Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[xXmuffkinXx]

Hi, I just joined yesterday. I just wanted to introduce myself! My daughter and I have a little urban flock of 3 in Federal Way. We are new to chickens as of last summer!

Pretty much once it got cold and dark outside my chickens completely stopped laying and we haven’t decided if we want to put a light in the coop or not.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to the Washington state thread many do use a light I have a light in two of my three coops, third is not in use ... The lack of natural daylight this time of year even with the light many stop. We have passed to solstice and days are getting longer

 

[mixedbreeds]

Hi, I just joined yesterday. I just wanted to introduce myself! My daughter and I have a little urban flock of 3 in Federal Way. We are new to chickens as of last summer!

Pretty much once it got cold and dark outside my chickens completely stopped laying and we haven’t decided if we want to put a light in the coop or not.

Hello good to have you, I use lights also and started feeding fodder about a week and a half ago that seems to boost egg production also looks like I’m going to hit 30 eggs today

 

[xXmuffkinXx]

What is fodder? How many chickens do you have to get 30 eggs in one day?

 

[mixedbreeds]

I have around 75, 5 of them are Roosters. The egg numbers will continue to clime now that I have the lights on and feeding fodder. The fodder is grains that are past sprouted I grow them between 7 and 10 days then I cut it up into small pieces so they don’t get crop problems. Im just growing hard red wheat and black oil sunflower seeds now. I’m feeding one flat a day it’s about 7 pounds of feed for them, I let them eat there regular food till about 10:00 then give them the fodder so they get there regular nutrients first. You don’t need to grow it under lights but it speeds things up a bit. Also it makes the eggs taste awesome like free ranging without the free part.

 

[xXmuffkinXx]

View attachment 1633223 I have around 75, 5 of them are Roosters. The egg numbers will continue to clime now that I have the lights on and feeding fodder. The fodder is grains that are past sprouted I grow them between 7 and 10 days then I cut it up into small pieces so they don’t get crop problems. Im just growing hard red wheat and black oil sunflower seeds now. I’m feeding one flat a day it’s about 7 pounds of feed for them, I let them eat there regular food till about 10:00 then give them the fodder so they get there regular nutrients first. You don’t need to grow it under lights but it speeds things up a bit. Also it makes the eggs taste awesome like free ranging without the free part.

That’s a lot of chickens! I’d probably have that many given the opportunity and space.

I started with 2 who I let free range during light hours and then they would put them selves to bed. But, we lost 1 to a hawk and since, we haven’t let them out for hours unless supervised or at least home. We now have 3 chickens... replaced 1 with 2. The little flock is much more balanced now.

Since we now don’t let them out as much fodder might be a good idea. Thank you!

 

[Hinotori]

Hi, I just joined yesterday. I just wanted to introduce myself! My daughter and I have a little urban flock of 3 in Federal Way. We are new to chickens as of last summer!

Pretty much once it got cold and dark outside my chickens completely stopped laying and we haven’t decided if we want to put a light in the coop or not.

Welcome!

Yes at our low light levels this time of year with short days and cloudy skies, you'd need to supplement light to get good laying rates.

 

[mixedbreeds]

Most of mine I let out but this time of year they know better the main rooster keeps them by or inside the barn. With that few of chickens you could sprout enough seeds and grain in a couple of jars. It would be pretty easy for you to do. When I had fewer chickens I was feeding fodder to cut the feed bill so I was growing the wheat, sunflower seeds, mung beans and lentils so it gave them a good amount of protein, it worked pretty well cut my feed bill in half and the birds looked good. I was getting 18 eggs out of 21 hens in the middle of winter. I was also using lights.

 

[Hinotori]

I let the large fowl chickens free range so they get some greens. Silkies only get out if I'm out watching them.

 

[pennyJo1960]

My silky do not go our but for their tractor large girls are in 1/4 of an acre yard as the dogs two will run them 2 ignore