Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[RorySeiter]

I live in the Greenwood neighborhood and just finished my coop. One of my neighbors has started complaining before we have gotten any chickens. They are concerned about noise and rats.Has anyone else helped smooth over their neighbors. When laying begins, I will be happy to give them some eggs. Neither of these things seems like a real concern as chickens make a great sound compared to cars, barking dogs, and the construction the same complaining neighbors are doing. Of course we don't want rats. The feed will be in a sealed container inside the house. Our feeder is a PVC pipe that prevents most of the feed from being spread around. We also have a cement floor to prevent predators from burrowing. I don't want my chicken dreams cut short, if anyone has any past experience, please let me know.

Thanks!

 

[FirewifeJess]

I live in the Greenwood neighborhood and just finished my coop. One of my neighbors has started complaining before we have gotten any chickens. They are concerned about noise and rats.Has anyone else helped smooth over their neighbors. When laying begins, I will be happy to give them some eggs. Neither of these things seems like a real concern as chickens make a great sound compared to cars, barking dogs, and the construction the same complaining neighbors are doing. Of course we don't want rats. The feed will be in a sealed container inside the house. Our feeder is a PVC pipe that prevents most of the feed from being spread around. We also have a cement floor to prevent predators from burrowing. I don't want my chicken dreams cut short, if anyone has any past experience, please let me know.

Thanks!

First, WELCOME!!

Second, is it legal for you to have chickens where you live? If not...I wouldn't get them. One complaint from the neighbors to someone official and you WILL have to get rid of them. If it is legal, however, your neighbors have no recourse and should shut their yaps. Sure you can placate them later with fresh eggs if you like, but if it's legal for you to have the chickens you intend to have, then I'd completely let go of the neighbor's objections and tell them to get over it. Just my opinion.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
There are a lot of different compounds and molecules in all foods, some beneficial and some not so great. I have never researched lettuce, but I suspect that washed lettuce is pretty benign, and mostly good nutrition.
Spinach is a bit controversial. It contains oxalate, which binds with calcium, making it less absorbable. Calcium, magnesium, Vit D are all interconnected as are probably many other compounds. All can effect neurological, skelotal, and organ developement.
Depending on the the source info, it is considered either the most poisonous food on the planet or it's the safest. Of course the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. That unless you are eating large quantities it is safe for you and your animals. Baby animals are more sensitive to the effects of foods because of their smaller body mass, and larger intake.

Russ- The Dirty Dozen list is good to be aware of.
Washing your food thoroughly, handling foods carefully and cooking properly is always a good idea.

 

[robj]

Link for the show: http://www.pacificnorthwestpoultry.com/events.html

The link is on the right hand side

Thank you!!!

 

[Slinglings]

I have fed my chickens lettuce without any problems for years. Ducks maybe different, but it could have been coincident. I don't know what either green could contain that would be toxic to an animal eating it. 

I have fed my chickens lettuce without any problems for years. Ducks maybe different, but it could have been coincident. I don't know what either green could contain that would be toxic to an animal eating it. 

[COLOR=800000]The only thing that I can imagine being a problem with greens, is the pesticides and herbicides that are applied. Or, maybe the toxic sludge fertilizer or diary farm antibiotic-laden manure sluice they spray on it , which the plants soak up (this was the source fo the crazy e.coli spinach disaster a few years ago- the spinach soaked up toxic levels of e.coli). It's hard to beleive in this day and age that there's still lots of folks who are still under the beleif that they can wash off the toxins. Sadly, it's not possible with the amount of crap they are using to grow food- it soaks into the soil and uptakes into the root system. (Remember in 4th grade science how we soaked white carnations in colored water?). Iceberg lettuce, I know, is particularly high in tin , due to pesticides.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=800000]BTW- since we're on that topic- does anyone else use EWG;'s "dirty dozen" and "clean 15" for their produce buying guide? I've been using their guidelines for years, when I can't buy everything organic, I atleast avoid the worst of the toxic produce. [/COLOR] [COLOR=800000]http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/  . I was so surprized to see blueberries end up on the dirty dozen list a couple of years ago.[/COLOR]

There are a lot of different compounds and molecules in all foods, some beneficial and some not so great. I have never researched lettuce, but I suspect that washed lettuce is pretty benign, and mostly good nutrition.
Spinach is a bit controversial. It contains oxalate, which binds with calcium, making it less absorbable. Calcium, magnesium, Vit D are all interconnected as are probably many other compounds. All can effect neurological, skelotal, and organ developement.
Depending on the the source info, it is considered either the most poisonous food on the planet or it's the safest. Of course the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. That unless you are eating large quantities it is safe for you and your animals. Baby animals are more sensitive to the effects of foods because of their smaller body mass, and larger intake.

Russ- The Dirty Dozen list is good to be aware of.
Washing your food thoroughly, handling foods carefully and cooking properly is always a good idea.

yes, it is the oxolates in spinach that is the problem. lettece doesn't have it. canaries/finches can have very limited amounts of spinach, but I don't see the point in giving them any when there are other greens to feed them. (I have 7 finches). excessive oxolate consumption in humans can lead to kidney stones, gout, other things . Oxolates are the same thing that are in the toxic houseplants dieffenbachia and philodendron. It's also in rhubarb, which people say is toxic to chickens, so why feed spinach, which has more of it?

 

[flirty31]

Tomorrow night Flirty31 will come get 2 of my big girls to add to her flock; I'll miss them, but we needed to make room for babies who will soon grow up and take much more room on the roosts than they do now!

I'm SOO EXCITED!!!

 

[hallerlake]

I live in the Greenwood neighborhood and just finished my coop. One of my neighbors has started complaining before we have gotten any chickens. They are concerned about noise and rats.Has anyone else helped smooth over their neighbors. When laying begins, I will be happy to give them some eggs. Neither of these things seems like a real concern as chickens make a great sound compared to cars, barking dogs, and the construction the same complaining neighbors are doing. Of course we don't want rats. The feed will be in a sealed container inside the house. Our feeder is a PVC pipe that prevents most of the feed from being spread around. We also have a cement floor to prevent predators from burrowing. I don't want my chicken dreams cut short, if anyone has any past experience, please let me know.

Thanks!

The city allows 8 chickens. Your neighbor is stuck. Assure your neighbor that no food will be left out at night, that your coops will be cleaned regularly and often, and that you will not have roosters. Some people just need to get used to change. If your set up is visible, make sure it is attractive.

My neighbors think my chickens are fascinating.

 

[hallerlake]

I have fed my chickens lettuce without any problems for years. Ducks maybe different, but it could have been coincident. I don't know what either green could contain that would be toxic to an animal eating it. 

I have fed my chickens lettuce without any problems for years. Ducks maybe different, but it could have been coincident. I don't know what either green could contain that would be toxic to an animal eating it. 

[COLOR=800000]The only thing that I can imagine being a problem with greens, is the pesticides and herbicides that are applied. Or, maybe the toxic sludge fertilizer or diary farm antibiotic-laden manure sluice they spray on it , which the plants soak up (this was the source fo the crazy e.coli spinach disaster a few years ago- the spinach soaked up toxic levels of e.coli). It's hard to beleive in this day and age that there's still lots of folks who are still under the beleif that they can wash off the toxins. Sadly, it's not possible with the amount of crap they are using to grow food- it soaks into the soil and uptakes into the root system. (Remember in 4th grade science how we soaked white carnations in colored water?). Iceberg lettuce, I know, is particularly high in tin , due to pesticides.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=800000]BTW- since we're on that topic- does anyone else use EWG;'s "dirty dozen" and "clean 15" for their produce buying guide? I've been using their guidelines for years, when I can't buy everything organic, I atleast avoid the worst of the toxic produce. [/COLOR] [COLOR=800000]http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/  . I was so surprized to see blueberries end up on the dirty dozen list a couple of years ago.[/COLOR]

There are a lot of different compounds and molecules in all foods, some beneficial and some not so great. I have never researched lettuce, but I suspect that washed lettuce is pretty benign, and mostly good nutrition.
Spinach is a bit controversial. It contains oxalate, which binds with calcium, making it less absorbable. Calcium, magnesium, Vit D are all interconnected as are probably many other compounds. All can effect neurological, skelotal, and organ developement.
Depending on the the source info, it is considered either the most poisonous food on the planet or it's the safest. Of course the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. That unless you are eating large quantities it is safe for you and your animals. Baby animals are more sensitive to the effects of foods because of their smaller body mass, and larger intake.

Russ- The Dirty Dozen list is good to be aware of.
Washing your food thoroughly, handling foods carefully and cooking properly is always a good idea.

Iceberg lettuce has virtually no nutritive value. It's all water.

 

[fikeyismybaby]

I'm going, and showing my Wyandottes. I'm also going to the PNPA show this month.

I might go still not sure yet.

 

[walady944]

X2 and the Fav pro is Cloverleaf Farm (Jeanine) She also happens to be the president of the Faverolles Fanciers of America club.

thanks for these suggestions; I think I might try the solitary for a few days.