Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[TacomaFarms]

I feel so bad for everyone's losses lately. It's spring! We're supposed to be celebrating new chicks and little baby friends! All this sadness is making me worry about my dear Bonnie... She looked so uncomfortable the other day. Has anyone else had issues with birds and grass? I've been reading a lot about crop issues, and I think she's just gorging herself when she free ranges and it's causing the pendulous crop look. Not sure. Her crop empties overnight.... So confused.

On a positive note:
Flirty - I second, get two darn chickens!

I found a farm! Apprenticeship, on an awesome all encompassing goat creamery, begins a week from Saturday. Small steps to future dreams, right? The farm owner explained to me that I may get to midwife for the birth of a kid that day. HOW AWESOME WOULD THAT BE!? And I've already volunteered to set the incubator with spring chicks! Any suggestions for awesome laying breeds to introduce? I'm hooked on BA's.

 

[ChaeBird]

The weather is keeping us down here longer than we wanted.  I am so tempted to get more chicks.  The lady I got the cream legbars from had some of the most beautiful Old English chocolate orphingtons.  HUGE.  Butts like a pompom.  If hubby hadn't already given me the eye and a lecture they would be coming north.

Good luck with the silkies.  I am enjoying mine a lot.

Oooh, chocolate orpingtons are on my short list for additional chickens...if we could have any more. Sigh. I want a farm.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
These are from a different breeder so I don't think we will have the issues as the first batch. There are some suspected issue from the first and a bunch of us are trying to work with her on the issue(but it may not be possible to reverse without starting over). I love the English Orps fluff. My rooster is 50% HinkJC English and is huge. I am hoping to get a couple of CCL at the Spring Swap in April here in OR. I was going to get some for my broody but the breeder here had an incubator issue and got a delayed hatch and I did not want to risk rejection from the broody with the $$ I was gonna spend. But the 2 remaining Silkies from the first group seem to be doing ok and I am going to treat for the issue that is underlying to prevent further neurological issues. If you want more details you can PM about it, not wanting to discuss on here

 

[ChickAudie]

Oh Flirty31, I am so sorry you had to go through that

LaughingFeather, those chicks are stinkin' cute, cute, cute!!!

I had an amazing time at the dentist! (I know, right?). First, I called this morning around 10 am and they squeezed me in at 1:45. Then, I found out it was 2 minutes from my work up the hill. Then, instead of a first initial visit and scheduling a second visit to take care of my tooth, THEY DOVE RIGHT INTO FIXING IT! Last, my insurance covered 90% of the cost!!

I hate the dentist less today

 

[TacomaFarms]

Oh Flirty31, I am so sorry you had to go through that

LaughingFeather, those chicks are stinkin' cute, cute, cute!!!

I had an amazing time at the dentist! (I know, right?). First, I called this morning around 10 am and they squeezed me in at 1:45. Then, I found out it was 2 minutes from my work up the hill. Then, instead of a first initial visit and scheduling a second visit to take care of my tooth, THEY DOVE RIGHT INTO FIXING IT! Last, my insurance covered 90% of the cost!!

I hate the dentist less today

I think dentists are trying to change their bad name, I've had a few experiences like that! I was AHHHmazed!

On another note: how did your coop turn out? I keep checking back to see the final setup... pics please! And if you rent out your builder(s), I'll send them home with a bunny! lol...

 

[mikeyb]

Oh Flirty31, I am so sorry you had to go through that

LaughingFeather, those chicks are stinkin' cute, cute, cute!!!

I had an amazing time at the dentist! (I know, right?). First, I called this morning around 10 am and they squeezed me in at 1:45. Then, I found out it was 2 minutes from my work up the hill. Then, instead of a first initial visit and scheduling a second visit to take care of my tooth, THEY DOVE RIGHT INTO FIXING IT! Last, my insurance covered 90% of the cost!!

I hate the dentist less today

Good things happen to good people! I'm happy you got that taken care of so fast.

 

[TacomaFarms]

Quote:

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

So my chickens must really like their pallet coop. Since they have been in it they have been cooping themselves around 5-6pm each night, even though it is light out til near 7:30. I got up at 5pm today(worked late and didn't get to bed til near 9am) and went out to get eggs, they were all in and on the roosts. And it wasn't stormy out, sun was shining.

 

[VelvettFog]

Now that y'all have indulged my sorrow, I am glad that you have some constructive feedback.

I only have a flock of 2 now. We built the coop and run to be big enough for up to 5 (though that might be a bit cramped in the run department), knowing that eventually we'd have to add to the flock as the first girls grew older...

I would love to return the flock to 3, but I have heard that introducing one is harder than introducing more. So I think we could introduce 2. I thought about getting chicks since the timing is right, but my husband is not thrilled about entering the whole chick process all over again (understandably). So that leaves me with finding some adults on here or on Craigslist.

The 30 day quarantine period would be unfair to a lone chicken, I think. So two would have to do it. I would be concerned that if they were laying, they might get "bound up" or something because I'd be keeping them in a dog pen (I don't have a big enough space for a separate coop). I am just so weary now, so I am worried about everything! I worry that their egg laying would get messed up, that the crate wouldn't be enough space, that they'd have lice or mites...the list goes on. But then I worry about introducing them too early and decimating what's left of my flock (if they brought any sickness with them).

I feel like I'm darned if I do, darned if I don't! Ah!

Let's say I found 2 to add to the flock. Given my circumstances, what would you suggest?

Me.. I'd find two birds from someone I feel comfortable with, and I'd sneak them in at night. No quarantine.

That's that *I* would do.


Here's what I think you should do:

First, as best as you can, you need to realize that you did nothing to cause the death of your bird. And what you describe, I've never heard of before, so I highly doubt you'll ever experience anything even remotely close to that again. Trust in the odds

Second, I think you should get two birds from someone you feel comfortable with and put them in your dog pen. You should try and get 2 of similar age, who come from the same flock. This will ensure the pecking order between the two of them is already in place (could be challenged on a move but that's ok) and if they do have any ickies, they will both have them so it will be easier to spot. Find out when the last time they were wormed, and with what. If that was a few mo ago, I suggest you use Eprinix as soon as you can after getting them home. For periods of time around 30 days keeping them in close quarters means that you need to watch for pecking. As long as the two birds dont try and eat each other, they will be ok for a month. If after two or three weeks you feel comfortable, introduce your new birds. Having them free range separately (new and old pairs) after you've had the new ones for a week would seem ok to me.

Flirty - that's my opinion. Take it as such. Some will agree others will not. But what is really comes down to is ---- do what you are comfortable with

Dave

 

[ChickAudie]

I think dentists are trying to change their bad name, I've had a few experiences like that! I was AHHHmazed!

On another note: how did your coop turn out? I keep checking back to see the final setup... pics please! And if you rent out your builder(s), I'll send them home with a bunny! lol...

Haha, about that....

So the coop was scheduled to get the final coats of paint on the roof this past weekend, aaaaand, wheel, the rain ruined things and Mr. Perfecto was mad at the rain and said he'll paint it in the summer! LOL! It will be going outside this weekend after the new locks get figured out. We tried a sash lock, but that only works when there's only one way to open the door. I was bummed when it didn't work, those window sash locks seemed like a pretty good predator proof locks! You have to squeeze and turn 'em, but with double doors, you can just pull the other side right open...shoot. Back to the locking drawing board....

LMBO! We have enough mini-farm going on, adding bunnies wouldn't be a good idea, DFH will try and be a "self-sufficient" chef. It's hard to rent out mah Dad, he's in high demand, and then it starts getting frustrating for him, because he does try and do it all at once. He has a tendency to overwhelm himself, but I will see if he might be up for some building down the line!

Good things happen to good people! I'm happy you got that taken care of so fast.

Oh MikeyB, you're such a sweetheart! Thank you, they were VERY fast!!