Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Hinotori]

 
So I've decided that I'll be taking the five EE pullets to the swap next month. They'll be 4 months old then. I just have to many chickens and need to reduce it down some. 

How much do you want for your pullets?  I really don't need anymore birds, but I would love to have some Easter Eggers.  You might be able to sell them all by advertising locally and then you won't have to spend your time going to the sale.  

Oh the swap is going to be fun. Little meetup of friends too. It's just down the road a few minutes from me. I spent to much last year. I was going to try for $15 each for four month old pullets. I'm debating getting rid of the three hens that will be a year old next month. I should be able to get $20 for them.

I really need to downsize the flock. The two rocks and three brahmas will be going to the freezer in a few months when their replacements start laying since they are getting mean in their old age.

 

[LaurelC]

Anyone try to have a duck hatch out and raise chickens? Would they encourage the chicks to go swimming/drown?

 

[BGMatt]

I have three chicks. Just starting this adventure. Interested to know what is the best material for the coop floor and run floor.

The best thing I have found in my decades of experience is Cedar shavings, it really helps keep lice and most mites under control. There's a new strain of super mites that seems to not care (and is a pain to get rid of), coming in on the wild birds, but other than that it really helps.

Some dangerous choices to either stay away from or to use very cautiously:

Straw- the hollow structure of straw provides great housing for mites/lice and likes to grow hazardous molds.

Sand- Can easily go anaerobic. I used to be a big proponent of sand until I learned the hard way. If you use it make sure the soil underneath has great drainage. What happened in my case was it did not drain and the sand just a little under the surface never dried, and when the weather started warming up and the birds started digging more they inhaled the bacteria that had grown and ended up losing a few to it before I figured out what was going on.

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
I've been using sand for 3 years and I scoop poop daily. Granted I have only 4 - 5 birds and the area is much smaller than Matt would have. I always tell people that if it can't be kept dry, or nearly dry, it's a bad choice. It get SO nasty when the sand, poop and rain mix together. Mine is covered and gets damp only when the wind blows the rain inside. I love it for a long list of reasons including ease of maintenance and very low cost. I use it inside the coop, too, which of course is always bone dry. I toss in lavender, too and it smells great. The nest boxes get a layer of sand, DE, & lavender, topped with straw. Lavender not only smells great but repels bugs, too.

 

[Danrocks]

Hello,

I recently joined BYC, but have been lurking on and off for over a year planing out my jump into raising chickens. I am in Washougal, WA. My 7 chicks are now 7 and 8 weeks old, (one turned out to be a Cockrell). I have 2 Barred Rock's, 2 Golden Laced Wyondottes, 2 Marans and a Light Brahma.





Just finished the coop a couple weeks ago and got the chicks in their new home and they seem happy.





I have found so much good information on this site, I don't know how I could have built the coop with out all the good ideas I found here, so Thanks!

 

[clawstar]

Hi all those "other poultry owners" (no chicken) think about posting some more articles on the other poultry article contest!!!

 

[CoopDeDoo]

Hello,

I recently joined BYC, but have been lurking on and off for over a year planing out my jump into raising chickens. I am in Washougal, WA. My 7 chicks are now 7 and 8 weeks old, (one turned out to be a Cockrell). I have 2 Barred Rock's, 2 Golden Laced Wyondottes, 2 Marans and a Light Brahma.





Just finished the coop a couple weeks ago and got the chicks in their new home and they seem happy.





I have found so much good information on this site, I don't know how I could have built the coop with out all the good ideas I found here, so Thanks!

What a lovely set up you have! Great job!

 

[ThisishowIroll]

Yeah, that coop is GORGEOUS! Way to go, you should be proud of that! Welcome to BYC!

 

[broodytood]

Good evening all.
Anyone ever have a hen with peritonitis that survived after being treated with antibiotics?

 

[Hinotori]

Good evening all.
Anyone ever have a hen with peritonitis that survived after being treated with antibiotics?

I had a rock that did. I thought for sure she was going to die. One night it was bad enough I decided to cull her the next day. Of course the next day she was looking much better and kept improving. She didn't lay for about a year. This spring she started laying again. If I carefully feel her belly, it still feels like there is something in there.

I've had three others die from it, though. One when she started laying, other two were well over a year. All have been hatchery birds.