Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[nikki1]

welcome newhenmama! I hope you like this fun & crazy group of people.

We've voted ourselves #1 group on BYC!

Nobody else knows Washington exists, but at least WE know we're AWESOME!!!!

 

[VelvettFog]

Quote:
Cedar shavings are a no-no, especially for chicks. I know some folks who use them in the nesting boxes. The thing with the cedar shavings is that they have more surface area and therefor allow their oils to evaporate faster. This is why they keep the bugs at bay, and it's also why you dont want to use cedar shavings for bedding. Cedar boards however, don't have the same surface area and so they don't put that odor into the air the same. This is especially true if the boards you use have been exposed to the elements for a while - like old fence boards..

Don't sweat the size of the Australorp ( I spelled it correctly !! ) They are big, but they are not HUGE - if you want huge, go Jersey Giant.

If you choose to purchase a coop - please let us here view photos before you buy. Many new folks have their ignorance exploited - so be careful. If you can use basic tools - hammer, circular saw, drill - you can probably make your own coop. You are trying to make them a safe place from predators and the weather.

 

[nikki1]

Well im wanting to sell the extra eggs to help recoup some costs so more is better. so since i want 4 a good combo would be an EE, orpington, SL, and australorp?? now youve made me all nervous about the australorps size! maybe 2 SL just different colors??

whats your coop like? i dont have a big area to build/buy one. and idk if it would be easier/worth it to build over buy. i read someone saying never used cedar shavings because they are toxic, why are so many coops made from cedar then?

If you want to be totally overwhelmed with WAY COOL information, go to the "coops" tab. LOTS of pictures. There's also a forum section that has lots of people willing to answer questions.

We're cheap, and I really wanted some specific features on my coop, so we built. We used a combination of new and used supplies, and we really had a blast. My husband and I are teachers, not contractors, and we managed...but it should be noted that DH did work construction long ago to get himself through college.

For me, the bottom line is that it's DEFINITELY easier to buy a coop. Price depends on what you get and where you get it. Building a coop is a serious project, but very rewarding, and you get exactly what you want.

As long as you meet your chickens' requirements, they really won't care either way. No matter how beautiful it is, they're just gonna poop in it.

--Nikki

 

[3arthm0ther]

EarthMother -- I missed a key comment in your post. Pure ameracuans will not be "high egg producers". Some breeds that I consider to be high egg layers are:

Leghorn (white egs)
Rhode Island Reds (brown)
New Hampshire (brown)
Any Plymouth Rock (brown)
Orpingtons (brown)
Austrolorps (brown)
Sex-Link (brown eggs)
Most EEs (blue/green - sometimes pink)

Laced Dottes are a fair choice - but I'm not sure they'd make my "top 10 best layers" list.

You asked what I meant about birds being "flighty", Carolyn was right, flighty is often times used to describe birds who are skittish, easily scared or always nervous. I've had Ameracauna's and I didn't like them because of their nervousness.

If I was choosing birds for my little kids - I'd get chicks not adult birds so that the birds get used to humans easier. I'd probably select -- 1 Buff Orpington, 1 Black Ostrolorp, 1 Golden Sex-Link, and an EE. During the spring and summer that should get you about 15 eggs a week +/-. I'd also consider those breeds more docile than others, and they'd all look very different.

This thread moves blazingly fast, so don't worry about trying to read every post - most of us don't. We just skim stuff looking for things that pique our interest, or our name specifically.

No question should go un-asked


Dave

how is the broodiness of EEs, orpingtons, australorps, and SLs?

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: Well actually if one checks. The WA thread is the most active state thread on BYC OF ALL TIME!!! We were so active that they had to stop our "OLD" thread at 88,791 replies and start this new one for us.

 

[melissaG]

how is the broodiness of EEs, orpingtons, australorps, and SLs?

Well the first three I've had middlin' broodishness with. (aprox 1 in 4 around here) Not counting my psycho buff, lol! She's in a class all to herself. (insisted on hiding and having 1 in winter, and 2 throughout last summer.. and she's at it again

)
As far as I recall SL are not known for being very broody at all, though some black sexlinks are known to.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

how is the broodiness of EEs, orpingtons, australorps, and SLs?

I have very few SL's or EE's go broody. I have only had 1 BO and she rarely went broody. I have never had Australorps.

 

[Totalcolour]

Ostrolorp is my way of misspelling Astrolorps -- I find the spell check on this forum to be - lets call it icky - so I don't use it



Ok -- next batch of questions please

So, actually it's Australorp!

 

[robj]

X2 on the EE's I try to keep a few. Just because we like to have a wide variety of colours in our cartons.

I do have to say that I TOTALLY DISAGREE with VF about getting 4 chicks now! IF you plan to have 4 chickenz.


GET ALL 8 right now! !! ! CHICKEN MATH ! ! ! !

If they go buy 4 they'll come home with 8, but if they go buy 8 right ow they'll come home with16 did you hit yer head again and fergets how da math werks?? Silly Rustlin Dude

 

[nikki1]

Well actually if one checks. The WA thread is the most active state thread on BYC OF ALL TIME!!! We were so active that they had to stop our "OLD" thread at 88,791 replies and start this new one for us.

Yes, indeed, we're awesome. Sometimes I come home from work to over 10 pages of new material. I just thought the phrase "We voted ourselves #1" was pretty funny.