It takes a few years to know for sure a hen is healthy and continues to lay. If any of these 4 yr old hens are to your liking, it might would be a positive thing to hatch some of their eggs. You know they have lived 4 years and have been healthy, laid eggs with a good shell and no reproductive...
I think last year we may have removed a dozen or so here. Always seems a new crop each year. We have more problems with possums than raccoons. Neighbors down the rode have lots of raccoons and rarely see possums. He has fenced and pad locked his outdoor trash containers. His birds free range...
Crows do a good job keeping hawks away. It's funny to watch a hawk trying to get away from 2 crows tagging his behind.
They will do this too. I have heard of crows taking chicks.
Makes me wonder if you have a large 0possum???
They will usually eat anything but might possibly leave...
I have a neighbor who used 2 old big chest freezers for all his feed. They work really well. Insulated and have a seal. I used to feed his animals when he and his wife went out of town. Never saw bugs or mice in his feed. They were always clean and dry. He had chickens, turkeys, guineas...
Was just curious if you had any growing this year.
Like anything else, you just have to keep at it. You'll get it sooner or later. Leaf-footed and stink bugs do damage the fruit. I use a lot of soapy water spray. Helps but doesn't stop them.
Nematodes invaded some areas of my garden and...
I would not think those temps would cause a problem. I've seen posts where people hatched eggs that had sit in the refrigerator for a few days. Also store bought refrigerated eggs (only from certain farms that free range).
Good luck on the hatch!
I used to have a dwarf cavendish easier to protect when necessary. Supposed to be a good eating variety. I received it from a friend as a baby mid winter so was going to plant the following spring. Daughter over watered it in my absence so no more cavendish.
Thought I'd mention in case you...
You've been busy!
My oregano stays pretty green all year. It is planted outside my greenhouse and I never protect it. We are zone 8a.
I never protect the carrots either except netting because of deer and rabbits.
I have had broccoli (Gypsy) and cabbage (Early Jersy Wakefield) heads get burned...
I'm sorry for you and the wife's loss. That kind of stuff always hits me hard.
I've got 2 gardens pretty full right now too. Most things are fairly mature now though. I've got broccoli that needs picking right now but it is chilly this morning.
What did you plant?