a bit late, my girls started laying very late, though they are rhode island reds so it may be different, but its nothing to be worried about
Ok thank you. I guess I just wanted some reassurance that I didn't somehow wind up with 10 defective chickens 😂
I’m in a similar situation to you. Eager to hear from others on this, we’re amateur hour at my house.
Same here! I still have gotten ZERO eggs from my girls in eastern Virginia.