Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Totalcolour]

sorry guys, venting off. It hurts so bad. I thought I was stronger and could take the abuse better but obviously I can't and won't.

LF, I'm so sorry you are going through this. I know how it can hurt. But know also that if you have taken it this long, you are a survivor. Give you love to those who will appreciate it, and return it.

 

[Flaming Chicken]

H

For a few weeks the girls and I had been diligently setting aside eggs from our bantam cochin, because when a breed like that suddenly starts laying eggs every day I get suspicious about impending broodiness. No signs, no signs, no signs, nothing. I finally got bored of setting them inside and moved her eggs left from our 2-day trip to Seattle straight to the fridge. Sigh. Now she's broody and sitting on just one egg. Oh, well. She's not a proven broody hen yet, so I suppose it's just as well. I guess I was hoping to ditch the rooster sooner. He and I don't get along very well, but he's a good guy otherwise and all the chickie-girls adore him and he even loves Useless Chicken "Crown", our Sultan hen, and clucks and worries over her. I thought that a bantam cochin/bantam ee cross would be a fun barnyard mix. I hope and pray that if she hatches this egg, it is a pullet. Please send a lot of girl-vibes our way! Anyway, we welcomed 6 new chicks from the feed store yesterday. I loved the calmness of getting one- to 2-week old chicks, not worrying about splayed legs or other stuff. And they are such calm birds! None of last year's craziness. And what fun to take the girls to pick them out to take home! Just a few pics because I can't help myself: Butterscotch Silver Daffodil Forest Brownie Hermione I was pleased to see the Farm Store carrying Golden-laced Wyandottes and ?Welsummers?. They had one bin of "assorted-dark-egg layers", and they were all this last one, I think a Welsummer. I don't know those breeds well enough to say. I was really wanting to try this breed. Pleased they got in their Buff Orpingtons. I miss having those in the flock. Anyway, thanks for taking a minute to read our family's updates. (The girls wanted me to post this little chick.)

How cute. No potter names in our flock yet but we usually have a brownie running around every year. Other reoccurring names are Bella (3), sunshine and Ruby (4).

 

[Flaming Chicken]

This looks like a really nice coop for the right situation. http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/grd/3684217644.html

 

[RustyHen]

I was at a silkie breeder Sunday and two little roosters tried to attack me. Funny as heck.

I can't wait to see what my silkies look like grown up. They are so cute now....

I like to watch the silkies when they are out likes these, you have too look twice to see if they are coming or going.

 

[bikerchicky]

three things....

1. I am looking for 6 to 8 dozzen hatching eggs that are low priced, larger breed egg layers type. if you have a lead on this let me know.

2. I talked to a couple people at the show yesterday and there does seem to be some interest in doing a couple of processing classes. I am propossing two events at my place. one would be for culls and roos and the second would be for meat birds. I have a great processing set up and a lot of expierence. It would be open to people with or without expierence, and low pressure. If it is just too hard for some they don't have to do or even watch.

The cull and roo day could be any time. A meat bird day I would order in chicks for everyone who wanted to participate (I have a wholesale account with welp) so we could start a thread on how raising them is going and they should all be ready to butcher at the same time.

3. for anyone that I missed yesterday or just could not make it I am changing it from a show special to just a byc first time purchase special. first bucket half price for any byc poster. yall are great and worth it.

paul

Paul, count me in for meat chickens. I'd like 10. Let me know cost to purchase chicks and help with feed costs. My GF threecutechicks (Debbie) was with me at the show but I think I had to leave for work before most people had a chance to meet me. I think she may also be interested in some meat chicks. I will let you know.

I will want some growth feed in the next few weeks when my girls are ready to move into their pen at my house. I will be in touch.

Thanks!!!!!

 

[RustyHen]

When I left CA last time I took all the lower branches of my fig here and tried to layer them thinking when I came this time they could be dug and planted in WA. The guy watching my home decided they where in the way of the lawn mower and cut them all off! He also cut my cherry tree up so he could walk under it. I can't reach a cherry if I tried now. I am so ready to move.

 

[refamat]

A way to deter hawks and eagles is to prevent or present the illusion of not enough space for wings to operate. That can be accomplished with ornamental trees with nice canopies, holographic tapes, ropes with old cds tied to them (the birds have to be able to see the ropes or the game wardens would say your setting traps to injure the birds) and of course, netting. You can also plant clumps of bamboo but make sure you use root barriers or they will try to take over the runs. Even sticking 8 ft or longer bamboo poles with leave and stems attached will provide the illusion of a barrier to a diving or swooping hawk or eagle.
creativity can save your poultry so put on the thinking caps and come up with ideas to protect chickens and ducks while staying within the law and not spending a fortune.

on another note, here's an article on items we have around the home which can harm pets:
http://shine.yahoo.com/pets/26-household-items-poisonious-cats-38-dogs-130200299.html

 

[ChickAudie]

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Oh, I am sure these are by far the most standard of ALL the feed store chicks there! LOL!!!

There are no feet feathers so far, so I am guessing, they won't be coming now that they are almost a month old. I can tell the BPR has a MORE Wicked Witch of the East beak, and the "cuckoo marans" has a straighter beak and row comb (?), anyway, that's just how I can tell the difference between the two. One has more orange legs and one has whiter legs with a little black in the front.

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Time to go re heat "hav-a-gins"
Poke chops, scallop-a-taters.............and then there is a salad which will not be reheated.
Check this out:




1 day old.

Look at all that hair!!! How precious!! Congrats again Grandma!!

Bantam Splash Laced Red Wyandotte(from Cloverleaf) and my backyard Blue Orp/Rock mix. 3.5 weeks old

And the remaining MB Silkies, General Tso(Blue cockerel) and Marsala(Porcelain pullet). 18 & 17 weeks

Quote: It was so delicious!!! They had the sauce at Top Foods, which I hope will remain after Wally-World goes up....I HATE THAT STORE!!!! and they better not run my local grocier out of business! I have no problem wasting perfectly good eggs on that store! HUMPH!

That stupid Cooper's hawk came through today. By came through, I mean that it came through the trees behind me while I was guarding the chickens and tried to grab a Belgian. I heard an alarm call and whipped around to see it zooming out of the woods. My rage-screaming alerted the little ones and they started to run by the time the thing landed. It still tried to run after them. When it saw me barreling toward it, it shot back to the woods and landed casually in one of the outermost trees. The scary part is that I was less than ten feet from the chickens. Gonna have to start rounding the girls up earlier in the day. Now my throat is ruined.

Wow TerrorBird, that sucks

I need to never go over to your neck of the woods, you have lots of scary flying birds with MURDER on their minds!!!

My favorite rooster, one that Rainwolf gave me and the only chicken in my flock that I named was taken yesterday by a dog. Today I found a pile of his saddle feathers and his tail feathers were strewn all the way up our driveway. I am so upset, I saw a pit running around on e road a few days ago, and I have seen a black lab in our yard. I know it was not a coyote because they would have headed in the opposite direction, through the woods behind us. My DH said we will go for a walk down the road to see if we can see anymore feathers.

It angers me that people cannot keep their dogs locked up. If I find his feathers in someones yard I will confront them. And I swear if they tell me "It was just a chicken" I will inform them that next time I see their dog on our property and I tell my husband to get his gun (we really don't have one) I will tell them "It was just a dog"

Luckily I haven't put our extra roo in freezer camp so I still have a rooster.

Sorry to hear that chickenmomma, hope you can find the bandit.

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BTW - started a few hundred posts ago -- & finally caught up today - only because I'm home trying NOT to come down with a cold... Went to Monroe on Saturday as I live not too far & heard about it from Mumsy over on the natural thread. Unfortunately, I didn't start lurking on this thread until AFTER I got home from Monroe -- DUH!. I missed the party!

I just started keeping chickens 10 months ago after years of trying to convince DH that chickens were ok. He's still not 'endeared' shall we say. But none of his fears of smells, or noise have been fulfilled & he does agree they are pretty funny.

I was just wanting eggs & manure for the garden. Was not prepared for chicken TV & humor in the yard, nor chicken drama as written on BYC threads. Have to keep reading to find out how many eggs hatched, whose sick chicken got well, or sadly didn't. I've said often that the only thing more addictive than keeping chickens is reading BYC threads. And these chickens, well they are so much more personable than I ever anticipated.

I started last May with 6 feedstore chicks- all pullets & sexed as advertised. 2 black Australorps, 2 Buckeyes, & 2 gold sex-links. Lost a GSL to a coyote recently - just after I told someone, IF I lose a chicken to a predator, it will be this one. 2 days later I found a pile of her feathers. Know it was a coyote, didn't see it, but know it was. The chicks foraging is now limited - we'll do some add'l fencing this summer - now seems I have to think about eagles & hawks. UGGHH

Won't buy GSL again - not predator-wary enough, too food-driven., Really like the BA's - great watch chickens, nice disposition, good egg layers. But I really love my Buckeyes. Smart, curious, easy-going. What a personality. They aren't as good layers as the other 2, but there's just DH & myself - extra eggs go to family - so we're fine with their production as it is. My fav, Trouble was the only chick who managed to escape the brooder -twice. She'd be out walking around the porch (Mars) by herself calling to others to come on out & join her. She'd jump up to the top of the brooder when she saw me-- looking for a few pets & extra treats.

Well - just thought I'd introduce myself - I'll try to keep up, but man I thought the natural chicken-keeping thread moved fast - you guys are pros. You've been great entertainment today for 'sickie - momy'. Enjoyed the monroe show - fun seeing all the different types of chicks - next time I'll be able to introduce myself to you all!

Hi ChickieMomy! Welcome to the Washingtonian thread!! Thanks for the story

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Awem hugs LaughingFeather...and they are supposed to teach us how to love....glad you turned out nothing like that and you have a big beautiful heart

You just need to hurry and get home to WA

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Quote: Well... it is in Washington, so you could always come visit for the summer, and stay.

LOL! TacomaFarms, you were serious about that BYC Commune, weren't you!!

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Air Farce?

66th Military Intelligence Company, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry, US Army, 1992-1998
Thank you Veterans for your service. Thank your husband for me ChaeBird.

DFH was an Amry Combat Engineer, I can't really name off the rest

He served 1996-2000 (and then Bush got elected, LOL!)

 

[Farmin Momma]

OM Gosh, I am not going to try and catch up on 300+ posts. Just poppin in to say

to all my friends. Man it was so great to see everyone that was at the show on Saturday, I had so much fun. My plan was to stay longer if DH did not come with me because I knew he would be board, but we also had planned a surprise fun day for our kids. That get together just made me want to do one at my house even more now. Speeking of my house, I just got word that the bank is looking over our offer now and we should hear in the next day or two if we got it. I really don't see why they would say no, we offered what they were asking! Here hoping

.

Ya'll are so darn great!

 

[chickiemomy]

Quote:
hen - she WAS mighty lucky.

wow post a picture when you set it up - am seeing the frames without fabric?? with the ribs connected to each other by clothesline? making a spider web effect? frames from where ?? cheap??

We get flocks of grosbeaks sometimes too -- irruptive migration right? they'll sit on the BOSS feeder and gobble them down one after another -we call them the piggy birds. We're next door to a 10- acre class one open wetlands- beaver dams - tons of birds - but lots of area for predators to find other stuff to eat besides OUR animals. Worry about the cats becoming eagle food - they're in at night - most dangerous coyote time - but those eagles are pretty visible this year.so far.

Yep, no fabric. The spokes won't be connected to each other with clothesline, I don't think, but the lines will extend from the end of each spoke to the ground. It will be a spider web of sorts, yes. Mom has a slightly-better idea of what we're going to do exactly, but I'll certainly take pictures when we get it set up. I think she's buying frames for about $70 each, not sure what site and not sure what shipping costs. We're also going to set up more fences to restrict chicken roaming. They'll still have plenty of space and hiding places and it'll be easier for me to watch over them.

I call the grosbeaks the sky piranhas. These days, we only have a few. The pine siskins are still numerous. They enjoy getting into the chicken pen and eating their feed. The chickens then find their feed being eaten by tasty little protein-filled snacks. I'll sometimes notice big clumps of feathers or a wing in the pen.

I know we have owls around here. During the appropriate season I hear Barred owls hooting, and sometimes a Great Horned owl. My fiance claims to have seen a big Barn owl right at the edge of the woods one morning. We have cougars too. I heard one scream at night once, overly close to the edge of the woods. I was in my room using my laptop with the window open when this ghastly scream occurred. My fiance and mom actually saw one sniffing after some deer a while back during the day. Still, my main concern is hawks and coyotes. I feel half-inclined to set some kind of bait out in the field and find a camouflaged perch on our hill so I can have a chance at getting a coyote. I haven't been hearing them around here recently and we didn't hear them yipping/howling at all last year. I know there's at least one in the area and I'd like to take care of him for good.


We've heard of cougars here, but never saw traces - neighbor has a resident bobcat stalking her little dogs. We have a bear who shows up to raid bird feeders, so we bring them in each night. yep I agree, for now as neighborhood dogs are in control - no wanderers or packers - coyotes are our single biggest threat followed by birds of prey. Neighbor lost swome chicks to racoons - but my coop is secure (for now anyway?) at night. We have had a barred owl perched on the power lines - that cougar scream sounds scary. I know we have active coyote dens - one year a decade or so ago, we had regular sightings of a beautiful alpha male - not at all scruffy - with his mate, 2 adolescents & 4 pups. They'd show up on our property frequently, once all together. Our golden would chase them off - so we fenced off that side of the property so as to protect her from being drawn into an ambush. We have coyote howls all around, all year. Spring is dangerous as they are feeding young too.

BUT - someone over on the natural thread posted this link to an interesting hawk versus birds story. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/608864/hawk-attack-stopped-by-larry-the-peacock take a look -pet peacock attacked a hawk that was attacking HIS chickens. I always thought peacocks were mean - maybe I need to get s couple of pea chicks & let the chickens raise them???

well - 7 more pages to catch up on - better get reading!