Heat+chicken laying=???

[lemoniee]

My chickens have seemed really hot today, walking round with their wings away from their bodies but not open and their beaks open, we have 8 chickens laying atm but the past couple of days we have only collected 5 eggs
anyone else having this problem? and has anyone got any ideas on how to cool them down in this heat?
thanks

[callette]

My hens seem to stop laying in hot or dry weather, as soon as the weather breaks they should go back to laying. Have they got a shady area where they can shelter from the sun?

Callette.

[lemoniee]

Yes they have got a shaded area covered by tall trees and there are hedges they go under too. I tried to shower them with the hose pipe today but they clucked off! ive noticed they like drinking out of a puddle of water on the ground rather than their water feeder! odd things!