It’s mid-August and the first heat wave has struck Seattle this summer. The highs are near 90 degrees and my back porch thermometer reported 96 degrees due to a greenhouse effect from the semi-transparent porch roof.
When it’s hot like this, with highs above 80 degrees, I check outside every hour or two to observe how the chickens are coping. They hold their wings apart from their body, pant, hang out in the shade in the north side of the house, eat less grain, and need their water bowls refilled twice dailyi. I give them kale and outer cabbage leaves in the evenings because their appetite for salad spikes. The older hens (las reinas) tolerate the heat best, while the youngest ones (las angelitas) pant and show signs of distress the most. Each year they learn to cope better.
I am grateful for these hens and the bounty of eggs they lay for us. Here’s the egg count for June, July and other months thus far:
| Month (2023) | Laying Hens | Eggs per Day (avg) | Eggs per Week | Dozens per Week | Eggs per Month | Dozens per Month | Feed Cost | Cost per Dozen |
| July | 8 | 5.8 | 42 | 3.5 | 179 | 15 | $ 30 | $ 1.99 |
| June | 8 | 6.2 | 45 | 3.7 | 186 | 15 | $ 30 | $ 1.92 |
| May | 8 | 6.2 | 45 | 3.7 | 192 | 16 | $ 30 | $ 1.86 |
| April | 8 | 5.8 | 42 | 3.5 | 173 | 14 | $ 30 | $ 2.06 |
| March | 6 | 4.5 | 32 | 2.7 | 138 | 12 | $ 30 | $ 2.58 |
| Feb | 6 | 3.8 | 28 | 2.3 | 107 | 9 | $ 30 | $ 3.33 |
| Jan | 6 | 2.7 | 19 | 1.6 | 83 | 7 | $ 30 | $ 4.30 |
Observations:
- May was the peak of egg productivity with 192 eggs that month, costing $1.86 a dozen (organic, pasture-raised).
- June is close behind with 186 eggs at $1.92 a dozen. It’s downhill from here due to the shortening daylight!
- Longer daylight and sunny days induce egg laying, not warm temperatures.
- Now, in early August, the sun rises about 2 minutes later and sets about 2 minutes earlier each day. I expect greater decreases in eggs for the remainder of the year.
- Brownie and the two youngest hens (Misty and Tots) are finally living in harmony! After many months of Brownie spontaneously puffing up her feathers and terrorizing las angelitas, they now share moments of dust bathing and pecking at grass seeds within a few feet of each other. It’s wonderful to see your children getting along after months of bullying and fighting. Brownie was the lowest on the pecking order (Rank # 6), so I suspect she wants to make it clear to the newcomers she will not be outranked.
- Tots glucks in fear every time Brownie gets near, which instigates anger and a peck attack. She has been getting better about staying calm and not becoming an easy target.
- Tots and Misty still appear to be in equal rank, but occasionally they challenge each other and puff out their hackles (collar feathers).
- Hens abhor equality, so Tots and Misty will likely have a fight and set their positions for Number 7 and 8 in the pecking order — they cannot both stay tied for 7th. It’s only a matter of time.
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