Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[hallerlake]

good morning, well almost noon. I did not know about peat moss. Although I never use it. My dad use to spread it in the yard but I'd break out in a rash for a week after he'd do that.
I really wish i had more leaves to put down. I'm going to have to start telling neighbors that have trees that I want their leaves. Weird as that sounds, Leaves work great for litter in a chicken run.
Other then that this summer i think i'll find some hay to spread.

My neighbors love it when I ask if I can rake up their leaves or pine needles. It's a win/win situation. Back in the day, when I was smothering large swaths of grass for garden, I would take my wheelbarrow down the block and bring home the bags of leaves people had put out for collection. I felt strange,but I did it anyway. Real gardeners understand.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: Oh to have the good river silt of the Kent Valley! It's hard to believe how much of that good soil is wasted on industrial parks these days. I used to live in west hill Kent. My hairdresser was down in the valley. The person next door had dahlias that were 12 feet tall!

My current home site is mostly sand and gravel with weird patches of clay. Organic matter is the answer for both.

 

[Farmin Momma]

And I'm excited the eggs I paid for shipping on should be here today. They say out for delivery.

You should post a picture when you get them so we all can see how they handled the shipping!

 

[hallerlake]

And I'm excited the eggs I paid for shipping on should be here today. They say out for delivery.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

You should post a picture when you get them so we all can see how they handled the shipping!

I will. I'm excited about it. can't wait to see how many there are.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

Everytime I hear a car stop out front i run to the window to see if its the mail man.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Everytime I hear a car stop out front i run to the window to see if its the mail man.  

So exciting !!

 

[Hinotori]

Anyway, What works best for the deep litter system?    I am considering buying some bails of hay cheap to try.   I want to do a deep litter system to prevent some of the smell from the chickens.   I know chickens stink, although if i didn't have chickens i'd be spreading chicken poop in my back yard anyway because my grass was dieing.   


I know leaves from trees work great in the fall, but those all rotted and i need more litter to put down.   I don't have access to sawdust and sawdust sets off my asthma horribly.    Will hay/straw work for a deep litter system?

I mix local grass hay in with the leaves and pine shavings. Sometimes I add peatmoss. It works great. I don't have any trouble with it packing. My flock stirs it up just fine. I fork it if they are outside all day. Been making my DL in my barn  this way for five months no problems.

Don't start me on peat moss

In my opinion - nobody ever should use peat moss.  Never ever never ever never.

Nope - not ever.

It is a non-renewable natural resource.  Once it is gone, it is gone forever.  There are other things that will amend your soil just as well.

Just say NO to peat moss!!


/soapbox

If someone wants renewable moss, they can come rake my front lawn. It's 3+ inches deep in places when I've pulled plugs up to look.

 

[SadieSue]

Dorkings

I want some; anyone breed them of know any breeders in WA? Or Langshans? (Ok, the chick thing has hit me). Can't find any "anti-chick" pills anywhere

Bradley Farms in Tacoma has silver Dorkings and sell chicks and hatching eggs.

 

[Hinotori]

Sad day today. There is a very stong chance I am going to have to put my 7 year cat to sleep. Took him to the vet this morning and they discovered he has almost no kidney function. They are doing one last test to see if there is any viable kidney left. One of the kidneys he couldn't even find.

I'm so sorry. It's hard.

I had to put my old lady cat down a couple weeks ago.

Russ

I'm sorry for both of you. Many hugs.

I'm going to go hug my little Leia now. Time always seems to go to fast with out little furry friends.