Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[sfstewart]

Quote:
Hey Thanks! that is a good idea. (and easier too)

 

[Hinotori]

You might want to consider taking that wire 18" - 24" horizontally out from the fence/pen walls rather than digging straight down. When they run into the wire that's at or near the surface and can't dig any deeper they are more likely to give up. I've seen reports of some predators that will dig more than a foot down.

Question for others: Will dogs, coons, etc. start digging more than 2 feet away from the pen/run?

My dogs don't try and get into the run for chickens. However I've had the GSD dig looking for rodents and she had a good sized trench from about 4 feet away up to the fence, then she ran around the other side and continued digging. The trench wasn't deep enough for her to get under the fence but even the fattest hen was able to use it as a short cut. All this took maybe 10 minutes. The chickens gathered around her to get dug up worms gave her away.

I don't have a fence skirt around my pen because it's not there permanently. I do drag over big rocks when I find them and lay them along the bottom of the run. We're getting ready to move everything and make several smaller pens. I did have a foot and a half of chicken wire around the outside of the last run we had. The GSD ripped it apart trying to get a rodent. It didn't even slow her much. So don't use chicken wire for your skirting. (She also pulled up and bent the bottom of the chain link because the rodent was trying to get through the two layers of fencing and she just didn't care if she got fence along with rodent. The rodent did not survive.)

 

[Jordann]

Not yet Lurker (nice to meet ya) - they won't let us bring him home until he's neutered and they couldn't schedule it til tomorrow. Pity - I hate thinking about him stuck in that cage, so sad looking. Silly restriction if you ask me. Oh well . . .

He will be out soon! I hope you didn't say this and forgive if you did, but which shelter did you go to? We got our cat from the Tacoma humane society last October. The cat area was pretty nice! I didn't end up looking at the dog area, since we don't need a third dog!

I am in Yelm and will have a covered run. So thanks

Hi neighbor!!! I'm in Eatonville, not too far from you.

 

[BarneyChick97]

Once the critters discover you have dinner hanging around, they remember and keep coming back for takeout.

This is very true ^ Now you will have to keep them in a safe place. Whatever it is WILL keep coming back. Learned this with the hawks this summer with our beloved ducks!

 

[AletaG]

Hey what about brocoli Mine bolted and I was contemplating feeding it to the chx.

My understanding from reading the Fermented Feed thread, was you can greatly reduce oxalates by chopping up those dark greens and adding them to ferment for at least 24 hours... might be worth a peak.

 

[AletaG]

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Broccoli , bolted or not, is great for chickens. It contain none or virtually no oxalates. I believe it is less than 2mg per 100mg.
About Spinach, While true that it contains a large quantity of oxalates, The internet is all over the board about its effects in spinach. Some sites claim it is the most dangerous food on the planet, other sites say it has no effect on calcium binding. The truth is probably closer to that it may bind the calcium, most likely only the calcium consumed with the meal, most likely only the calcium in the spinach, and most likely in small amounts.
Spinach is a healthy treat for chickens, but like all treats should be a component of the overall diet. It is generally recommended keeping treats to about 10% of the overall diet, for optimum health and laying.

Imp

 

[chickiemomy]

Had a coyote - mid-day - while we were outside - take a chicken yesterday. I am not happy! -- My brother sent me a link to the WA state wildlife info sheet on coyotes - it's quite informative. Thought I'd share with my fellow WA staters.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/coyotes.html

interesting fence ideas, I'd thought I'd have to go electrified - but maybe not. Also considering getting a couple of LGD's.

 

[BGMatt]

Had a coyote - mid-day - while we were outside - take a chicken yesterday. I am not happy! -- My brother sent me a link to the WA state wildlife info sheet on coyotes - it's quite informative. Thought I'd share with my fellow WA staters.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/coyotes.html

interesting fence ideas, I'd thought I'd have to go electrified - but maybe not. Also considering getting a couple of LGD's.

The wire apron is very effective, however I would still recommend a hotwire near top of fence to prevent coons from climbing over, and their suggestions to stop coyote from going over the top do not apply to coon an possum.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

A DelawareX maybe?

no, the chickens my mom had (which is where she came from) are RIR's, and white leghorns. Then i gave her a bantom (mixed breed) rooster. It resulted in a dalmation chick LOL She was the ONLY surviving chick because a cat killed the rest