Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Hinotori]

Well just removed 6 boys (5 immature cockerels and one rooster) from the main coop and switched them out with the 6 new girls. I left the more relaxed mature cockerel in there. He's 7 months old now and needs to learn to be a man and quit getting beat up by the girls when he tries to mate with them. He doesn't pick on anyone, so he got to stay. All the girls are freaked out about the change and no one is picking on anyone. So it's good out there.

 

[hallerlake]

We're having some tree work done right now and the poor girls are very sad. When I went out to see them earlier, I found Muffet nestled on the ground just in front of the coop door. Everyone else was hiding in the house, probably because of the huge Doug Fir crashing down in the field. Muffet is my big brave girl!

Muffet is guarding the coop.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Each spring I drool over the jacob lamb for sale pictures different farms have up. They are so dang adorable as lambs. I've read, researched, and talked to family about getting sheep for years. They are a big part of the reason we looked for somewhere I could have a few. I wanted chickens, sheep, and a couple goats. 

DH likes the two horned ones best. He loves the big spiral on rams. 

I have to get fencing up before we get anything. 

For shelter I'm either going to wall in part of the carport behind the chicken coop (so I can run power out for light in winter), or convince DH that we should get some dirt and fill in the low area that puddles in front of the big metal back top half of a delivery truck that's sitting out there (to far to run power). I'm leaning towards behind the coop. 

I need to woman up and start bottle-raising meat goats; I have enough room for it, and a source for Boer/Alpine kids, and you would think if anyone could raise kids to butcher it would be someone who's been raising beef cattle as long as I have. But goats are so cute, and bottle-feeding is so personal...

It's not easy to find four-horned Jacobs, and as much damage as two can do, I'm not eager to find any fours. I'm just now losing the crescent bruise on my right shin (the sharp point at the ankle is taking longest to go) I got when the boy and I had a disagreement back in October. Jacobs can be flock-protectors and even the tamest and most affectionate are seriously armed!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

TURTLEPOWERTRAV, PLEASE TELL HOW THE SILKIE SUPRISE WENT!!!!!!!!!!!

I have them here. She is on her way home. I got a Blue or Black, she couldn't really tell, a Partridge, a Paint and a Buff or light Partridge. They are stinking cute. And I hope one is a boy. Marge is so tiny and hilarious.

JennS, Marge does not use roosts at all. Her breeding pens have a 12" high barrier separating them, she said they never jump pens.

 

[FlyRobinFly]

Quote: I hope your DW loves her surprises, and that they turn out to be loving lap warmers.

Please share pictures when you can.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Yay. DW loves them. She walked in and asked if the tub with the brooder was her surprise? She is thinking that it had our 2 chicks in it. When she look in it she asked what are they. I had to remind her of the Silkie she loved at the fair. She asked, is that what they are? Yup that's them. She is way excited. I will try and get pics tomorrow. They had a rough day moving the whole 3.5 miles from Marge's house to mine. Haha. They do have a little pasty but, but Marge said it is pretty normal for Silkies. She told me to just make sure the vent is clear. Her set up is pretty cool, gave me some ideas. Now we will just need to see what sexes we end up with and she needs to name them.

 

[TerrorBird]

I think I might be the only person on this board who doesn't really care that much about silkies.

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike them. I'm just way more fond of the more typical-looking chickens. However, I love me some nice butt-fluff/fluffy britches. Orpingtons and Australorps are brilliant that way!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I think I might be the only person on this board who doesn't really care either that much about silkies.

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike them. I'm just way more fond of the more typical-looking chickens. However, I love me some nice butt-fluff/fluffy britches. Orpingtons and Australorps are brilliant that way!

My DW was attacked as a child by a rooster, so she has always been leary of them. But when she saw the Silkie rooster at the fair and just sat there while she petted him, she loved how docile and friendly. My Orp rooster is docile too, but is huge and doesn't like being held. The Silkies are for her. I will of course use them for broodies and breeding too. But everyone has their favorites. Mine are Orps and Rocks. I am going to get some BQ Rocks to work on Barred Blue Rocks.

 

[Hinotori]

I like silkies, but the main reason for getting them was for their broody tendencies. I absolutely love the looks of ameraucanas. They are my favorites. That brahma cockerel out there is really growing on me. He's starting to look so handsome.

 

[Slinglings]

I think I might be the only person on this board who doesn't really care either that much about silkies.

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike them. I'm just way more fond of the more typical-looking chickens. However, I love me some nice butt-fluff/fluffy britches. Orpingtons and Australorps are brilliant that way!

I'm the same way. I think they're adorable, I just don't want any. Same with bantams. So cute, but I don't want any. I like my hens big