"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[campingshaws]

Those aren't bad numbers Camping. I've got eggs on day 14 also  Started with 15 shipped Biele eggs. Candled on day 7 had to take out 5 clears. Sunday is lockdown

That's so exciting for us!

 

[rlcrow]

Day 14, so I candled again. Two more blood rings, SS and FBMC eggs. I was so optimistic!! But now I'm getting nervous. I only set 18 eggs and I've lost three so far. I have ten SS, four FBMC, and one suspected australorp mixed egg left.

I know I don't have a ton of experience, but the eggs just didn't FEEL warm enough. I guess I'll find out next week.

Allmy eggs have been shipped, so depending on the type, how they are packed traveling conditions Ect. it can be tough to get a good hatch. My Marans are hatching now! Definitely the best quality eggs I've bought! So far 7 hatched, 1 dead after pipping and several more pipping and zipping! Yay! There are always several clear eggs i have to pull when they are shipped.

I'm sure you'll have a great hatch!

 

[campingshaws]

Thanks for the encouragement, y'all.

Do y'all have shelters up for your free-range birds? I put up a fence to block them from the back porch, and they're standing like this in the rain:

They're under the eaves, so out of the wind and rain I guess. I'm thinking of making them a little lean-to... The whole yard is under water, so I understand their desire to be on the porch. I'm just sick of all the hay, sand, and droppings.

 

[birdman55]

so were at 22 out of 28 and one more has started zipping ...so egggcited....if that hatches it will be over 80 percent hatch....as for the eggs being to cold....our temps have been minus 20 below...all the eggs i set were warm to the touch when picking them out of the nest box...and i also incubated some that were cold just to see and marked them p...for possible....and they hatched as well....so i dont think its the cold...unless they were frozen solid...im excited for you guys in lockdown....its always are good time to watch and pick out of the incubator/hatchers....and then they get that one feather....well water froze again...glad thing no broken pipes...but waiting for it to thaw out...ive had the best luck this season...i just dont understand y its freezing it four feet down with a 250 watt heat lamp in it...and i even left the water running...man

 

[TerriLaChicks]

At work - we had a lot of sleet at home but once I got into town it was just rain. Tomorrow's going to be worse for cold. My two black Ameracauna sisters Georgette & Gracie were the first ones out of the coop, as always. They don't care what the weather is, they get out & make their rounds. The Wellies stayed on the roost inside & fussed. I told them the weather wasn't MY fault!

 

[campingshaws]

At work - we had a lot of sleet at home but once I got into town it was just rain. Tomorrow's going to be worse for cold. My two black Ameracauna sisters Georgette & Gracie were the first ones out of the coop, as always. They don't care what the weather is, they get out & make their rounds. The Wellies stayed on the roost inside & fussed. I told them the weather wasn't MY fault!

It was sleeting here, too! I was so surprised when I realized it. I immediately opened the gate and threw down extra straw on the porch. It's a bad day to start being a meanie. I even gave them a plush nest box.

Adding a "chicken porch" to my list of building projects.

 

[Cody A]

It was sleeting here, too! I was so surprised when I realized it. I immediately opened the gate and threw down extra straw on the porch. It's a bad day to start being a meanie. I even gave them a plush nest box.

Adding a "chicken porch" to my list of building projects.

You pushover!

 

[campingshaws]

 You pushover!

I know!! I'm the worst.

There's our sleet accumulation, and the chickens clearly not caring one bit anymore. They won this round.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

For all you artsy-craftsy people out there:

 

[lakones]

With all the rain we've had this winter my chicken yards are a muddy mess!!! They are covered with sunshades that you buy to go over dog pens so most of the sun and rain are kept out, but there is enough water getting through to make it nasty and not enough sun to dry it out.
I think I need to build the area up (20x40) to better the drainage and cover the ground with something. I have plenty of dirt already, but it is mostly clay, and I have access to plenty of pine needles and leaves. Is there anything I can do with these? Or do I need to buy gravel, sand, etc...?
I was actually planning to make the yards larger this spring, but I need to find a solution to the mud bog before I add to it. Any ideas are appreciated!

Edit: the other thing I have a lot of is wood chips from when the electric company side cuts the tree lines. These have been piled up for 2-3 years now.