Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Imp]

Quote: Hi Gigirg, another one in Renton- Benson Hill.
Russ

 

[justbugged]

Quote: The chicks need to be protected until they are fully feathered. I put some chicks out this summer that were maybe about 2 to 3 weeks old. I put them in with my Silkie hen, and a heat lamp. They managed to survive without any problems. It was summer though. I doubt that I would try this in the dead of winter. If you want to see some home built coops, you are welcome to come out and see mine. I have a rather unique coop that has pull out drawers. I am at the south end of Maple Valley Hwy. I do believe that a coop that you build yourself will last longer, than most of the pre-made coops that are available. With a home built coop, a person can create enough room to take into account the need for chicken math. lol

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
Hi there neighbor! I'm in Covington, just southeast of Kent. Your chicks can go outside as soon as they're fully feathered (check under their wings for the last feathers), no need to wait so many months. Have you thought about getting a shed to use as a coop? You could use part of it for the chickens and the other part for storage. It doesn't take much to modify a shed for chickens; just add a roost and some ventilation! You're welcome to check out out setup if you like; we have a small shed and a fully roofed run. Welcome!

 

[justbugged]

Quote: Thank you.

At least I didn't embarrass myself to much. I manage to not squeal like a girl, and I didn't cry.

Of course it wasn't one of my laying hens. I really don't like meat birds, and I know that they are tasty.

 

[itsren]

You are much nicer than me!! About the time he started asking questions hewould have been looking right down the barrel. With the statement would you like a demonstration or will you be leaving now!!! That would be followed by a call to law enforcement.
But out here where they have to pipe daylight to me things are different. A dead man tells no tales and coyotes are a poachers best friend. (so I am told !!!!)

I don't take chances any more. I call the police ASAP. I get on Facebook and alert neighbors to the creep that's in the area. I make phone calls to neighbors, and I walk door-to-door to warn them. DH's had his vehicle burglarized more than we can count now.

I called the police while talking to a "salesman" in my driveway. He was creeping me out, and I had asked to see his sales permit, and of course he didn't have one. He got mad, called me a name that started with a B. I can handle a name. And, I will make someone life miserable if they are standing on my property pretending to sell a home service without proof he is legit.

Another guy was looking in my front window one day. My youngest said "Momma, a bad guy is looking in the window." I had a creepy feeling and was dumb enough to open the door (with my phone in hand). I talked with that guy long enough to recognize the gang inscriptions on his wrist and hand. He had a Crown Royal bag in his hand and something that looked like it could have been a gun. I shut the door, called my husband... I SHOULD have called the police. The guy burglarized my neighbor's home. Turns out, my neighbor had a set of walkie-talkie's stolen and they were stored in a Crown Royal bag. The walkie talkies were what I thought was a gun. They lost a lot of stuff that day and their middle school aged daughter was terrified of being home alone for a long time.

This past year a good neighbor passed away. He was such a sweet man. His family had come for the funeral. They day of the funeral I drove by and saw someone loading up a truck. I didn't think anything of it - nothing really suspicious. The guy didn't "look" suspicious. I almost stopped to talk to the guy and ask how my neighbor's wife was holding together. Turned out the guy loading the truck burglarized the home while everyone was at the funeral.

A couple months back, I stood on my front porch in broad daylight and watched a guy walking all around my husband's SUV and looking in the window. I was a little more daring since my husband was in the house. Finally, I spoke and asked him what he was looking for. He had no idea I was there. I engaged him in conversation - the guy was so high, he blurted out his name and family history. When the cop arrived he started chuckling and said he probably had a police photo of the guy because he had photos of just about every member of that particular family.

Eesh. I want to move away from this area SO BAD. This place was nice before the Casino went in. Now we have drunks laying in people's yards and all kinds of rif-raf to deal with. Unfortunately, our house values are in the toilet, so I'm probably stuck living here for a very long time.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Total props to you Robin! I couldn't go through with my first kill. Still haven't. JB witnesses me totally freak out like a little girl and she had to kill my birds. I suck. Someday I'll man up.

 

[itsren]

I am still doing my research, just finished Raising Chickens For Dummies

and I want to make sure I am ready before I get them. I would love to get some this winter, if I am ready. I have read that they should stay inside (garage) until they are about 5 months. Is this correct?

Until they are fully feathered... somewhere between 5-8 weeks. I have chicks and others on this site have recommended that I keep them under a light outdoors until 10 weeks because they are Fall babies. I kept my first three in the garage until they were about 12 weeks because my coop wasn't finished. They just about drove me up a tree being in the garage that long. Couldn't do it for 5 months...

BTW...

 

[itsren]

Quote:

 

[Gigirg]

The chicks need to be protected until they are fully feathered. I put some chicks out this summer that were maybe about 2 to 3 weeks old. I put them in with my Silkie hen, and a heat lamp. They managed to survive without any problems. It was summer though. I doubt that I would try this in the dead of winter. If you want to see some home built coops, you are welcome to come out and see mine. I have a rather unique coop that has pull out drawers. I am at the south end of Maple Valley Hwy. I do believe that a coop that you build yourself will last longer, than most of the pre-made coops that are available. With a home built coop, a person can create enough room to take into account the need for chicken math. lol 

I would LOVE to see your coops! Free on weekends and when the kids get out of school at three. Anytime would be great! Thanks so much!

 

[renart]

Well I do need to go see my DSiL in the Bremerton area, and I will able to manage this sometime next week. At least I think so. I will need to talk to DSiL and see when she will home, I can let you know when I get things figured out with my sis. I don't think it would to much farther to be able to pick them up from you then.

Whatever works best for you. As inexperienced with chickens as I am, it will be interesting to see how you "handle" them. I will pm you with my cell and you can just call me when you have a better idea of if/when/how etc.

thanks.