Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[CarolynF]

Home from the Vet. Arnold had a ginormous tumor on his kidney. Dr Bruce suggested a bunch of things that could cause it. I asked about testing for Marek's and he did not think it was necessary and isn/'t rushing over to put down my whole flock. (He does do that sometimes). He had also lost a lot of weight which I didn't notice until yesterday.

He suggested that I get future stock from a different breeder preferably one that vaccinates. Arnold was vaccinated for Marek's. And keep doing what I am doing. I just checked the rest of the gang and their weight seems healthy.

I feel a little better knowing that he was probably predisposed and it wasn't bad food or water or something stuck in his crop.

Thanks for all your support. I had a good cry this morning and feel a little better.

I'm glad you found out what the problem was. Your loss is hard, but the news is good.

I hope his offspring will stay healthy.
What breeder did they come from? I know one breeder locally that is working toward having chicks available, but not sure when.

 

[KMHunter]

Quote:
Thanks. I went out today and checked on it. I had left the lid vented and mixed it very thoroughly. It doesn't seem damp anymore, probably because for the last 2 days I've given them 5x as much (the wet stuff off the top) as usual just to try and get through the wet/damp part. I'm going to keep the lid vented and not screwed on, and keep sifting through the whole thing to mix it well so all parts get air. I think it might be ok!
If it happens again you can add DE when it get partially dry to help things along. Just keep stirring! Glad it seem like all is ok.

 

[KMHunter]

Oh and Carolyn, the cardboard is multipurpose, if it wasn't there, there would be shavings EVERYWHERE!

I keep looking at the pictures and can't figure out how you have the cardboard in there. Is it a whole box cut down? Or did you piece it together to fit the kennel. I have one too and would love to keep the shavings inside instead of all over the place. Gets frustrating.

 

[SadieSue]

So it's taken me close to 25 years but I'm pretty certain I'm going to hang onto my DH now. Funny, I thought once he retired he'd drive me nuts, but it's been quite the opposite. I love having him around during the day and evenings now. He is happy to run errands with me, go to the movies at the spur of the moment, dinner out once a week - we've had a lot more dates recently. Nice.

On top of all that yesterday I told him since we had two broody Silkies that I was planning on picking up 1/2 dozen eggs tomorrow for the girls to hatch. He thought that sounded like a good idea. Then I casually mentioned that gosh darn it, I really need a new grow out pen for my juveniles. I sure do love having chicks in the spring and it would be nice if they had a good grow out pen to replace that piece of junk kit coop in the back yard...

"We don't have room for another coop"
"Yeah, we do if we're getting rid of that junky one, it can go right there".
"Why do you need another coop"?
"For the babies - isn't it fun to have babies every year? We don't need to keep them all. We'll re-home them. I just like hatching and playing with them is all".
"Where are you going to get another coop"?
"Well, actually - I kind of already signed up to be on the big 2013 VF World Coop Building Tour again. He does such nice work and has different designs and you'll be around to help and it's fun to visit and have dinner together. Remember how cool that was last year"?
"Yeah. Okay I guess. That should be fine".

Whew! I guess we're ready for the summer tour!

 

[Flaming Chicken]

Dr. Bruce is great isn't he? The Mareck's vaccine that most of us get online is only good for preventing the tumors. But it isn't 100%. Was he one that we vaccinated last summer? He also assured me that Mareck's is everywhere and there is only on type of vaccine that keeps them from getting it at all, and it's complicated and expensive if you could get it. I still think vaccinating to help prevent the symptoms is something I am going to do.

Dr Bruce is wonderful. i think he would tell me straight up if he thought it was Marecks. And yes he was one of the group that we vaccinated. The Breda fowl that I hatched and also raised with the ones I ordered and also vaccinated are all doing fine. It's just the chicks that I had shipped that I have had problems with.

 

[Hinotori]

I was given "the Look" when I mentioned hatching more silkies to DH. He doesn't really care for them. Keeping peace with that is better for me than trying to breed pretty colors of them.

So anyone interested in this boy? Otherwise he may get eaten here soon.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: I live in north Seattle. You should get in touch if you're going to be in town.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: I've seen people on BYC use pipes to create hoops on top of their runs.

 

[hallerlake]

I got some great news tonight. Seems Jeanine / Cloverleaf farm

has made arrangements to have my plasma cutter repaired !

Not sure if I will get it back in time to get many more chicks done for Monroe but at least I will be back up and running before long.

 

[KMHunter]

That's great but in my area it has to be covered with a sloped roof. I am not that handy and not sure about how to roof it. And don't even ask about getting help from my husband. Lol.

how about using PVC pipe and joints- will that work? Is the need for sloped roof due to snow or rain, or neighbors?

I once made a whole garden fence and  gates out of PVC pipe- even put hose fittings on and drilled holes so it was a 'sprinkler'  fence. It was Mother Earth News type of worthy

I've seen people on BYC use pipes to create hoops on top of their runs.

I have done that. They hold up my netting and tarps. Though I did have my DH put 2x4's on end to add support for any snow. Not that we got much. But better safe than sorry.