Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Jordann]

Hi all! I'm new to this website, but found my way here! With the help of other people.

I am looking into getting into the chicken adventure and all I have been able to find is feed stores charging an arm and a leg because they don't have competition out here... Jerks! I have been looking on Craigslist but it must still be too early because people there are also charging (what seems like to me) a lot for chicks and 3x as much for pullets. Maybe I'm just a cheap person.

I live near Puyallup and Del's and Graham Hay Market don't have chicks yet, so they can't tell me how much the chicks are going to be. Makes sense. I know once I can find a less loud rooster the price won't matter, because hopefully I'll get some broody girls who make us babies and we can go from there. I don't know that we're supposed to have roosters where I live, so I need to find a roo that will somewhat cooperate. HA! I know how silly that sounds, but maybe we'll get lucky like we did with our dogs? Does anybody's roo crow when sirens go by? That's the only time the one dog howls, so I figure if the roo crows when the sirens go by we'll be ok.

 

[Jordann]

Not sure that there was really a point to my post .....

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Hi all! I'm new to this website, but found my way here! With the help of other people.

I am looking into getting into the chicken adventure and all I have been able to find is feed stores charging an arm and a leg because they don't have competition out here... Jerks! I have been looking on Craigslist but it must still be too early because people there are also charging (what seems like to me) a lot for chicks and 3x as much for pullets. Maybe I'm just a cheap person.

I live near Puyallup and Del's and Graham Hay Market don't have chicks yet, so they can't tell me how much the chicks are going to be. Makes sense.

I know once I can find a less loud rooster the price won't matter, because hopefully I'll get some broody girls who make us babies and we can go from there. I don't know that we're supposed to have roosters where I live, so I need to find a roo that will somewhat cooperate. HA! I know how silly that sounds, but maybe we'll get lucky like we did with our dogs? Does anybody's roo crow when sirens go by? That's the only time the one dog howls, so I figure if the roo crows when the sirens go by we'll be ok.

Most feed stores will charge 2-5 dollars a chick, depending on breed. If you can try and see if someone on here is a breeder of birds you want, there are many. And good luck finding a rooster that crow's on your schedule. Mine crows from 4am on through the day(you might actually want to check your local ordinance, some large fines could be involved) And yes I am from the other side of the "Big Creek" (as CR would say), but the nice folks on here let me hang around and chat. This thread moves very fast so don't feel bad if you can't read all the posts. Jump right in and ask questions, share your experiences.

and

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

As for seeding grass . I if it's going to have much foot traffic would recommend a playground mix. It is made to withstand higher traffic! Just IMHO

The foot traffic is mostly my dogs running around for an hour a day, then going out a few times a day to potty. Other then that the chickens get to free range on it. it's not much foot traffic. My parents have more foot traffic in their yard and I stole some of their grass seed. I honestly didn't look at what it was, but their yard looks beautiful. So hoping it works in my yard.

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

Hope... A natural born poser... And forever a week old!

 

[Stumpfarmer]

So.

I'd be much more communicative and helpful and productive if it weren't for the fact that I spend about five hours a day, two of them when I should be asleep, taking care of a relatively healthy but incontinent and demanding old dog.

It's a self-limiting situation, it won't go on forever, except it feels as if it's gone on forever already and the sleep deprivation is getting me down.

Oh, well, have to go mop again and then take care of the chickens.

 

[Jordann]

TurtlePowerTrav, thank you! I have no problem paying more for someone that breeds the chicks on their own, since they have so much into the birds, but the feed stores (out where I am at least) like to overprice everything because they can. It's really all stores, not just the feed stores. I want to have everything ready for the chicks/chickens before we get them, so I'm sure we'll be getting the kiddos in the spring sometime.

Do you think it would be better to get chicks at least the first time around, to introduce to the dogs, or would an older girl be better? I'm not going to leave the girls alone with the dogs (especially the Hound) until I see how everybody reacts. That's why I would like a roo too .... To chase off the hound if need be.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Hi all! I'm new to this website, but found my way here! With the help of other people.

I am looking into getting into the chicken adventure and all I have been able to find is feed stores charging an arm and a leg because they don't have competition out here... Jerks! I have been looking on Craigslist but it must still be too early because people there are also charging (what seems like to me) a lot for chicks and 3x as much for pullets. Maybe I'm just a cheap person.

I live near Puyallup and Del's and Graham Hay Market don't have chicks yet, so they can't tell me how much the chicks are going to be. Makes sense.

I know once I can find a less loud rooster the price won't matter, because hopefully I'll get some broody girls who make us babies and we can go from there. I don't know that we're supposed to have roosters where I live, so I need to find a roo that will somewhat cooperate. HA! I know how silly that sounds, but maybe we'll get lucky like we did with our dogs? Does anybody's roo crow when sirens go by? That's the only time the one dog howls, so I figure if the roo crows when the sirens go by we'll be ok.

Welcome !!! As for birds/chicks. What the feed stores sell are something close to whatever breed. Most breeders will either tell you if they are selling "mutts" (PQ) or if they are selling SQ or BQ birds. There is a very good chance that the BQ/SQ birds you find will be more $$ than the feed store wanna be's. For the record I am NOT bashing feed store birds. That is my egg flock. What I am saying is for true to the breed go to a breeder.
That being said yes I bet there are peeps here who can sell ya hatching eggs.
As for Roosters I would say that you should check if you are allowed Roosters. IF not I would not even try to hope one will stay quiet. This is all just based on my opinion and experience!

 

[Jordann]

Bantu, what a cutie!

 

[Jordann]

It's so going to bum me out if we can't get a rooster .... That's the whole point of getting the chickens, to cut down on chick buying costs. Too bad they don't make anti crow collars.