Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Dearth o Gallus]

I think we all have Eater eggers. There are two of us in this house.

Sorry, I just couldn't resist!
My avatar is an EE (Easter Egger). There are lots of them around. If you've been watching all the hatching going on this weekend you've seen reference to OE (Olive Eggers) which is just another, more specific, Easter Egger. They lay an olive green egg instead of the blue/green. I know a good source in Granite Falls but there are others. Not everyone in Washington participates in this thread, so be sure to ask in other threads, too. I know Monroe isn't close, but if you want to get a good view of a LOT of breeds, and meet the people you find here, in person, the Monroe show will be a Must Do. It makes a great day trip or even a whole weekend. My hubby and I have gone to 2 shows and a swap and made them all into full day or long weekend outings. Loved It!

I have a Black Sex Link that is very much like a small Australorp, her personality is great and she's a very reliable layer. I've heard a lot of very good things about Austrolorps.

Just out of curiosity, why are Barred Rocks your top pick? If we understand your line of thinking we can give you better feedback.

Sorry, for the mis-type. I did indeed mean "Easter Eggers".

I've been on several sites and this one. It seems that they are the easiest for first-timers because of their non-flighty personality, reliable egg laying, hardiness and they continue laying fairly toward winter. I was told they can be a bit noisy and sometimes aggressive to new flock addition....but, I never really read a bad review about having them. Oh, also that the Ro are pretty nasty....but I can't have a roaster. The neighbors would probably complain.

I really just want friendly-ish chickens, that lay well and dual purpose was a plus. Most importantly I want a chicken that can handle the crazy Northwest weather that isn't prone to diseases. I also think the pattern of the BR is stunning. (My husband wants to us to use the feathers for fly-tying)

If any of this information appears erroneous, please feel free to correct it.

Thanks for the help! I may just have to convince my hubby to take me on a chicken trip to Monroe.

 

[Dearth o Gallus]

The shell or the inside of the egg?

The inside were tinged green....I actually made the joke that maybe I should get some ham to cook with it. The shells looked normal.....varying hues between brown and white.

 

[Imp]

Quote: Sorry, I should have asked Shell, White or Yolk?

Here's the info I have:

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/329/factors-affecting-egg-quality

Russ

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
As you can see in my Signature line, I have lots of breeds. I think you can greatly affect the friendliness of your chickens if you handle them often as you are raising them from chicks. That is what I have done with all of mine. Some jump up in my lap, some don't. But I can hold all of them when needed(like with weekly inspections for injuries or pests). And a note about Production RIR's some can be mean, depends on the individual. Of my 2, one is sweet as can be, the other is a tormenter of the pullets(she only gets to stick around because she lays huge eggs every 25hrs and has not drawn blood yet) I hope this helps with your decision.

 

[itsren]

Btw.....anyone have any Eater Eggers? While I believe Barred Rocks will be best...if I end up growing the flock I may want to branch out.

Does anyone have any other breed they REALLY love? If so, please share and why.

Thanks!

I have an Easter Egger, a Light Brahma and a Rhode Island Red pullet that are laying. My RIR has been laying without stopping so far through the winter. She's kind of mean, but she has the redeeming quality of her egg. At 8 months I think she's finally calming down a teeny, tiny bit. My EE is fun, and is probably the most spunky of the three. She stopped laying for the winter though. Are you wanting reliable layers? Are they pets? The "why" makes a big difference on your choice of breed.

My Light Brahma is my favorite for many reasons (including nursing her back to health after a leg injury as a chick - she and I became very close). She is sweet, gentle and laid back. She's a pet. I won't get a lot in the way of eggs out of her, but I'm OK with that. Eggs are a secondary benefit in our family. Our chickens are primarily pets.

I have 8 week chicks but I can't really comment on them - since they are probably roosters and won't be laying any eggs.

I have new babies that hatched this weekend. 4 Black Copper Marans and 4 Olive Eggers (EEs where a dark egg layer has been crossed with a blue egg layer - at least that's how I understand the OE thing). Again, I can't give you any ideas on the temperament because they are too new.

Hope that helps!

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Stick bugs? Would any body like some? After 2 years of having them we are ready to rehome ours. They are easy to keep. We have ours in a tank with a tight fitting lid and feed them blackberry leaves. PM if interested.

Now there is the one thing that can multiply faster than wabbits !!!

 

[Chicken Rustler]

How can I mark the OE chicks? When they get put into the brooder, I'm not going to know who is a BCM and who is an OE. I'm *really* glad I had the olive eggs in a separate incubator.

Loosely put a green zip tie on their legs and as they get bigger replace it with a bigger one.

 

[itsren]

Introducing.... "Blackie" the 2nd through the 9th. LOL! Although, my kids are telling me one will be named "Cocoa" and if Latte turns out to be a boy, one will be named "Latte", as well. We have figure out who will be "Blackie" first. Until that happens, these chicks will be like the boys in the George Foreman family - all named the same.

Because, no matter what, we've gotta get a "Blackie" out of this hatch for my youngest son. Last night he was beaming when he watched the chicks.



The newest little one who hatched overnight, an OE, is on the right, drying out in the "sun".

FOUR Black Copper Marans (BCMs)

FOUR Olive Eggers (OEs)

I'm still holding out hope for the remaining 4 (2 BCM, 2 OE) - although, none of them have pipped. The chicks were removed in a 85% humid bathroom, the water containers refilled and now we just hope and wait. The hatched chicks were pretty hard on the remaining eggs, I hope they didn't get smacked around too much. It was like watching toddlers going wild in a tiny play area. The poor eggs were getting slammed up against the sidewall of the bators by the active chicks.

 

[itsren]

Quote:
I wish we had done that - my husband made a tiny mark on the white of the belly down with a colored sharpie marker. I read on BYC that was a good way to do it. DH didn't want to make the mark too big. Now we can't find the marks. So we don't have a clue who's who now! Bummer.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: OK so MY BIG question HOW did they get from the bator to the aquarium ???? Tell me you DID NOT open it. I thought we had been over this lesson before!!!

Silly girly