Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[LaughingFeather]

Next yr when you have chicks or eggs I buy some from you. The cream legbars that is I have been looking at them but did not what to ship eggs that far, and I only want 6 eggs, auto sexing is great+blue eggs.

Not quite ready for them this yr.

Sounds like a good plan for both of us.

 

[TerrorBird]

Quote: But it would be wrong, and I have to live next door, but... ask robj: she's GORGEOUS, half Black Australorp and half Blue Ameraucana and right at POL so her comb and wattles are brilliant crimson.

But it would be WRONG.

Still trying to convince yourself not to...acquire her?

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
Yes, they should be fine moving them out. Mine went out when the night temps were in the 20's at 8 weeks. They were feathered but I did do a 75W light just at night(had it on a timer).

 

[TerrorBird]

Quote:
If you buy Cream Legbars from Greenfire Farms, it's $60 for a single pullet. So don't worry too much, it could have been worse!

 

[CarolynF]

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?

Hi,
I haven't caught up with this topic tonight so excuse me if I'm jumping in in the middle....

I'm sooooo terribly sorry for what you had to go thru with you girl, I can hardly imagine having to figure that all out and having your heart break as she suffered. I'm so proud of you for doing what you needed to do and what you had to do.

I started with 2 pullets and a few month later added one more. Later I decided to re-home one of the three, then added another singleton. It was easier the first time perhaps because my original 2 girls were under a year old. By the time I did it again they were more mature and set in their ways. When I add to the flock I spend time with a spray bottle and squirt anyone being aggressive. If you have kids, they love helping. If you have to add just one, it can be done. Was the girl you lost #1, 2, or 3 in the line-up? If she was #1, adding a new bird could be easier while they are still reestablishing a new order.

Cowgirlgrace has ameraucanas that have started laying, so they're under a year. She may have others, you'd have to ask her. Raincreek in Port Orchard (google her) has a variety of birds of various ages. She advertises on CL, too.

If it were me, and had limited space in the run, I'd add just one bird. The discomfort of being the new girl will be short lived. Perhaps choosing a breed that's not shy and retiring would help, too.

Take care and good luck.

 

[KMoran]

Finally the wind died down... Thankfully we didnt loose power. I was on pins and needles tho. Found out some awesome news my husband is finally gonna get his disability pay from when he got injured in Iraq in 07... Which means we get to move *happy dance* *happy dance*.

We are gonna get the ball rolling on selling this place and finding a place with lots of property.. He found a house with 60 acres.... he said that should be enough room for chickens.... oh I am so drooling with ideas!.

 

[robj]

I'm home almost all the time so I don't think there would be a power outage i didn't know about. I plan to mix a water/bleach mixture and spray down everything in the incubator then let it air dry. There has to be something wrong. I have only got one chick to hatch that has been in this incubator and that chick died right after hatching.
With all the money I spent on eggs for hatching I could have simply bought chicks.
I am glad i did buy some chicks though. I think I'm going to bleach the incubator then just get eggs from my mom to try a few at a time til i start getting good hatches.

I had the same problem my eggs developed then I thought they quite. We went through to many eggs to say it turn out I had a bad thermometer we had eggs hatch at 28 days so if they're still in there don't give up unless you candle them again. I was told and now believe that eggs will slow down or even stop while they are under temp. I re candled at 25 days before I tossed them and put back the eggs I thought I saw movement and chucked the rest. If you already tossed the check/calibrate your thermometer before you try again there is info here in the learning section for both thermometers and hygrometers to much humidity at the wrong time can drown the Peeps in the eggs.
It sucks about the cost vs. the price for chicks but if you get it to work it is the coolest thing to see! Of course no comparison to seeing mys girls born!

Not even close!!!!

 

[Stumpfarmer]

ETA I have to admit that when my cousin's pullet who thinks I am her person walked into the wire kennel after I buried Suzzie, I had an evil aquisitive impulse to shut that door quick.

I'd have done it. 

But it would be wrong, and I have to live next door, but... ask robj: she's GORGEOUS, half Black Australorp and half Blue Ameraucana and right at POL so her comb and wattles are brilliant crimson.


But it would be WRONG.

Still trying to convince yourself not to...acquire her? 

It would be easier if she didn't come running every time I'm outside. She really likes me. It's flattering.

 

[LaughingFeather]

If you buy Cream Legbars from Greenfire Farms, it's $60 for a single pullet. So don't worry too much, it could have been worse!

That is one of the reasons I got these. Price was so good. I was really impressed with this lady's setup also. Clean, organized, upscale.

 

[TerrorBird]

Quote:
But it would be wrong, and I have to live next door, but... ask robj: she's GORGEOUS, half Black Australorp and half Blue Ameraucana and right at POL so her comb and wattles are brilliant crimson.


But it would be WRONG.


Still trying to convince yourself not to...acquire her?

It would be easier if she didn't come running every time I'm outside. She really likes me. It's flattering.
You might have to talk to your cousin and see if you can work something out. If your cousin is a reasonable person and you get along well, I'd give it a shot.