Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[pennyJo1960]

Shotgun blasts are pretty common year round here, so the birds are used to loud bangs randomly going off. Plus fireworks started getting set off on June 28, and have been going almost nonstop since. By the time the 4th rolls around, they don't even notice all the blasting and popping. The dogs are pretty used to it all, too.
I do have a hen trying to go broody, though. She was a terrible mother last time, and she's not very assertive with the other hens, so she does not get to sit. I guess I have use an empty rabbit cage for broody busting now.

We hadn't even moved into our new place so last year the 4th they
were pullets in the basement of the old house..
notice one that layed last night of pullets was one of yours

still very cute little eggs it will be a disappointment when
they do get normal sized the small ones are so cute

 

[Chickielady]

How was everyone's 4th?

I HATE the 4th of July !
After my idiot "neighbors (serious cheesy low life tweakers...6 years past due on the property taxes...we all waite for them to be kicked out like they have lost 2 other properties in the area in the last 3 years)
Booted out of a re po last year, they invaded a broken down farm house right across the street, no septic, no power, holes all over the roof...they bought a big blue tarp (last spring) and tacked it on & had a porta potty delivery start up.....
They cleared the hordes of 10' high Hawthorn & blackberries & invited the entire family.....ALL LOW LIFES
Needless to say, tents were pitched last Thursday and cars lined the street...like we were invaded in an other wise completely quiet place for years..............
Seems they've no money to fix their little roof on their 15x20 farm house....but they could afford the beer, wine, (and other stuff) and M-80s, cherry bombs and sky rockets that BOOMED like a M-80...these were no bottle rockets folks !

My animals were loosing their minds....the GOOD neighbors next door, directly across from the tweekers had pigs & goats going mad & actually hurting themselves.

Our dog, was flipping out & trying to break out of the windows in the barn.....to run & get away....even after I sedated him with several Benadryl......
Think about it:
An M-80 shot up 20 feet OVER our property & expoldes in a huge shower of sparks & BOOMS so loud it shook our window glass.....FOR # DAYS>>>>>>>on & off.............

My GOOD neighbor was out her door several times yelling at the tweekers....My Good neighbor has 4 little children, birds, geese, goats. [igs. dogs & cats & is babysitting 4 other children....all of which were scared to death of the BOOMS...one boom was at 8 A.M.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another was at 2 a.m. !!!!!

I HATE the 4th of July !!!!

Why are humans dumb enough to continue this insane practice ?
How many hands & arms have to be blown off ?
(I personally loved the story of the moron who lit a bomb off right at the fireworks stand...where was it, Mucklteo ? And blew his entire arm off...wow, cool holiday, huh ? Bet all the children just loved seeing that !)

How many homes and wildfires burn until we get smart as a species ?

My dog is still hiding...after 3 days of bombs....I am reminded of the trauma Veterans with PTSD suffer with bombs like this going off....

OK I am off my soap box !

 

[Chickielady]

My chickens were ok. My dogs and calves were freaking out. I still don't understand why fireworks other than sparklers and snakes are legal. Everything is so darn dry. We've had our field flooded all week just in case someone is irresponsible with them. Everywhere you go, you can see evidence of irresponsibility. Ok...I'm off of my soap box.

You are so lucky !!
This year it has been very very wet.....so we have all been lucky no morons have burned us out.
Still, I saw a few innocent folks had their roofs ingnited by the jerks...happens every year.
So sad.
Maybe best to clean ALL the pine & fir branches & needles off your roof days before the 4th.and wet it down !

Wish we could have a 4th like the mexicans have the Cinco de Mayo....now THAT is a fun & tasty Holiday !
Margaritas...goat roast ? YUM...some pork on the barbie...YUM !!!
When asked, they really think the firworks are pretty, but too expensive for a flash of entertainment...and so dangerous they wonder if us Americans have any brains at all.....

So there ya go..and there goes your money.

My idiot tweeker neighbor across the street COULD HAVE ROOFED HIS TINY HOUSE...probably will never do it though...he knows he'll have it taken away soon enough.
I guess it was his Mother's place...and he has already lost his uncle's place & his own place.

 

[Chickielady]

 

[Chickielady]

hahahahahahaha !

 

[Chickielady]

We hadn't even moved into our new place so last year the 4th they
were pullets in the basement of the old house..
notice one that layed last night of pullets was one of yours

still very cute little eggs it will be a disappointment when
they do get normal sized the small ones are so cute

Congrates on the BYC friend badge !

I voted for ya !

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
If you're still looking, contact Janelle at Diamond Dust Farms on facebook. She has BBS Wheaten Ameraucanas. You might also try Lyn at Stoney Earth Farms (also on fb).

 

[Chickielady]

Might get in touch with junebuggena she is has sure been great with
educating and helping me

I have Blacks and Silvers as well as Olive Eggers bred from Blue Copper marans X BBS Ameraucanas.

I am especially IN LOVE with the friendliness of the blacks...and the silvers are awesome ...all the way around !

I am not selling eggs/chicks but I might have an extra cockerel come August..............

Nothing touches a Silver Ameraucana....except maybe a Silver duckwing Biel...LOL

 

[CarolynF]

Question: We are new to the Pacific Northwest and I'm wondering about rainy climates - what do you suggest I do so that the smaller run near the coop will stay dry enough for the chickens to use it during the rainy days? Our coop has a small run that actually attaches to the house, but we have not built the large run (as our chicks are a week old). We do have designs for it.

I want to use construction/river sand at the bottom of the small coop run so that the it stays as dry as possible on rainy days and drains well. I am building the coop on higher ground in the yard, but it still rains here for short AND long periods of time. There will be a roof on the top covering all sections of the enclosure, is that along with the sand base enough?

Great question. I've been using sand for five years and love it. I've learned a few lessons, let me see if I can relay a few that will be helpful.
If the ground has a good slope, that's good but only if the area in question is at the top of the slope. Sand holds onto a lot of water, even coarse sand, so keep it dry. Don't expect the water to flow through it. If you need water to flow THROUGH the area take a 2 pronged approach: 1) Divert the water so it doesn't flow into the area. 2) Create drainage with round rocks like that used for drainage fields. But remember, keeping the water out is far more effective and dealing with it once it gets in.

Seriously.... sand is only a good thing when it's kept dry (or slightly damp). Ask me how I know! But in a wet spot nothing is great, you really have to keep the rain and water out in most any situation.

Another thing I learned is that our weather comes in from the South. So if at all possible make the pen/run as wide as possible in the North-to-South direction, so when the wind and rain comes more of the ground can stay dry. We didn't so I ended up using heavy clear marine plastic to make sides for the pens to keep the rain from blowing in. I'd also suggest an overhang that sticks out as far as possible for the same reason.

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:

Pictures Please!!!!

I didn't realize you were doing AMs this year!