Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Chickielady]

I wonder if my muscovies are still suffering from the attack last month. Not sure what happened exactly but something ripped one of them from the coop. she lived and is healing up great. I don't know what if anything was done to the others that remained in the coop because they don't exactly like me to checking between each feather and stuff.

That could be !

Especially if whatever that did it is still lurking...I have seen ducks (and other birds) just up & abandon their nest in mid broody, all due to a cat rubbing against a coop fence every day.
Some things just freak them out.

 

[Chickielady]

I am finding this so awesome that there are quilters out there who happen to have chickens too! Quilting I've been doing for a while, but chickens are new to me (although I've quilted a few quilts that have chickens on them). Very nice to meet you all. I made this one a few weeks ago for a friend's new grandbaby.

That is adorable !
I just finished a baby blanket for my daughter's first....
baby girl...this is a pic of the patchwork top before I quilted it.
I have 4 or 5 quilts in progress that have been packed away for the last 3 years while we built this house.
Some of them I do not even have the directions for anymore..............

 

[BGMatt]

The vaccine that the hatcheries use, is slightly different than the one offerd to us...and it is positive vaccination.
The one we get is not positive, in other words ours is a preventative, not positively guarranteed to prvent the bird from Marek's.
Any time you have a chance to get hatchery birds, please vaccinate them, it helps stop the spread of the devastating disease.

Neither is 100% effective. Marek's travels by other routes than domestic poultry, and a vaccinated bird can still carry the disease, just not be affected by it (note this is different than shedding the vaccine, which is not a concern). It is best for poultry as a whole to breed for resistance, and let the weaker animals not pass on their genetics. Totally with Sweetlilbaby on this one, no vaccinations here (and if I ever was forced to order from a hatchery would also request not to be vaccinated).

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

Wow, I have no idea...are they not happy ?
Is there dogs or something around that was not there last year ?
Do they have light in the coops ?
My lights are on timers & come on at 6 AM & go off about 5.
This nasty dark weather, along with coops under the big fir trees, can be dark !
Speaking of which, my best blue copper marans hen just started laying yesterday..

the second to he last to start lay...the Black Javas are always last !

I don't have a light. that was taken out last winter due to the ducks. The ducks were flying up at it to eat bugs flying around it and killed the light. The bulb was fine not sure what exactly they did unless one managed to grab the cord.

I don't have trees, I'm in the city. My ducks have no fear of dogs. They love my dogs. They will even tug with them (with a rope).
Hopefully they will get better. I still remain with the it has to be something to do with that attack that happened. Because they were laying eggs then suddenly they weren't.
I'm hoping they will soon begin laying again.

 

[BGMatt]

I know it seems high right now. The reason it's still high is because they weren't staying to far from the light. So that told me that reducing it more would cause them to get cold.
I just *sigh* I don't know. I've never had chicks this age die on me. Also these ones unlike any chickens I've ever had I cannot hold. I put feed in and they hide, refill their water they hide. They've been like that since I've got them so they are not bred for temperament at all
I don't like the breeding practices based on what these chicks are acting like and the death rate.

Regular bulb? Not coated or anything? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just super curious.

 

[Chickielady]

Robin, Beautiful quilt, Sounds like Your home is coming together…. You too Melnurse, Lurkin mostly, getting over being sick…My mother and sister were both can do and did, where i have the projects half started all over. Am thinking to do some of the chenille type of rugs and blankets. Hoping to get back into spinning and knitting….

Had a breach in my outer fence again…saw a young coyote run off with one of my free rangers. ( a few that live in the barn free stylin….)...

ROBYN, had my first ***olive egger egg*** this morning from my black hen…..REALLY pretty army olive green. Thankyou. (she is behind 6' chain link paneling)…...

eliz

Is the splash laying yet ???
Congrates on the black's first egg !
It will amaze your friends !
I actually have more people buy OES than any other breed I have ever had, except the silver cuckoo marans.
Everyday citizens just get the biggest kick out of those live green eggs !

 

[Chickielady]

Anyone in tacoma have fertile chicken eggs of any breed they wanna donate to someone who lost half their chickies?

I am too far away, otherwise I would donate.
I can ship, but that will cost you shipping @$16.85.
Best thing to do is waite til the show & pick up eggs there.
Keep the eggs cool, at 55 degrees is ideal, and turn them every so often during the day as an incubator does, until you set them.
Eggs should never be over 7 days old to incubate (say most breeders) I agree.
Especially if you ship.
The membrane must be very fresh to hold the egg's internal parts together through the horrid turmoil of shipping.
Let me know if you are interested.

 

[Chickielady]

Hi,
We've only been in WA for 2 years, so I'm not even sure where Monroe is, but if it's close enough, we may just go. We just bought our chickens because we wanted good eggs and we've never had room for them in CA - now we do.
The chick on the quilt is actually four layers of flannel that are cut to shape and then straight diagonal lines are sewn every inch over the entire thing. Then you cut in between the sewn lines and once you wash it, it actually looks and feels like Chenille - fuzzy and cute. I've made two of them so far and they're so easy!

Maybe I'll see you in Monroe!
Mel

so where from in CA ?
There are alot of us here !

 

[Chickielady]

Hi all. I'm not in WA yet but will be moving back to Whidbey Island in Dec. I am in total research mode because I really want chickens. Only planning on about 8 or so. Just enough for a good supply of eggs.

Looking forward to learning from you all.

Is there anyone else on Whidbey?

There is a man there who we all have enjoyed for years.
His name is Marc & his BYC call name is 'Whidbey'......(and has some very nice birds)there has been a few Whidbey Islanders show up from time to time.....cannot remember them all.

 

[Chickielady]

That should be down to bout 75 by now (reduce 5 degs a week until you reach 70). That seems high, but not sure if it would cause "sudden" death.

X2

Watch to see if they were panting ..breathing with mouths open ?
Fully feathered babies should have their heat greatly reduced, probably to that room temperature.