Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Chickielady]

Ah ha! I have the computer!









The little silver ameraucana chick was riding around on mama for about five minutes until she finally laid down and he could take a nap.

OMG so darn cute !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chickielady]

Last night while I was asleep the hubby got paranoid about the possibility of the heating lamp falling and catching the house on fire. I woke up this morning to a 3 point system to ensure safe heat lamp usage that involves:

1) A heavy wood cutting board
2) A step stool
3) A putter
4) Many of my larger cookbooks

Contrary to popular belief, being married to an engineer is not boring.

You ought to hear the boring life TotalColour has with her Engineering hubby !

Last I heard he had installed a computer operated dimmer/control for all electric in the house, controlled by his phone which he told her nothing about.
One night while he was away on business in some other state, he tested the system, dimming the lights while she was in the bathroom, which sent her nearly into tears !
I have vineyard wire on all my heat lamps, attached to an eyelet or closet pole screwed to the ceiling.
The lamps can be hoisted up or down to the chick's age & temps needs, but it cannot fall off the ceiling.

 

[CarolynF]

I have a silly questions I'm hoping someone will answer:
Currently, my chicks are still in their brooder (though I'd like to get them out sooner than later, but still working on making their coop/run) and they have a small dish of chick grit. When they move to their big girl coop, and have access to a run at all times (12 chickens, 14x30ft run), do I still need to offer them grit? Will they just get what they need from the dirt in the run? Could they in theory peck all the grit from the ground and I need to toss out store bought grit from time to time?

Sorry for such a weird/silly question. It made sense to give the chicks grit in their brooder (where else would they get it from), but up until tonight I had never even thought about it for them once they moved to the coop. The only reason I did tonight is because I was looking for ideas for oyster shell feeders and saw several people post about have feeders for both oyster shells and grit. So I started wondering if I was wrong and I need to plan for giving them grit.

I think it depends on your soil. The ground my girls range on has a LOT of rocks of every size and shape. No matter how deep you dig there's a never ending supply. I also use coarse sand in the coop and secure pen. If your soil is lovely river bottom silt with not rocks to speak of you'll need grit. When in doubt, like Hinotori says, it's cheap and certainly won't hurt.

p.s. Not a silly question at all!!!!

 

[Chickielady]

Camping next week with girl scouts. No rain in site!

Perfect Weather !!!

 

[CarolynF]

Hey guys,

I live in tacoma and i am looking for mixed color eggs to hatch. My 4 yr old is excited to hatch his own "birdies". we used to have a nice mix of breeds a few years back but a large lab decided to break in and create a scene from criminal minds, since i have not had chickens. now we are set up more secure and ready to start over.
Is there anyone close that might have any mix?

You might check with Lyn at Stoney Earth Farm link
or
Pam at Rain Creek Pottery link

How far are you willing to drive to get your eggs, because I may know find other folks, maybe in Graham area, Enumclaw, etc.

Have Fun!

 

[Chickielady]

I shared this on another thread, but thought I'd share here too.


I don't know why the photo is fuzzy, but if you use a little imagination, you will see an old styrofoam cooler covered in hardware cloth. I put strips of wool hanging down from the top. The two week old chicks slept in it last night, and today they're voluntarily going in there to warm up when they get cold. Two week chicks are doing FINE outside by themselves with no mother hen and no supplemental heat.

I have a big brooder like that, it is about 3 feet wide & 12 feet long.
In it, I can insert didiers, so I can have brand new babies under a heat lamp, and add a divider after 3 feet, and then 4-5 week olds, no light, and the last section has a door to a chick pen with hardware wire, and the pen is about 15 feet by 25 feet, and fully covered by netting as well.
So any cold babies can run inside.
Hopefully you have given them access to heat, should they need it.
I left a light off a few weeks ago & had a pile up, where the chicks got cold.
Then they cram into a corner & keep hopping up on the pile until the bottom babies can suffocate & die.
It never would have happened if I had closed the window...but I didn't.
And in the morning it was cold enough to cause a pile up, and 3 were smashed dead until a pile up.

 

[Chickielady]

Hi everyone!!!!

I just wanted to say hi to all my fellow Washingtonians! Also to ask if anyone knows of someone or is someone who has a young cockerel I could buy? I need him fora 4h project thanks!

I have a mess of them, free if you want to drive out this way.

 

[Chickielady]

I love all the pictures!

Here's a question for you seasoned chicken owners:
Yesterday, my well - meaning but inexperienced husband moved the tractor while the girls were inside and smashed one of their little legs

I immediately separated her from the others but I fear her leg or ankle is broken. The injured bird is 8 weeks old and is doing ok as far as eating and drinking. She walks but will pick up the injured foot whenever she stands. it is bruised and swollen but no bones are poking out. I have gotten mixed advice on whether or not to wrap it and whether or not to see a vet. She is in a small box where she can't run or fly or perch. She just sat in the corner all day and only got up to eat and drink. Should I allow her outside? Hurry her to the vet? Splint her leg? I would take pictures but I'd rather not disturb her rest. Poor Millie

If you get a chance, put a floor in your chicken tractor, so it is predator proof, even at night.
Door locked & in the morning we move ours, but there is a floor.
So we open the door & let them out after we move it.
And we have no worries about mink or racoon going in & getting the birds at night.

As far as your injured baby, time will tell.
If she is left alone for a few weeks (like in a tub with all the amenities) she may recover nicely.
I had one suddenly show up with a dislocated hip.
Her leg was sideways !
And loose !

So I left her be in the brooder for 3 weeks after the rest of her hatch moved on, and she healed !
I was surprised.
I was going to cull her 100 times, but didn't, cuz I did not need the brooder for any other hatch so I figured 'why not leave her be'
You just never can tell.
I would not wrap her, though.
Just my opinion which is hard to say, given that I have not seen your injured bird.
Good luck though !

 

[Chickielady]

2 chicks poultry…
If you did get a bird from pips&peeps, I could do a delivery/drop off at the I-90/17 interchange. PM me today if you are interested.

This would be awesome !!!

I love it when things come together !

 

[Chickielady]

Having a rough week lost my juvenile turkey an today lost a breeding pair of muscovy and a bantam The bantam i just found dead in the pen not sure what happen cause he doesn't look tore up. The two ducks are just gone not any feathers or anything. So upsetting.

Predators.
You'll have to figure out what it is, cuz it will come back for more meals !