Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[TerrorBird]

Quote: Follow your head, not your heart.

Quote:
I understand what both of you are saying. While I adore my chickens, I know that sometimes they need to be put out of their misery even if it makes me completely miserable. However, I'll be asking them a number of questions about him. I have a certain amount of information already. When he was on PetFinder, they had a bio. Since he was picked on a lot, they put him in his own enclosure. They gave him some chicks and he acted as their mother hen. They were originally going to adopt him out only if the adopter would take his brood with him (two roosters and a hen). I would have been interested then, but I didn't want three roosters. Now he's being housed with three hens. I'm wondering if those roosters were beating him up in the end. That place has a lot of chickens, very many of them roosters. It wouldn't surprise me if that's why he's missing so many feathers. I'll admit that one of my first thoughts when I saw him was that maybe they should just put him out of his misery. I'm going to get as much information about him as I can before I make my final decision. If he can live out a more normal, peaceful life here, I will do what I can for him.

During my shift yesterday, two roosters were fighting constantly. They were in the turkey pen. The turkeys decided that they wanted in on the action and chased them around, beating up on whoever. There was a girl working in that pen. She did nothing. I had to actually convince her to take two seconds to call the staff on her walkie-talkie. I just didn't want someone to end up being killed. Since that would have happened if no one was around (it's a very large farm with not-too-many people), it wouldn't surprise me if they weren't monitoring Rodney and his brood and the other roosters were beating him up. Hell, I noticed one of the chicken runs behind a barn with three hens in the run. The door to the house was shut and there was no food or water in the run, and also no shelter. It was late in the afternoon. I couldn't find anyone in the area to tell them, so I had to get in there and open the door for them. They promptly hustled in there. The problem isn't that they're neglecting the animals, it's just that they don't have nearly enough people to be able to catch these things happening. That's the problem when you rely on volunteers and only have a few staff people.

So please don't think that I only act with my heart. I like to make informed decisions and act in the best interests of the animals that I care for. It can be really hard, but since I care for them, I try to do what is right.

 

[HoneysuckleHills]

So please don't think that I only act with my heart. I like to make informed decisions and act in the best interests of the animals that I care for. It can be really hard, but since I care for them, I try to do what is right.

Yup, that's the girl I know you to be!

 

[HoneysuckleHills]

I didn't know if she could tell I was fibbing to her or not. I am pretty bad at it......

Oh, me too! I gave it to her as soon as we got in the car.

 

[Lutefisk]

We've added to our flock twice, once with birds from the chicken man in Orting, and a few months later with birds from a friend who lives in Rochester. In both cases the birds were young adult hens and we just turned them loose in the backyard with our existing flock. No problems either fighting or illness, though they took a couple of days to figure out the coop and probably spent the night under the holly tree. One year later they are still all alive and healthy and laying eggs. So to me biosecurity means feeding a healthy GMO-free diet, unlimited time free range in an area that could easily accommodate far more birds than we want to take care of and appropriate shelter.

I guess if I were managing a commercial CAFO filled with immune compromised animals and tiny profit margins thanks to the Walmart economy, I might feel different about it.

 

[Chickielady]

WOW loveley boys and girls!

Happy crying!

So, you have 1 Boston Terrier and those beee-yuteeful Labradorians are not yours ?
I love Labradorians !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chickielady]

CL:

really gorgeous birds there! We have to get together. Seeing Doc on Monday, hoping he will let me get rid of the neck brace then I can drive again. When you coming to TJ's again?

Should be out that way around the the 26th or so~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Chickielady]

It was good to finally meet you too, and Einstein. You guys going to the PNPA next month? I will be hanging out there too. Thought my DW was gonna go but she will have rehearsals for the "Little Mermaid" musical she will be in.

No, I did not renew my subscription with the PNPC either...only been to 1 show and too far to stay overnight & bring birds...too far away for us.

 

[Chickielady]

Don't know if they are great birds 'cus I haven never had any yet. BUT, since I'm one of them [horrid, evil] English people [that folk should avoid], I thought I oughta get an English bird or two in the flock.

I want Scots Dumpies~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Chickielady]

So, after I opened coops this morning in the snow, I decided it was a fine day to make some marmalade.
So I just made 7 pints of Mineola Tangelo and Ruby Red Grapefruit marmalade.so pretty...now I hope it sets up !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FirewifeJess]

Hey all, just catching up. I agree with the biosecurity stuff. I want healthy birds and don't "really" quarantine anyway. I was just repeating numbers I'd heard (Carolyn you asked about the 50') in the past, but don't actually follow myself anyway. I'm going tonight to get a couple chicks from Reber. I want a CA white and something else that's a good layer. Or maybe I just need me a really pretty bird. IDK...

About Willow. Honestly, maybe this sounds bad...I'm not all that beat up about her death. Sure, it sucks. I wasn't very attached to her though, she wasn't a chick here and never let me pet her happily. I feel bad she's gone but she was a happy bird who lived a good life. And I'm glad she didn't get sick and linger. I'd much rather birds disappear mysteriously (predator) or die quickly if it's gonna happen. So yeah, I'm OK