Jay Green wrote:It's the time of the year for a little slow down, especially if you are experiencing high temps.
My birds slowed down during the hottest part of July but are starting to pick up a little, though they are molting pretty steadily now. My mature hens are 6 yrs old and 4 yrs old and, out of 8 hens, I'm getting 3-4 eggs only...and two of those are from two of the 6 yr old gals. One of my hens is just off a brood nest and mothering some birds, so she won't be laying just yet. So..that leaves only 3-4 eggs out of 7 girls, even though they are pretty ancient in chicken years to be laying that steadily in a summer slowdown time. Normally I'm getting 5-6 eggs from 8 old girls.
Will be culling some oldsters before fall....
What you have said here seems about right. I don't want to cull anybody who is still feeding me, but I'm trying not to be sentimental. We "adopted" this flock, which started at 11 birds, so unfortunately I don't know their ages. I could REALLY use some advice on how to tell who is laying. I tried looking at their legs and their combs but for the life of me, I can't tell. I also try to catch whomever it is that makes a big show in the morning but.....the only one I'm sure about is my Americana! (blue eggs)
It has been hot here too, and some of the birds seem a bit scraggly. I think I'll take a cue from you and wait until fall, then reevaluate my flock and get ready for chicken and noodles.
