Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Tytyvyllus]

If I could convince the silkies that the rain isn't their glorious savior it would be great. They love to get their top feathers soaked. They dunk their heads even when it's dry but rain works better I think.

And I think my cats are part fish. They will go out in the rain.

My RIR, Welsummer, and all the Hedemora agree with your silkies. They're out there PLAYING in the wet. feathers are just plastered down.

 

[Bridebeliever]

My chickens want out SOOOO bad! Should I just let them? (They are 9 weeks old but very feathered.) They don't have a run, just free range and there's covered areas they can get to. Our neighbors chickens were out in the pouring rain yesterday and seemed as happy as could be foraging around the yard. (They are a mile and a half from us, but still neighbors

).

 

[nuklee0]

Today is day 18 for the first batch of eggs in my staggered hatch! Going into lockdown tonight... Can't wait to have some Silkie fuzzy butts! Fingers crossed it goes well...

On another note, I got so lucky and found some friends for my lone Silkie girl earlier this week! I kept contemplating about getting a roo for her as a companion since that's all I could find available close by, and when I responded to an ad for a roo, the lady graciously also gave me a little Silkie pullet after she found out why I was looking for a roo! It was so good to see my little girl perk up as soon as she saw them.

 

[nuklee0]

My chickens want out SOOOO bad! Should I just let them? (They are 9 weeks old but very feathered.) They don't have a run, just free range and there's covered areas they can get to. Our neighbors chickens were out in the pouring rain yesterday and seemed as happy as could be foraging around the yard. (They are a mile and a half from us, but still neighbors

).

I open the door and they decide whether or not they come out... Mine free range too. Yesterday was the first day EVER that mine stayed in the coop for most of the day... They finally came out towards the end of the day for an hour or so.

 

[Cockatrice6420]

:Reposed: As water seeks it's own Level, " our Chicken Runs " need ideas on keeping chicken Yard as dry as Possible .every Rain Turn them into Muck Pits., , Ideas have been Burlap bags, covered with Saw dust, . .Lg Stepping Stones, . . River Rock pebbles, . . Hog Fill, . . what Works for Your Washington weather Chickens ?

I have to provide a weather proof out yard for each coop. Including chanelling water runoff away from the rest of the yard. If you have money to set forms and a concrete a berm. Setting rock is okay if you can get a good fit. You may consider making a dust bathing pit made from Tupperware, big rectangular and semi shallow. Put in some fine dry shavings and soil. Best of luck.

 

[QuiltinGramma]

Apparently, my chickies (hens really) seem to like the rain.
Every time I check on them, they are all pecking the ground whether it's raining or not.

Hubby & I went out yesterday and bought me a new stove and vent hood. He installed the vent today and I get the stove on Wednesday. Our old stove didn't have a window in the door, no oven light and the oven temperature ran high. So glad to get a new stove. Husband said it would be my birthday present which is Monday. Happy Birthday to me!!!

Trying to get curtains for my guest/sewing room done. Got the room painted last week, so now it's definitely time for new curtains. One panel is almost done, now I need to get the other panel pinned and sewed. Can't wait to get them done and get that room put back together.

 

[HenKat]

Hello Washintonians! I am in Pierce county. I am so excited to find this thread! I apologize if these are questions answered already--please direct me to old posts if so. I had trouble finding things via the search function. I am new to chicken keeping, and still new to BYC!

This is my first winter with chickens. I am trying to figure out how to best winterize, and am behind schedule. I am a bit unsure of how much additional protection they'll need, as last year was my first winter in Washington, and I hear it was milder than usual.

I have two Rhode Island Reds, 8 months old. Our home had a great dog run that we converted into a chicken run this summer. They have a large area about 30' x 10' with a concrete-floor, that is half enclosed with sheet metal, and half with strong wire bars about 3 inches apart, covered with chicken wire. There is also a connected 11'x15' run with dirt floor--all chicken mesh (not the strongest, I know. Hope to switch to wire mesh at some point)
Inside the concrete area I have a small coop with a couple roosts and nesting boxes (DIY-style bought from the Tractor Supply CO). Since being full grown they basically hate going in the coop, except to lay eggs in the nesting boxes, and are happy sleeping on top of the roof. We used to manually place them inside the coop at night, but gave up and now let them sleep on top.

Here are my concerns:

Will my girls get too cold? Where they sleep they are protected from wind, but it is open-air. Can I trust them to go into the coop if they get cold? I laugh at the people who say it is cold in the south sound, as we spent 4 years in Vermont. But then again, I am not a chicken sleeping outside.

I get constant water leaking in on the concrete. I have pine shavings around the area with the coop which only very slowly get wet, but the rest of the concrete area is consistently damp. I thought the building structure was going to provide better protection from water, but it still leaks in. What would you recommend to put on a damp concrete floor? Straw? I worry about mold. Is it better to leave it as plain concrete?

I do not have electricity near their coop. I could run extension cords if needed.

Thank you in advance! It is so fun to see posts from all the other people around the area! I have quickly fallen in love with backyard chicken-keeping, but know that I am still quite a novice

 

[Saris]

Hello Washintonians! I am in Pierce county. I am so excited to find this thread! I apologize if these are questions answered already--please direct me to old posts if so. I had trouble finding things via the search function. I am new to chicken keeping, and still new to BYC!

This is my first winter with chickens. I am trying to figure out how to best winterize, and am behind schedule. I am a bit unsure of how much additional protection they'll need, as last year was my first winter in Washington, and I hear it was milder than usual.

I have two Rhode Island Reds, 8 months old. Our home had a great dog run that we converted into a chicken run this summer. They have a large area about 30' x 10' with a concrete-floor, that is half enclosed with sheet metal, and half with strong wire bars about 3 inches apart, covered with chicken wire. There is also a connected 11'x15' run with dirt floor--all chicken mesh (not the strongest, I know. Hope to switch to wire mesh at some point)
Inside the concrete area I have a small coop with a couple roosts and nesting boxes (DIY-style bought from the Tractor Supply CO). Since being full grown they basically hate going in the coop, except to lay eggs in the nesting boxes, and are happy sleeping on top of the roof. We used to manually place them inside the coop at night, but gave up and now let them sleep on top.

Here are my concerns:

Will my girls get too cold? Where they sleep they are protected from wind, but it is open-air. Can I trust them to go into the coop if they get cold? I laugh at the people who say it is cold in the south sound, as we spent 4 years in Vermont. But then again, I am not a chicken sleeping outside.

I get constant water leaking in on the concrete. I have pine shavings around the area with the coop which only very slowly get wet, but the rest of the concrete area is consistently damp. I thought the building structure was going to provide better protection from water, but it still leaks in. What would you recommend to put on a damp concrete floor? Straw? I worry about mold. Is it better to leave it as plain concrete?

I do not have electricity near their coop. I could run extension cords if needed.

Thank you in advance! It is so fun to see posts from all the other people around the area! I have quickly fallen in love with backyard chicken-keeping, but know that I am still quite a novice

Is it just the 2 chickens? Does the dog run have a roof? I would find a way to put tarps over the top to help keep it dry. Maybe see if a dog house filled with straw would be more appealing to sleep in. Pictures would help.

 

[HenKat]

Hi Saris, thanks for the quick reply!

Yes, it has a roof. The water just slowly seeps under the boards we have at the bottom of the bars. Not enough to flood things, but enough to keep it continually damp. The part on the far left is where the small coop is located, enclosed on three sides by sheet-metal, two of which are partially insulated with plywood as well.

They seem happy enough, but I worry about disease with the continual rain--through June I hear?--and the damp floor.

Also, I know RIRs are supposed to be pretty cold hardy, but I would feel more comfortable if they slept inside their little coop so they'd keep each other a bit warmer on cold nights. At what temp should I start to worry? We could bring them into the garage.

We started with 4 chicks. Sadly we lost two (a barred rock and golden laced wyandotte) just as they were all starting to lay eggs. A predator found them when they were free-ranging in the yard. No sign of them ever, just disappeared. Now the remaining two only free-range if we are actively outside with them. :-( Our remaining Ruby and Caitlin grieved for a while, but seem quite happy now. They even love going out in the rain in their run, or to free-range.

 

[Saris]

@HenKat I see what you're saying now. Maybe fill the run with straw, or try and use some expanding foam on the inside or outside of the run to try and seal the boards along the bottom to keep the water out. I would probably just put them in the coop each night for warmth. Sorry to hear about your other 2 birds.