"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[Cody A]

My only idea for your dilemma is to have a serious talk with the rain gods. They don't listen to me.

Rain, rain, rain, I think everyone is probably having the same problem unless they keep their birds on concrete. Hey there's an idea!

Sorry Lakones I don't have any good advice for you. Believe me I've been thinking about the same thing in my run/s. Other than to put rock down where I walk I don't have a solution. I think pine needles and leaves would only prevent the ground from drying out.

 

[LemonMeringue]

These Cochin babies and not going to do me any favors in the chicken math dept! Too cute!!!

 

[TerriLaChicks]

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.

SAND -- Sand is your friend! Sand is the answer! I had a load of sand put in my coop run a couple years ago & it was a miracle -- no more muddy puddles -- great drainage! It works! It has the best drainage out there & they love to burrow into it on sunny warm days. I sprinkle Sevin dust/DE/boric acid powder into their "dust bath holes" & I have never had a problem w/any fleas, mites, ticks, whatever.

Edit to add, we have that red clay dirt here, also.

 

[Ron Skekel]

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.

Be careful cold chickens on wet ground could lead to dead chickens.Mine have access to their coop and can go under our studio. Pam

 

[campingshaws]

Be careful cold chickens on wet ground could lead to dead chickens.Mine have access to their coop and can go under our studio. Pam

That's what I was afraid of, Pam. So I ended up throwing down a thick layer of straw and letting them back on the porch. They have access to their coop, but it's not their "preference." I think I'm just going to add a little open-faced "cabin" with a big porch. I can hang an extra waterer in there, maybe a few nest boxes. Then they can have shade in the summer, shelter in the winter, and extra cover from hawks. And it will be cute.

 

[campingshaws]

Was there anyone on this thread interested in speckled sussex eggs? I posted them on fb but didn't get a response. I have them listed at $15, but I could go down. The eggs are six days old and less; I've been turning them in the carton. I'm worried about them getting old. I guess if no one buys them, I'll just add them to my HAL eggs.

 

[LemonMeringue]

Was there anyone on this thread interested in speckled sussex eggs? I posted them on fb but didn't get a response. I have them listed at $15, but I could go down. The eggs are six days old and less; I've been turning them in the carton. I'm worried about them getting old. I guess if no one buys them, I'll just add them to my HAL eggs.

I wish I could. But we are on a hatching break right now.

 

[Ron Skekel]

That's what I was afraid of, Pam. So I ended up throwing down a thick layer of straw and letting them back on the porch. They have access to their coop, but it's not their "preference." I think I'm just going to add a little open-faced "cabin" with a big porch. I can hang an extra waterer in there, maybe a few nest boxes. Then they can have shade in the summer, shelter in the winter, and extra cover from hawks. And it will be cute.

Good move! I went to lockdown yesterday. Came home tonight after getting my dad set up with hospice to two chicks. I noticed my bator needs recalbrated after 4 hatches. Its still under warrenty setting it to 102.5 it would fluckuate between 98 to 100. So hope its fixed and back before my xm Barred rock eggs come. Pam

 

[Ron Skekel]

Was there anyone on this thread interested in speckled sussex eggs? I posted them on fb but didn't get a response. I have them listed at $15, but I could go down. The eggs are six days old and less; I've been turning them in the carton. I'm worried about them getting old. I guess if no one buys them, I'll just add them to my HAL eggs.

Selling eggs on face book is more marketing then saying eggs for sale for 15 bucks. Aren't SS a rare breed? Frist I take pic of my Breeding stock at their best. I post the pics of them and some eggs. Then write what makes you passionate about them. Read about the best qualitys of you breed then put them in your add.Let buyers know the pics are current.Thats cheep for rare breed eggs. I've seen adds ISO for your breed in my area. Sometimes shipping elsewhere where the market is better is the helpful when selling.You can't ship out of state without NPIP certification. You can earn more hatching and selling chicks of juviniles too. Hope I've giving you some ideas that helpOne more thing goggle your breed for sale find out what the average going rate for your breed is too.. Pam

 

[birdman55]

morning everyone...last chick starting to come out....man it was a late one...but i guess better late then never.