Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[VelvettFog]

Do any of you have suggestions, outside of SSS. to keep cats out of my raised garden beds? I have replanted my strawberry's twice and the shallots 3 times!

. I have had these beds 3 yrs now and this is the first time she has bothered it.

Red pepper shakes - cyanne pepper

Stumpfarmer told ya Only I don't care if it causes the cat any discomfort. They are lucky I didnt shoot 'em.

 

[FirewifeJess]

4 more chicks in the brooder to brood for my very pregnant friend, and we're set for chickens this year. After Flirty31 picks up her 2 chickens I'll be left with 9 big girls and 8 chicks of different ages, all should be laying in or before August. I absolutely love the breeds I picked this year for chicks and can't wait to see how well they lay for me. I picked all good layers, very few breeds known to go broody, and nothing big or feed inefficient. We shall see how well I did.

 

[VelvettFog]

So.. I saw this picture -- and really liked the arbor -- so I decided to make my own. I went to my creek, felled a few black willow saplings and started working on my own. Here is the inspiration -- I'll be back later to post pictures of my progress.



Link to full size photo: http://www.grit.com/uploadedImages/GRT/articles/issues/2009-05-01/JerryPavia_018_Pavia_Thymus.jpg

 

[Lutefisk]

I am trying to get input on the best watering system for our girls; it seems the small ones I am using for now - chicks only 6 weeks old -
 are always dirty, shavings in the water, poop in the water, etc. 
Do the nipple watering systems really work better?  what are the drawbacks to this system?  Any help or comments would be appreciated.
thanks,

Our hens free range with our dogs so they all drink from the same tub. Not sure I could keep them drinking from a nipple thing even if they learned on one. In the brooder I use a regular chick waterer elevated above the level of bedding a couple of inches, which keeps it cleaner longer. I also add vinegar to the water to help prevent coccidiosis (I read about this on the fermented feeding forum). So far so good.

 

[hallerlake]

So.. I saw this picture -- and really liked the arbor -- so I decided to make my own. I went to my creek, felled a few black willow saplings and started working on my own. Here is the inspiration -- I'll be back later to post pictures of my progress.



Link to full size photo: http://www.grit.com/uploadedImages/GRT/articles/issues/2009-05-01/JerryPavia_018_Pavia_Thymus.jpg

Yes, post pictures, please.

 

[RustyHen]

Red pepper shakes - cyanne pepper

Stumpfarmer told ya Only I don't care if it causes the cat any discomfort. They are lucky I didnt shoot 'em.

I have tried the bird netting she has been able to lift it up and get under! this has is 12' X 4 ' with a hoop frame so I put netting over that. I will try cinnamon and red pepper flakes, have those. I use the cinnamon for ants that try to find a way into the house very effective and safe.

 

[RustyHen]

Yes, post pictures, please.

Please post pics and let us know, we tried something simular but could not get screws to hold.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Is there some place to get the information that's not in stupid pdf format?

 
2013 Tacoma Urban Coop Tour
 
July 13, 2013
THE DEADLINE IS APRIL 1, 2013 TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO BE
CONSIDERED FOR THE 2013 TOUR. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Thank you for applying to have your coop take part in the 2013 Tacoma Urban Coop
Tour. We are excited to have you as an applicant. Before completing the application,
please make sure to review carefully the Coop Tour Host Requirements.
[SIZE=21.3333px]COOP TOUR HOST REQUIREMENTS[/SIZE]
1.
Location.
The coop must be in the Tacoma City Limits.
2.
Experience.
You must be raising backyard poultry (chickens, ducks, etc.) and
have permanent housing established for them when you turn in your application.
3.
Compliance with property restrictions
. Please insure your coop meets local
ordinances, including city and any additional property restrictions. The City of
Tacoma’s Ordinances are available
online
. You may contact the City of Tacoma
should you have additional questions on compliance. Note: It is the applicant’s
responsibility to insure his/her property is in compliance with any restrictions.
4.
Home Owners Insurance.
Each Coop Tour applicant must have current
Homeowners or renters insurance for the tour date. A copy of your current
insurance will be requested at the Coop Tour inspection visit.
5.
Healthy Birds.
Insure cleanliness of coop and healthy birds with bright eyes and
no obvious issues, such as runny bowels or oozing sores. If a bird does get sick,
please separate it from the rest for purposes of the tour.
6.
Adequate bird housing.
The coop must provide shelter for birds from elements
such as heat, cold and inclement weather. It should also be secure against
predator attacks.
7.
Available parking.
Street parking or other parking should be available for coop
tour visitors.

http://
8.
Pet and visitor safety.
Disease can travel on people from coop to coop,
especially on shoes. Keep birds in their coops or in an area separated from
interaction with visitors during the tour. Keep other household pets contained in
areas separate from visitors, as well.
9.
Safety considerations.
The designated coop grounds should be free of sharp
objects or other potential safety hazards. Note: The host may designate a
designated visiting area/restrict visitors from wandering around in undesignated
areas.
10.
Supervision and assistance.
Coop helpers, or “wranglers”, must be on site
throughout the event to assist visitors and supervise grounds. Some coops on
the past tours had over 1,000 visitors come through. As such, coop owners must
have at least 2 “chicken wranglers”, or volunteer helpers, to assist them on the
tour day.
Coop applicants are responsible for supplying their own wranglers.
11.
Photos.
One or more photographs of your coop are required when submitting
your application. The photograph should show the entire coop and highlight any
unique features. The photograph should be of “real life” and not an artistically
enhanced photo.
12.
Information Session.
Attendance at a
MANDATORY
information session is a
requirement for your coop to be considered for the tour. This includes both
owners and their wranglers/helpers with their coops for the tour day. The session
will cover what to expect on the tour and will be held after the tour application
due date. The session date will be
June 15, 2013 at 10:30 a.m
..
13.
Legal Considerations.
Participants selected to be on the 2013 will be required
to sign a Hold Harmless waiver releasing Coop Tour organizers, sponsors, and
others participating in the tour from liability

Thank you, kind lady- my old, irrationally managed (because it's mine, what can one expect) iMac is having a serious disagreement with Adobe products since we downloaded the last upgrade, and when I try to open a pdf it throws a temper tantrum that can only be solved by a force quit.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

SF.....................................

http://gardensphere.biz/?page_id=79

Thank you also, kind sir.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Oh BTW - DH and I took our trip to Wilco yesterday and they still had their "buy a bag of food, get 5 meaties for free" deal going on. I was buying a bag of food, but had no place for 5 meaties. I had considered getting them just in case someone wanted to pick them up from me but didn't want to take the chance I'd be stuck with them. I don't know how long that deal is good for. Just FYI. I'm not ready to process my own birds yet. But probably closer than I was 2 years ago. Those of you in Tacoma who might be interested in being part of the coop tour. Here is a link to the application. Read the rules CAREFULLY. Chicken outlaws need not apply! http://www.sproutingoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Application-20131.pdf And here's the last pic of the Ameraucana Four waiting for parole. More pics to come after their release. They look like little Marshmellow Peeps!

Also forgot to say:Cute Kids! Congratulations! That incubator just keeps chugging along, doesn't it?