Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[JennS]

They were just trying their hardest to convince you to let them out (assuming that they were confined to the run)! I was cleaning my girls' house a bit a few days ago and they wouldn't stop yelling at me. They would only pause for a few seconds to breathe. I got so tired of hearing them screaming constantly that I caved and let them out.

I'm learning just how fast chickens decide free ranging is a right rather than a privilege! My birds out in the pen were harder to get back inside today, even with mealworms thrown inside as bait. And the Polish in the garage demanded to be let out as soon as I went inside. I spent more than 2 hours painting the coop, and she and the blue silkie got to roam the whole time. They actually ventured more than 6 feet away from their cages! They seem to be hitting it off pretty well. About half of the time, they were just standing by each other, grooming their feathers. I wish I had a big cage that I could put them both in, but they will have to stay in individual cages for another week.

If this darn rain would stop, I might do some work in the back yard and let the chickens out to play. But I'm not that interested in cleaning up the perennials in the pouring rain. Heck, there was a moat around the pen this morning! The water in the French drain was maybe an inch below the grate. And I'm on high ground.

Jennifer

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
Yeah, real wet here this late afternoon. Had sun this morning though. Mine stand at the coop door when they here one of us come out to open it. They get real vocal too.

 

[Clumber]

We don't have any Silkies yet but a friend waaaaaaay over in N. Carolina who we accidentally (I SWEAR!) talked her husband into letting her get chickens has been nagging us that we MUST have Silkies. We can't even idly mention we are looking forward to getting a small incubator to see some hatchings without her pointing out that Silkies are cuter incubators. Clearly we will have some in the near future, though I hope to put her off until Springtime when I can build a better and more weather blocking section of Fowlcatraz for them.

So I, too, would LOVE KMHunter's popular Silkie writings.

Thanks in advance!


P.S. Am I the only one whose hands insist on typing "Sillies" when I am trying to type Silkies?

Add me to the list of people who'd love your info. Thanks Kim!

 

[Clumber]

Oh and we acquired 6 new chicks today. Photos as I remember to take them. Apparently 4 are Black Copper Morans, 1 is a Welsummer, and the 6th was "with the Morans.... I have no idea." but is either silver, lavender, or or blue depending on your personal preference. Both those are breeds on our "would be nice to try that breed" list but we aren't real picky. With our current established luck we figure that by getting 6 chicks, we should end up with 1 hen.

The Silver/Lavender/Blue chick is noticeably smaller than the others, though actually not a one of them is really the same size as any other. We really hope she gets rolling and we get to see what she grows up to be. Their water has the "Sav-A-Chick"; each has been seen drinking; each has been seen pecking at the chick crumble; we have food/water on one side of the "brooder" (plastic storage tub with the center of the lid cut out and replaced with screen); all vents are clear; the heatlamp is on the other side; and they are spending most of their time in the exact middle of the brooder, equally spaced out, and that's where we put a thermometer which reads 90° as of an hour ago. So hopefully she has a good chance. She likes to shove her way under the largest chick - she is deep black with no light yellow or white, but with the most pretty brown wings - and hang out there during nap times. The other 3 Blacks have yellow/white markings but are mostly black. One has a Lone Ranger mask. Very adorable! We did successfully and with no losses raise 10 chicks in late Spring/Early Summer so I guess this is our sophomore try!

When we first got home with them, I apparently lost my mind and took the box over to Fowlcatraz where the hens were busy chasing slugs (Good chickens!) and taunting the Chukar. As soon as they heard the peeping the RIRs came TEARING FULL SPEED WITH FLAPPING over to me and did that funky "WTH?" head tipping thing. Right behind them were all 3 of the Heathers (Sebrights), then the HeadHen, Lady McBeth, arrived with her usual flourish (bantam Plymouth BR) to inspect the box. Then both Speckled Sussex arrived with "Meep" being her usual emptyhead. The new 3 "Easter Egger" bantams preferred to stare from a bit further away, but we were really surprised at how excited the hens all were and curious to see the chicks. I had no idea they'd react like that. Was pretty cool. It marked the only consecutive 30 seconds that Lady McBeth has been quiet for as long as we've had her!

The silver/lav/blue chick when we were putting her in the travel box :


One of the BCMs :

 

[Imp]

How funny, Clumber the description of your chickens is great.

Russ

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Guess I killed the thread this time!

Well today when we were out doing a bit of shopping, I picked up some more sevin powder and an 18 gal. tub with lid. I've been feeling really sorry for the birds not having any dry dirt for a bath. Although when I filled a large tray with dry dirt from their favorite spot they just gave it a very wide berth! I left it in there for 3 days and nobody ever set foot in it (except #3 girl when I tossed in some BOSS)! So I got the tub home and cut a nice sized opening in the end, then added fluffy dry dirt, dry sand and DE. It's quite a bit deeper than what I'd put in the tray because I got the idea that might have been an issue. I set it in their pen but when I went out to lock them up I couldn't tell if anyone has checked it yet. So I threw in a sprinkling of scratch that I can keep an eye on. If it disappears it will mean they either ate it or buried it. (We've never had rodents eat their feed.) Dusted the BSL backside with sevin again, too.

I SURE WISH the RAIN would STOP! It's starting to depress me!!!

So... an the Christmas front... our youngest GD told me she wanted an Easy Bake Oven

. Mommy said "bad idea" and I couldn't agree more because they are such a huge disappointment when they try to bake something. But I know she loves to bake as most little girls seem to. So as I was laying in bed one morning I thought... Why Not a Toaster Oven! We use our a lot and even bake things like shortcake! Yippee... Mommy said "good idea". So now I have the challenge of making a grownup's toaster oven appear to be a kids toy so it will be exciting and appealing to a 6yo!!!

Unfortunately I missed the black friday sale at Penneys, they had them for $8. But I found a good deal on one I liked, and it's much less than the toy version. Much to my dismay, it's been a bear to find tiny cake pans for less than $8 each. Tiny sizes seem to mean BIG prices. But I finally found something acceptable as well as small bowls, spatulas, etc. I even found a "petite" corningware casserole dish with the white and blue cornflower design just like mine. What a hoot. Now I'm going to mix up some cake, cookie, and frosting mixes for her to use. They're pretty easy to find on the internet. Of course my own daughter is skeptical, remembering the excitement of getting the Real Thing when she was little. She strongly suggested that I test out these recipes before packaging them up for GD. So tonight DH may be getting some tiny desserts to sample!!!

I'm still thinking I need to create some "packaging" that will look appealing to a 6 year old. Unfortunately graphic design is not my forte! Wish me Luck!!!

Se what happens when nobody is around... I talk a LOT!

I loved my Easy Bake Oven. I was never disappointed with it. It was a lot of fun. And I'm with your daughter, it's very disappointing to not get exactly what you asked for. You give family a list, you put exactly what you want on it, word for word, size, color, model number and for some reason they always have to put their own idea in there, thinking it's a great idea and then they don't understand and feel bad when you are disappointed. Anymore I just smile and say thank you and stick it in the closet. Another waste of money. Would have been happy to just get a card. But hey, ya never know, she might like it. It's a great idea. Nice personal touch. I'm sure she will understand the love that went into it. Post pics when you are done!

 

[SadieSue]

Guess I killed the thread this time!

Well today when we were out doing a bit of shopping, I picked up some more sevin powder and an 18 gal. tub with lid. I've been feeling really sorry for the birds not having any dry dirt for a bath. Although when I filled a large tray with dry dirt from their favorite spot they just gave it a very wide berth! I left it in there for 3 days and nobody ever set foot in it (except #3 girl when I tossed in some BOSS)! So I got the tub home and cut a nice sized opening in the end, then added fluffy dry dirt, dry sand and DE. It's quite a bit deeper than what I'd put in the tray because I got the idea that might have been an issue. I set it in their pen but when I went out to lock them up I couldn't tell if anyone has checked it yet. So I threw in a sprinkling of scratch that I can keep an eye on. If it disappears it will mean they either ate it or buried it. (We've never had rodents eat their feed.) Dusted the BSL backside with sevin again, too.

I SURE WISH the RAIN would STOP! It's starting to depress me!!!

So... an the Christmas front... our youngest GD told me she wanted an Easy Bake Oven

. Mommy said "bad idea" and I couldn't agree more because they are such a huge disappointment when they try to bake something. But I know she loves to bake as most little girls seem to. So as I was laying in bed one morning I thought... Why Not a Toaster Oven! We use our a lot and even bake things like shortcake! Yippee... Mommy said "good idea". So now I have the challenge of making a grownup's toaster oven appear to be a kids toy so it will be exciting and appealing to a 6yo!!!

Unfortunately I missed the black friday sale at Penneys, they had them for $8. But I found a good deal on one I liked, and it's much less than the toy version. Much to my dismay, it's been a bear to find tiny cake pans for less than $8 each. Tiny sizes seem to mean BIG prices. But I finally found something acceptable as well as small bowls, spatulas, etc. I even found a "petite" corningware casserole dish with the white and blue cornflower design just like mine. What a hoot. Now I'm going to mix up some cake, cookie, and frosting mixes for her to use. They're pretty easy to find on the internet. Of course my own daughter is skeptical, remembering the excitement of getting the Real Thing when she was little. She strongly suggested that I test out these recipes before packaging them up for GD. So tonight DH may be getting some tiny desserts to sample!!!

I'm still thinking I need to create some "packaging" that will look appealing to a 6 year old. Unfortunately graphic design is not my forte! Wish me Luck!!!

Se what happens when nobody is around... I talk a LOT!

What a lovely and thoughtful gift for your GD. That should create some really nice memories for her!

 

[KMHunter]

So for anyone that want the list of silkie supplies I have madfe a list under my profile.
Go to the bottom of my profile page and you should be able to click on it.
If you have any specific questions you can PM me.

Let me know if you can see the list.

Kim

 

[itsren]

Just checking in. How is everyone? I can't read back very far so I only catch a couple pages every now and then, bummer. This weekend I have 3 extra kids; I'm watching my sister's boys while they take their girls on a trip. Eek! Doubling kids for a weekend is fun but a lot of work! It's also one of their birthdays today so we're baking cupcakes and having a nice dinner to celebrate with him. Hoping to catch up more later!

I'm getting way behind on the thread, too. We're doing good. Just extremely busy. I always refer to this time of year as the "holidaze". Halloween, Thanksgiving, oldest DS's birthday party, Christmas and New Years keeps me hopping. The holidaze are fun, but they are crazy, too. This year adding 4 Fall chicks, and, hopefully, 12 December hatch-lings has me hopping even more.

Next weekend we're having my son's birthday party on hatch day. The party theme is the "Wacky World of Science".

Fingers crossed we have hatching chicks during the party. Any one have ideas for fun experiments we could do with non-hatching eggs? I'm trying to come up with different science experiments for the kids to do during the party.

This weekend we received a letter from the school district that our oldest son's scores qualify him to test for the School District's Middle School Highly Capable program. Now we have to figure out if we're going to pursue that or not. We want to, but we don't want to send him to the school associated with our physical address, and I need to find out if having him in that program will keep us from waivering him to a safer school. The school our physical address is associated is an extremely rough school (heavy gang population) and my oldest would not be cut out to deal with kids that are that tough. I really thought we would have moved away from here before we'd have to deal with Middle School. We've been talking about moving since my oldest started preschool to get to an area that was associated with safer schools. Doesn't look like that's going to happen though, now. Now we're going to have to rely on being able to waiver him.

Well, I gotta get moving. Too much to do and the cup of Hot Chocolate is gone. Hopefully I'll find some time to read back on this thread soon.

We've been letting the 7-weekers have lots of outside time during the lighter hours of the day, off lights, in a tarp-covered chicken tractor. They seem to love it. Drama still could care less about the chicks, while Rhodie and Caunnie don't seem to approve as much. But, at least they are getting to know each other.

Have a good day everyone!

 

[itsren]

Quote:

Gotta tell ya though, sometimes I wonder about people. Ever since a neighbor told my kids to stop bouncing a basketball in the cul-de-sac because it was too noisy, I've been on edge. I hate that feeling of walking on eggshells in your own neighborhood just to keep peace. Of course, I was just spiteful enough to have spent the next two weeks playing basketball WITH my kids in the cul-de-sac for a couple of hours each evening after that happened. As far as I know they haven't sent my kids back into the yard since. As far as I'm concerned if people want to live in a quiet 55+ environment, they need to move to a 55+ environment, because kids need to be allowed to be kids.

My husband said some of our neighbors are the type of people whose houses he would have egged when he was a teen. It made me laugh, especially thinking they'd better watch out - our kids will be teens in a few years, and we have a steady supply of eggs. LOL!

But please don't waste nice fresh eggs. let the eggs set out and get good and ripe first !!
I once had a neighbor here complain to another about the "noise" I make. Like saws, grinders, tractor etc. She soon learned what noisy really is. The shop stereo came on at 6:00. I need to hear music where ever I am on the front of 13 acres. Then I turned on the big work lights which just happened to need to be pointed toward her windows so I could see to safely run the chainsaw and log splitter. 8:00 I got quiet for a bit then at it again at 2:00 when I knew she liked to take a nap. And back at it about 8:00pm until 10:00pm. I do have some courtesy see from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am is quiet time to me. well it only took a few days and she was ready to call a truce!

Yep! That's the way to work it. Get 'em ready to accept that the current noise level isn't bad after all.