SUMMER HEAT AND LAYING HEN
The summer season is just around the corner. While many of us look forward to our summers it will change how our animals behave and perform. Putting together a plan to reduce the effects of summer heat and longer days will be beneficial for your animals and you.
Some considerations to think about for managing your hens for higher temperatures. Look for ways to improve shade, water supply, cooler water, access to feed and water and diet changes to compensate for higher temperatures. As the temperatures get higher your hens will gradually consume less feed. They want to consume less calories to reduce body temperatures. A couple of considerations for you. First try to feed the hens in the later afternoon. Through observation of my personal flock, I found they prefer to eat most of their food one hour before sunset, not dark, sunset. Secondly, try to adjust the ration to compensate for lower feed intake. This is done by raising the protein level combined with decreasing the energy levels. We typically find that hens in the winter or colder temperatures will prefer to eat 5 – 6 ounces of feed each per day. Spring and fall the hens will eat 4 ounces of feed each day. In the summer, with temperatures over 80 degrees the hens will eat approximately 3 ounces of feed each day. We need to adjust the feed accordingly to each season. This will promote proper egg size during each season. People think feed is feed. When truth be told, the hen needs only a limited number of calories for each season. And needs to maintain 20 – 21 grams of protein consumed daily to maintain a large or extra-large egg size. Being able to fluctuate your feed protein through the seasons will enable the egg size to be more uniform throughout the year.
Let’s talk about water. I cannot describe to you the pain and frustration I feel when I see poultry without water in the shaded areas of their environment. We have all seen it, poultry during the summer or most of the year prefer to spend their time in shaded areas. They do not really like intense sunlight. Yet, I see too many poultry management set ups with water in the direct sunlight only. Water in direct sunlight is only an advantage to the manager/owner. This will significantly reduce water consumption. When water consumption is limited then feed intake is also limited. These limitations lead to less eggs being produced, or smaller eggs being produced. Neither of which helps your income from egg sales. Your hens will be much better off with water provided in the shaded areas they will gather during the middle of the day. Consider the water temperature also. How would like to drink the warm water that is being provided in the watering system your hens drink from? Yeah, that’s what I thought. I wouldn’t like it either. Try to figure out a way to provide cooler temperature water through the day. Options to consider:
Let the water run or trickle in the supply line. This will allow cooler water from the well or source to be closer to the drinker.
Keep the water source in the shaded areas
If using a supply hose, cover the hose with something white to reflect sunlight, let the grass grow up around the hose, or bury the supply line.
If using a reservoir for water, try to insulate, use a cooler, or plan to use ice in the reservoir to keep water temperatures lower.
Look folks if you wouldn’t drink the water, why should your hens?
Finally, Shade. We all like shade. Shade is calming, relaxing, reduces stress, and relieves excess body temperature. Please try to figure out a way to offer more shade for your laying hens. The more shade the more they can spread out. They won’t be sharing as much body heat, oxygen, and manure. The hens will have less stress, less illnesses, less cannibalism, and will have a much better life.
These are all simple environmental things we can fix. I promise you it will make a huge difference for your flock and your bottom line.