Recent content by mertel

  1. mertel

    Hen Pecking and Adding Pullets (or chicks)

    One more question: I was thinking pullets because that is what we were going to get anyhow...would chicks work the same do you think? I guess I am worried a little about them but that is just another cost effective option as well. Our nights are in the 40's around here (Western WA) so I'm not...
  2. mertel

    Hen Pecking and Adding Pullets (or chicks)

    Hi all- A quick history: I started 2yrs ago with 6 chicks (3 Marans and 3 EE's) After a dog attacked my coop,all 3 Marans flew the coop and were then killed by the dog. This last year we have just had the 3 EE's and all is well in our world. Until-this winter when they went through their...
  3. mertel

    6 hens-none of the eggs are as they should be!

    Well right when I got impatient, I got 2!!!!!! blue eggs today. I guess they are more blue green, but they sure are pretty and they clearly are from 2 different hens. They are different shape and size and they were both slightly warm when I collected them. Thanks for letting me vent and rant...
  4. mertel

    6 hens-none of the eggs are as they should be!

    Well this is promising as I have for sure had some of the speckled ones-which were very interesting! I'm still going to go with the EE's aren't laying yet LOL Thanks for all the help here!! I'm feeling quite a bit better about my girls
  5. mertel

    6 hens-none of the eggs are as they should be!

    These are the eggs I've retrieved since Monday
  6. mertel

    6 hens-none of the eggs are as they should be!

    No I believe they are all the eggs are from the Marran-black birds. They started laying first and I am not even sure the EE's have layed an egg at all yet!
  7. mertel

    6 hens-none of the eggs are as they should be!

    The egg in my hand was our first egg ever and the other two were from early in the fall.
  8. mertel

    6 hens-none of the eggs are as they should be!

    Here are my girls! These were taken at dusk this past fall so it's not the best lighting. The Brown EE is Lucy and she has the best personality. The orange EE is Peach and she is a curious fun bird as well. The white EE Pearl is not nearly as outgoing as the others, but she is pretty tame...
  9. mertel

    6 hens-none of the eggs are as they should be!

    Thank you both for your kind responses! I am so thankful I am able to keep chickens for so many reasons and it has been a great experience thus far. I'm not sure why it bothered me so much today. I knew the EE's were going to be a question but I didn't realize until today that brown was even...
  10. mertel

    6 hens-none of the eggs are as they should be!

    I guess this is more of a "rant" or warning for new chicken owners. This is my first flock and I bought my eggs from a feed store with a good reputation. I bought 3 Marrans and 3 Arucanas. I figured I would just be getting EE's and I was ok with that-so no big deal. BUT-I seriously have NO...
  11. mertel

    I feel like I am running a death camp for chicks!!! S.O.S I need help now!!!

    Honestly I am super new and don't really have any answers. The only thing I have is something I remember reading in Mother Earth News last year (well before I had chicks of my own) That there have been many chick deaths that can be attributed to certain fumes coming from the heat lamps...
  12. mertel

    Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

    Thanks so much! I find your response so true already! I am lucky enough to be surrounded by Backyard Chicken Farmers, but all of them have slightly different ways of handling things. The only thing I wasn't prepared for was how quickly they would grow! It seems like they shot up over night...
  13. mertel

    Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

    Hi all! I am super new-first 6 chicks are about 2wks old (ish) I'm in Kirkland and I'm looking forward to learning all sorts of new things! Sarah
  14. mertel

    First Marans

    I also forgot to add, I have three maran chicks right now myself! Good Luck!
  15. mertel

    First Marans

    Are you getting more chicks to go with her? This is my first go round, so by no means know what I am talking about. The farmer I got my chicks from explained that they are flock birds and having a minimum of 3 is needed. If a hen is by herself, she won't survive. Hence needing 3 in case...
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