Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Totalcolour]

So very sorry.

I'm trying to comfort an strengthen myself with the knowledge that animals are not immortal as Gerald Durrell wrote in the first book about his Jersey zoo, but it isn't cutting it for me. You can't keep rabbits from being rabbits, I can't stop cattle from getting old or chickens from being subject to chickenish ills, but doesn't it always feel as if we should be able, if we just never made any mistakes nor had any bad luck, keep everything alive forever?

I know that too well. And I find it very serendipitous that you have read Gerald Durrell, I grew up on his books!

Went out to check animals, and the dog went after some predator. Turned out to be a loose rabbit - checked rabbitry and can not figure out how it got loose. No, open doors, holes or broken cages. Bizarre. And I can't run after it with the neck brace on. Got to wait til himself gets home and let him catchum!

 

[ChaeBird]

Thanks for the *hug*!

I appreciate your words SO much. I knew we'd eventually be faced with possibly having to kill our birds (or let nature take its course) but I just wasn't mentally prepared yet. And the fact that it was so gruesome (I almost threw up) and at was 3 a.m. made it even harder.

I couldn't let her suffer all night like that. I am now finding peace in the notion that I found her that way for a reason, so that she wouldn't have to suffer all night long just to meet the same fate. We did right by her, ended her agony. I'm just so sad because she was my favorite.

It took me a few days (obviously) to share this with y'all, because it was so hard to write/talk about. But now I wish I would have shared sooner. This community can be so healing, thank you.

Humanely ending the suffering of a dear pet is for many the final act of love we can perform for these animals who are such a part of our hearts, whether a chicken or a dog. That we are present for them at that moment, I think, is our responsibility as pet owners, and makes it easier for them. <3

 

[fikeyismybaby]

Hi, Washingtonians!
People, please, help me to find a reputable breeder in the Western WA. I do not want the birds from a hatchery or Feed store. And I am interested in heritage breeds only. I live in Tacoma - Federal Way area. I found Bradley farm in Tacoma, but it seems they are very hard to reach ( I tried Facebook, e-mail - waiting for a reply for almost a week now, and there is not telephone number on their profile). Help me, please!!! I would love to have some Orpingtons, Marans, Buckeyes, Leghorns or may be other heritage birds.thank you in advance!

In case any of you Washingtonians are interested, I'll be hatching WBS Ameraucanas, Barnevelders, Buckeyes, and Welsummers soon. Those are my four breeds that I show. I also have BB, BR, NH, and SROs from some top breeders around the country that will be hatching over the next three weeks. Hope to be adding BL, BJG, and BOs too. Maybe even some Sussex. Oh, and obviously I'll have some Easter Eggers too.

Best to email, call, or send me a message on FB as I don't come here very often.

God Bless,

 

[VelvettFog]

We need to get one... But we are planning on selling this house asap and moving.... W are just waiting for his military pay to come in so we can put this house on the market... So my husband wanted to wait so we can get a really nice one at the new house. Which I totally agree with dont wanna waste money buying a small one but UGH I am on pins and needles tho... Being the first hatch my daughter will be very upset if we loose them all.. Thanks everyone for all your advice....

You can rent generators.

Hi everyone,

Very sad news to share. My favorite hen, Ameracauna, who had just been laying for a week or two had a terrible situation Saturday night. I can home around 1:30 a.m. to find her roosting with the other two birds. But I saw a huge mass hanging out of her, at least 6 to 8 inches long.

Long story short we had to kill her to put her out of pain. I knew what to do for being egg bound, but nothing we did worked, or even seemed to help. We put her in warm water, we tried to manipulate the egg out, she was whimpering (who knew our birdies could whimper?!) and it was obvious that nothing we could do for her would save her.

To describe the situation in full detail here would be pretty graphic: her situation was much worse than ANYTHING I could find online or within this community. I could not bear to take a photo of it. The egg was physically outside of her body, but so were a ton of her insides. It was gruesome.


So around 3 a.m. we killed her. This is my first flock, my sweetest bird, my only blue egg layer. I was a WRECK on Sunday and am still pretty choked up about it.


I am now to the stage where I want to get a new bird, but I am pretty sure introducing one bird to an established flock doesn't go so well. I have been searching Craigslist for blue egg layers. I thought about chicks, but husband isn't interested in spending all that time.

Advice?

First - I'm sorry you had to deal with such a horrific thing I can picture it and -- wow -- I have no words.


How many birds do you have? I think it's possible to successfully introduce one bird - the hard part is the 30 days of quarantine that most of us will tell you new birds need. In my opinion have that single bird be alone for 30 days seems like something I'd want to avoid. How would I do that?

One way would be to get two birds (or more). That's the chicken-math-enabler in me. GET MOR CHKN !

or

Get the healthy-est bird you can find, from someone you feel does a real good job of keeping their birds strong and health - and forgo the quarantine period.

Should you choose that route - I would sneak that new girl on to the roost at night. Keep a close eye on them to make sure that the established flock is not killing the new gal - things should be ok

 

[flirty31]

Humanely ending the suffering of a dear pet is for many the final act of love we can perform for these animals who are such a part of our hearts, whether a chicken or a dog. That we are present for them at that moment, I think, is our responsibility as pet owners, and makes it easier for them. <3

I could not have said it better myself, and that is what is giving me strength.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
x2. I asked where you live because I've been considering getting rid of an EE; she lays blue eggs and is 9.5 months old. I'm also not sure if you want to quarantine her alone for 30 days though...she'd be so sad and wonder why she's being punished!

 

[flirty31]

You can rent generators.



First - I'm sorry you had to deal with such a horrific thing I can picture it and -- wow -- I have no words.


How many birds do you have? I think it's possible to successfully introduce one bird - the hard part is the 30 days of quarantine that most of us will tell you new birds need. In my opinion have that single bird be alone for 30 days seems like something I'd want to avoid. How would I do that?

One way would be to get two birds (or more). That's the chicken-math-enabler in me. GET MOR CHKN !

or

Get the healthy-est bird you can find, from someone you feel does a real good job of keeping their birds strong and health - and forgo the quarantine period.

Should you choose that route - I would sneak that new girl on to the roost at night. Keep a close eye on them to make sure that the established flock is not killing the new gal - things should be ok

Now that y'all have indulged my sorrow, I am glad that you have some constructive feedback.

I only have a flock of 2 now. We built the coop and run to be big enough for up to 5 (though that might be a bit cramped in the run department), knowing that eventually we'd have to add to the flock as the first girls grew older...

I would love to return the flock to 3, but I have heard that introducing one is harder than introducing more. So I think we could introduce 2. I thought about getting chicks since the timing is right, but my husband is not thrilled about entering the whole chick process all over again (understandably). So that leaves me with finding some adults on here or on Craigslist.

The 30 day quarantine period would be unfair to a lone chicken, I think. So two would have to do it. I would be concerned that if they were laying, they might get "bound up" or something because I'd be keeping them in a dog pen (I don't have a big enough space for a separate coop). I am just so weary now, so I am worried about everything! I worry that their egg laying would get messed up, that the crate wouldn't be enough space, that they'd have lice or mites...the list goes on. But then I worry about introducing them too early and decimating what's left of my flock (if they brought any sickness with them).

I feel like I'm darned if I do, darned if I don't! Ah!

Let's say I found 2 to add to the flock. Given my circumstances, what would you suggest?

 

[KMoran]

Hi everyone,

Very sad news to share. My favorite hen, Ameracauna, who had just been laying for a week or two had a terrible situation Saturday night. I can home around 1:30 a.m. to find her roosting with the other two birds. But I saw a huge mass hanging out of her, at least 6 to 8 inches long.

Long story short we had to kill her to put her out of pain. I knew what to do for being egg bound, but nothing we did worked, or even seemed to help. We put her in warm water, we tried to manipulate the egg out, she was whimpering (who knew our birdies could whimper?!) and it was obvious that nothing we could do for her would save her.

To describe the situation in full detail here would be pretty graphic: her situation was much worse than ANYTHING I could find online or within this community. I could not bear to take a photo of it. The egg was physically outside of her body, but so were a ton of her insides. It was gruesome.


So around 3 a.m. we killed her. This is my first flock, my sweetest bird, my only blue egg layer. I was a WRECK on Sunday and am still pretty choked up about it.


I am now to the stage where I want to get a new bird, but I am pretty sure introducing one bird to an established flock doesn't go so well. I have been searching Craigslist for blue egg layers. I thought about chicks, but husband isn't interested in spending all that time.

Advice?

I am sorry to hear about your girl. My heart goes out to you. Sometimes as a pet owner its hard to think with our minds and not with our hearts. But you saw past the tears and did what was right for her. Pets become part of our families even if they are "just chickens". They mean something to us and as with any family member it hurts us to see them in pain. But shes at peace now and that should give you a peace of mind... You should be proud of yourself for seeing her pain and ending her suffering. Even tho that doesnt make it any easier....

 

[Totalcolour]

I think it's possible to successfully introduce one bird - the hard part is the 30 days of quarantine that most of us will tell you new birds need. In my opinion have that single bird be alone for 30 days seems like something I'd want to avoid. How would I do that?

One way would be to get two birds (or more). That's the chicken-math-enabler in me. GET MOR CHKN !

or

Get the healthy-est bird you can find, from someone you feel does a real good job of keeping their birds strong and health - and forgo the quarantine period.

Should you choose that route - I would sneak that new girl on to the roost at night. Keep a close eye on them to make sure that the established flock is not killing the new gal - things should be ok

I have successfully integrated a new bird into the flock from a trusted friend.

The other way to do it, is to take one of the birds you have to go into isolation with the new bird. They will be company, and you won't have to buy extra that you don't need.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: Or quarantine and put one of your own birds with the new one to keep her company and make introductions easier too.