Washingtonians - Page 6905  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Richardson 

For those building coops you need to do what works best for you.

I see a common trend people going to the coop pages here and elseware looking for ideas which is good I did the same.

 

Yet, here are some things to consider...................

 

I build my coops to stand up not to walk in for a few reasons.

These reasons go together...................

 

 

In the worse of wind, snow, my chickens still come out of the coop and go stand underneath their coop.

 

This way the coop can be smaller if need be cause only time they spend in there is to eat, lay eggs, sleep.

 

I make my coop long instead of like 4x8. My first one I built 4x8 and learned from that one.

 

I measure my arms with a bit of leaning over and there is the width of my coop.

 

What this does is allow me to reach the back corners of the coop without getting in it or leaning way in ruining the back.

 

Clean out is a breeze this way instead of my first coop when I made it 4 feet wide.

 

I also build big overhangs so you can stand in front of the coops doors with no water coming on you.

 

It is important especially in this state that you make the care of your chickens as pleasant as possible due to the rain factor.

 

I can not believe the amount of coops I see with no over hangs. Why do that to yourself?

I have a front and two sides with over hangs.

Back only hangs over about 6 inches so water only hits the siding in a side ways wind driven rain.

 

One of the biggest reasons years down the road people quit chickens or taking care of them as well is burn out.

 

If you are getting soaked while taking care of them there will be times you won't do as good a job cause you are miserable standing there.

 

When designing your coop eliminate the cleaning problems and you have made a better quality of life for yourself.

 

Good points Greg.  I asked for overhangs when my coop was built.  I got just enough overhang so the rain drops down the back of my neck when I'm collecting eggs.  I'm not complaining.  I'm grateful to those who built my coop, it's just that  I've learned to wear a broad rimmed hat and scarf now when I'm out there in the rain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by justbugged 

She might need a stability bar installed next to her tub/shower.

 

I have a bar that is still in the box. It is rated for up to 500lbs.  Where can I send it?

 

I'll call you in a week or so to let you know if she needs it. Right now, no stairs, so she has to have sponge baths. I'll come get it (or come here and I'll trade for some jewelry I made). I prefer the grab bar to the shower chair. I had both on bed-rest, so when we had this place built, I had bars installed here at that time too because they can be handy for anyone. She has a narrow tub with a shower head. I don't think my shower chair will fit. She made the walls of the tub surround out of travertine tile. I hope she won't mind drilling in it. I need to talk to her first.

I stopped by Mt Si senior center where I was able to borrow a walker at no charge for as long as she needs it. I don't know if they do this for everyone or if it is because Olivia sometimes plays her harp for the old folks there. Either way, they are wonderful people, and I am thankful for them.

I visited my friend again today. Her daughter took away all her meds but Seizure meds for the afternoon because she is frustrated not knowing if the falling is due to swelling, brain damage, or dopey med-head. She still can't walk, but she was alert for a while - in great pain, and very coherent, so I am hopeful she is dopey from the medication and will recover. I am still trying to get her to a rehab center. I called her neurologists office today and gave them an earful. She was sent home A WEEK AGO, not over the weekend as I thought, with no assistance at all, not even discharge papers to let her friends know what to look out for. She still has a fever, a full-body rash, Thrush whichthe Dr. saw on Monday and said he would get her meds for it and still has not... She has great trouble eating as the thrush hurts when she swallows. I am going to try and bring her some mushy food/drinks wth probiotics.

The daughter had her up, she was supporting her while she scooted her feet along the ground and groaned about the pain in all her joints. I took the groaning to be a good sign. She made more sense too, at least while she was sitting up straight. As soon as DD let her sit on the couch again, she fell asleep, mid sentence, and this was without the pain meds. we were having a normal conversation when she started muttering words right in the middle of a sentence and made no sense. I looked over and she was asleep! She was very thankful for the walker andthe commode.

Quote:

Originally Posted by justbugged 

When she fell the care giver should have called 911. The friend would have most likely been re-admitted. The insurance may have run out on the surgical procedure, but the fall become a new case. So the insurance kicks in and pays for another hospital stay. 

 

 

I called her Dr's office today and described what happened, that she fell into the tub and landed upside down! I also read them the riot act for sending her home with no assistance. I am going to keep calling the Dr, the hospital, and her insurance until they either get her in rehab, or send someone out there to stay with her and train all her friends who are acting as caregivers (half of them are too old and are in danger getting injured themselves). She really needs someone strong enough to help move her with her 24/7.

Right now we are trying to get her contact people changed. Her ex-boyfriend who's moving out of the country in 2 weeks is the only one on the papers that the Dr. has. She and her daughter asked me to be the advocate, and the one to relay medical info and conditions, etc, and the DD and neighbor should be trained on propper lifting and assisting, and what warning signs to look out for. I'm afraid that she won't heal without proper assistance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4cats3kids1hubby2many 

"fart eggs" are eggs without shells. They have the membrane though, holds them together. At least this is what I call them. I think "fart eggs" may be a number of different things though. Mine have layer, oyster shells and only have scratch when I throw it to them once a day...and a minimal amount. You can actually go and BYC search fart eggs and see photos. very odd looking.

 

Fart eggs are eggs with shells that a young pullet just begins to lay.

More often than not, the egg holds no yolk.

fart eggs can come in all sorts of bizarre sizes & shapes, and it all has to do with a pullet just beginning lay.

They all have shells, just weirdly shaped.

Eggs with no shells are a diferent matter altogether. 

Edited to add a pic of a fart egg:

So blurry, same egg:

In a Tablespoon.

I have had fart eggs shaped like a cresent moon, completely round, but all have been small...the pullet is "tight" and just beginning lay.

Hi I am 30+/-  miles south of Oly. I could help with a doz or 2 they would be nice Salmon Fav roo over mixed hens. So would just be BROWN egger mutts. Just let me know so I can hold eggs out of the fridge. Also what may happen with the hatch. Does somebody have a place and the knowledge to care for them?

I also have B Am's available. 
 

Me three. I know that I can borrow it, but it would be nice to have it on hand also. 

But with no fence I cannot have any !  

I have 27 pages to catch up on tonight. I spent yesterday clearing out part of the office. I had a daybed in the office, and It is very rarely used and is taking up to much space. DH needs a bigger desk, and we have one just setting around the garage. We could put it back together, and DH would have a much more usable office space. Now I just need to list the daybed and trundle on craigslist.

I spent today getting a training assessment on Jet. We went to Bothel to the Academy Canine of Behavior. The first thing they saw was that Jet seems to be a Briard, or maybe a Briard mix. I have never seen a Briard that didn't have their ears docked before. He also doesn't have a tail. That seems to be extremely odd. I met the trainer's personal Briard, and there isn't any question in my mind about the fact that he is at the least mostly if not all Briard. 

I am still going to need to find the right home for him. He needs a much more active home, and people. DH and I are getting to be to slow for a dog like Jet. We should also start with a puppy. I am a bit tired of puppies, but I now understand that we will all be happier if we have a very large dog, from the time it's about 8 weeks old. I have have too remember that most very large dogs don't live to be almost 13 years old. 

Jet seems to get a very big kick out of teasing the nasty little dogs. This makes the nasty little dogs, a lot more nastier. Miss Gabby actually seems to scare Jet. lol

For those of you who have a deep desire to be Italian (like me !) study Andrea Boccelli...seen here signing with Sarah Brightman...........of "Phantom of the Opera" fame (her hubby wrote the phantom)  anyways, I saw Andrea 2X at the Seattle Center.....AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is blind, but still raises & rides horses, and was "discovered" in Italy and hired by Pavorotti as a stand in...ha !

He is getting old now...but what a voice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Okay, so mine are not fart eggs. They are eggs with no shell. Why would a mature bird (2 or 3 years old) who has ample access to layer, and oyster shells. Clean environment. Has been wormed regularly. Plenty of room to run and roost...lay one? 

also, NO ONE is laying. I took the heat lamp out, maybe I will put back in a llittle light to see if that will kick start them. I have 6 in the layer pen. There will be more added this summer...but the one who was laying went broody - so I put serama eggs under her.

Thanks to everyone from the responses.  I have given my cousin the contact info for everyone who responded and she will take it from there!  You have a crazy fast moving thread over here, lol!

Now I wish I had got on here yesterday. I would so have met up with you. I took the 195th exit, and head east a few blocks, and the north a bit. We then turned right and went to the top of the hill. The Academy is a very nice place.