Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[pennyJo1960]

Eastern Washingtonian here. I'm new to BYC, I have 6 crazy hens, 4 Parrots, 3 goofy dogs, 2 cats, three teens and 1 husband! Getting ready for the cold and snow to set in! Trying to decide tomorrow if I should throw down some straw or are my girls good with sand. Coop is draft free with plenty of ventilation. Decisions ...decisions!

hey just Welcome glad your here we are a pretty great bunch over here
I also do deep litter white shavings heavy leave pile in the mud run

 

[Hinotori]

Are your runs covered? My run is not covered and I want something to keep the mud down this winter. I always read that Strock can lead to mold also. So last year I used hey, I would throw it down on top of the snow once in a while. Maybe I’ll try straw this year.

Silkies are 3/4 covered and the run for the big pen isn't covered at all. I have to put down straw at least every two months though. There are tons of earth worms in my pens and they break down the straw as well.

Im moving the large fowl to a different pen in the next year or so. I think corn is going first in where that pen has been for 6 years. And lots of squash. Should be and awesome garden with the built up soil.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Silkies are 3/4 covered and the run for the big pen isn't covered at all. I have to put down straw at least every two months though. There are tons of earth worms in my pens and they break down the straw as well.

Im moving the large fowl to a different pen in the next year or so. I think corn is going first in where that pen has been for 6 years. And lots of squash. Should be and awesome garden with the built up soil.

The little part of the old run that is still there has about three wheel barrows of leaves deep they dig down fund all the great worms.. cleaning the new coop pushing it out the back door into the run to break down in the spring make it fun for them also finally able to get out have to fill in a screen door so cats cannot get a the silkies

 

[Rainbowskyes]

Are your runs covered? My run is not covered and I want something to keep the mud down this winter. I always read that Strock can lead to mold also. So last year I used hey, I would throw it down on top of the snow once in a while. Maybe I’ll try straw this year.

My run is covered, just built a sloped metal roof cover for them last week, had a wind storm last week and was worried about it all night...still standing strong this morning! I think I am going to stick with course sand, after all the research I've done, I think it is the cleanest and healthiest. Ive got everything buttoned up tight, they should be fine. I might invest in a small radiant source of heat for nights that get well below 0.

 

[Rainbowskyes]

Sounds like you definitely have it ready i’m not quite there yet but I think I have a little more time than you do. I’m a few miles south in Walla Walla.

Was just there for fall release and a photo shoot. I love Walla Walla... would move there if the husband and kids would let me! Little hot for me in the summer though!

 

[pennyJo1960]

morning do not play real nice before coffee here no trees down we did get some real nasty winds last night down here also how did other fair

 

[Rainbowskyes]

morning do not play real nice before coffee here no trees down we did get some real nasty winds last night down here also how did other fair

2nd cup of coffee down, Spokane had some good wind as well, just built my girls a metal roof over their run, pup half the night worrying about it...still there...Yay!

 

[Birdinhand]

I live north of seattle. what breeds do you have the best luck with for winter laying up north here? my orpingtons do well but this spring I added a speckled sussex and two black sex links and they abruptly stopped laying a week or so ago. I'm not sure what caused the sudden drop, it coincided with me adding wood chips to their coop and run and perhaps that freaked them out, not sure. but I was told they would be good winter layers, so I'm a little disappointed, hopefully it's an anomaly and things will start up again soon. I have even added a light for an extra few hours a day.

 

[pennyJo1960]

That could set them off but daylight loosing is the strongest reason have you noticed sllot of feathers in the coop? they first molt may be happening also

 

[yumi wong]

Yes, Dharmachick, I am very interested! Thank you : )