Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[ChickAudie]

Here are Paul's Pics

Awwwwe! They are just adowable!!! Good job Paul! Very cute!

Oh BTW - DH and I took our trip to Wilco yesterday and they still had their "buy a bag of food, get 5 meaties for free" deal going on. I was buying a bag of food, but had no place for 5 meaties. I had considered getting them just in case someone wanted to pick them up from me but didn't want to take the chance I'd be stuck with them. I don't know how long that deal is good for. Just FYI.

I'm not ready to process my own birds yet. But probably closer than I was 2 years ago.

Those of you in Tacoma who might be interested in being part of the coop tour. Here is a link to the application. Read the rules CAREFULLY. Chicken outlaws need not apply!
http://www.sproutingoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Application-20131.pdf

And here's the last pic of the Ameraucana Four waiting for parole. More pics to come after their release. They look like little Marshmellow Peeps!

Oh Thanks SadieSue! I want to kinda sorta - although, I am an outlaw - I have eight chicks (

)

Maybe we can hide a couple inside?

VelvetFog - Can I ask your help with something I am having troubles figurin'?

We have stacks of 6' fence boards, 4'X25' (1/2"x1/2") hardware cloth, giant roll of chicken wire, and I have no idea how to make it into a safe enough/big enough run. My thoughts were to make a box out of the fence boards for a post, but do you think if the first 4' of fencing from the bottom is the hardware cloth, should I be okay to add some height with the chicken wire?

Love the Willow arbor! Can't wait to see your version :0)

 

[TacomaFarms]

VelvetFog - Can I ask your help with something I am having troubles figurin'?

We have stacks of 6' fence boards, 4'X25' (1/2"x1/2") hardware cloth, giant roll of chicken wire, and I have no idea how to make it into a safe enough/big enough run. My thoughts were to make a box out of the fence boards for a post, but do you think if the first 4' of fencing from the bottom is the hardware cloth, should I be okay to add some height with the chicken wire?

x2

 

[FirewifeJess]

VelvetFog - Can I ask your help with something I am having troubles figurin'?

We have stacks of 6' fence boards, 4'X25' (1/2"x1/2") hardware cloth, giant roll of chicken wire, and I have no idea how to make it into a safe enough/big enough run. My thoughts were to make a box out of the fence boards for a post, but do you think if the first 4' of fencing from the bottom is the hardware cloth, should I be okay to add some height with the chicken wire?

Love the Willow arbor! Can't wait to see your version :0)

If you make a square or rectangle so that the perimeter of it is 25' or less, you can easily use the hardware cloth along the bottom (I suggest a 12" apron laid flat on the ground and then 3' above the ground), and use the chicken wire (perhaps 2 layers of it) around the top of the run, I would definitely use it for my chickens. If you need pictures of how VF made my run let me know. The apron is really easy and prevents predators from digging under the edge of the run.

 

[SadieSue]

Okay - 3 chicks under a Silkie mama. They both clucked happily when I brought the babies down, even though it's broad daylight. Pearlie June even came in, took a look and seemed to approve. Then she turned right back around to head down to her run.

However, I only brought 3 because one chick is definitely having trouble standing. She stands up, then flops back down and is scooting on her tummy. I'm guessing splay leg because it seems to be working, but maybe just too far to the side. I'm very nervous. Heading into the forum to try and find very simple explanation how to fix this - something with pictures would help. Poor baby. I'll have to brood her in the house for a few days until I know for sure she's going to be okay. Please please please be okay. I don't want to cull.

 

[ChickAudie]

Quote: Oh! Pics would be nice! I wasn't sure if not having the whole thing hardware cloth would make the stuff pointless?? IDK, but that stuff isn't cheap and I wasn't planning on buying more if it, so if the wire mesh didn't work with, they were going to have a smaller run than I had thought.

 

[ChickAudie]

Okay - 3 chicks under a Silkie mama. They both clucked happily when I brought the babies down, even though it's broad daylight. Pearlie June even came in, took a look and seemed to approve. Then she turned right back around to head down to her run.

However, I only brought 3 because one chick is definitely having trouble standing. She stands up, then flops back down and is scooting on her tummy. I'm guessing splay leg because it seems to be working, but maybe just too far to the side. I'm very nervous. Heading into the forum to try and find very simple explanation how to fix this - something with pictures would help. Poor baby. I'll have to brood her in the house for a few days until I know for sure she's going to be okay. Please please please be okay. I don't want to cull.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Okay - 3 chicks under a Silkie mama. They both clucked happily when I brought the babies down, even though it's broad daylight. Pearlie June even came in, took a look and seemed to approve. Then she turned right back around to head down to her run.

However, I only brought 3 because one chick is definitely having trouble standing. She stands up, then flops back down and is scooting on her tummy. I'm guessing splay leg because it seems to be working, but maybe just too far to the side. I'm very nervous. Heading into the forum to try and find very simple explanation how to fix this - something with pictures would help. Poor baby. I'll have to brood her in the house for a few days until I know for sure she's going to be okay. Please please please be okay. I don't want to cull.

Try this: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/02/spraddle-leg-in-baby-chicks-what-is-it.html

 

[VelvettFog]

Quote:
OH.. this is like Dinner Impossible. Yanno, Chef Robert gets 2 hrs to make a 5 course dinner for 300 folks. He gets a coleman camp stove, a cast iron skillet and 300 bucks -- 8 commercials later .. he's a smashing success

I can do that -- err.. .. at least smashing is easy.

I have questions - are you Radio Shack?

Big enough and Safe enough - are both relative. Size is almost always limited by money. I'm sure if I asked folks if they could have afforded a bigger run, would they have built it bigger - and we'd get a resounding YES! So I think for you, size is based on your current set of materials. Now that size has been established (sorta) let's talk about 'safe enough'.

What are we protecting your birds from? Chicken wire is designed to keep feathers in/out - but will NOT stop most animals that have fur. Must go to welded wire to get protection against the most common predator, the domestic canine. As Jessica said, what I did at her place was a hardware cloth apron, bent at right angles for about the first 2' of the run, extending about 18" out into the grass. The lawn will grow up quickly over the wire and it will disappear, but animals will not be able to dig under your fence. From the hardware cloth on up, I use 4"x2" welded wire. Use good fence staples, or a pneumatic staple gun to make sure Racoons dont just pull it down.

So - how to use the fence boards to make the supports. Hmmm.

Do you want to be able to stand up in the run? (You should say yes)

Using the boards to make a box to work as a post is probably a working idea. If a table saw is available, I'd probably rip the boards in thirds and stretch my materials even further. Make good use of angle bracing if you go with such an approach.

Another idea would be to purchase a few 2x4's for the primary supports, and use the boards, as is, for your bracing. Or better yet, build a coop out of the fence boards!

Dave

 

[ChickAudie]

Quote:
OH.. this is like Dinner Impossible. Yanno, Chef Robert gets 2 hrs to make a 5 course dinner for 300 folks. He gets a coleman camp stove, a cast iron skillet and 300 bucks -- 8 commercials later .. he's a smashing success

I can do that -- err.. .. at least smashing is easy.

I have questions - are you Radio Shack?

Big enough and Safe enough - are both relative. Size is almost always limited by money. I'm sure if I asked folks if they could have afforded a bigger run, would they have built it bigger - and we'd get a resounding YES! So I think for you, size is based on your current set of materials. Now that size has been established (sorta) let's talk about 'safe enough'.

What are we protecting your birds from? Chicken wire is designed to keep feathers in/out - but will NOT stop most animals that have fur. Must go to welded wire to get protection against the most common predator, the domestic canine. As Jessica said, what I did at her place was a hardware cloth apron, bent at right angles for about the first 2' of the run, extending about 18" out into the grass. The lawn will grow up quickly over the wire and it will disappear, but animals will not be able to dig under your fence. From the hardware cloth on up, I use 4"x2" welded wire. Use good fence staples, or a pneumatic staple gun to make sure Racoons dont just pull it down.

So - how to use the fence boards to make the supports. Hmmm.

Do you want to be able to stand up in the run? (You should say yes)

Using the boards to make a box to work as a post is probably a working idea. If a table saw is available, I'd probably rip the boards in thirds and stretch my materials even further. Make good use of angle bracing if you go with such an approach.

Another idea would be to purchase a few 2x4's for the primary supports, and use the boards, as is, for your bracing. Or better yet, build a coop out of the fence boards!

Dave

Thanks Dave! We also have a huge roll of 4"x2" welded wire! Thought it was too big to use? Oh, well! The common critters are yes, dog, racoon, opposum, and rats (eeeeeew, neighbor has an old trailer making the most perfect bramble covered shelter for all of the Secrets of Nimh

)

The coop is more of a tractor, and I will let them out in the mornin' and put them in the coop at night. The run is mostly for keeping the crackle spackle away from general foot traffic. Since the coop is turning out to be more like Ft. Knocks...I don't think I am entirely worried about vermin. There is no way for rats to get into the coop.

Funny you should say that about the fence boards...That's what the coop was supposed to be made outta!!! Then Pops wanted to go the extra fancy route....sigh....

I am 5'2" so 6' fence boards will have the height I need to get in and out, but will they be happy? Maybe they have a 7' minumun height requirement and they will go on egg strike if I don't give them what they want? I do have a table saw, so ripping them won't be an issue. I was thinking of halving them, they are 6" wide (I think?) do that'll make around a 3.5" x 3.5" x 6' post. I was also wondering about making a hoop for the top so I can get some added height for biggerins (and so the chickens won't strike). Is that just PVC, wire, and a tarp?

You've got answers!

 

[ChickAudie]

I should add that the half of the yard that's dedicated to the chickens has a bunch of trees on that side, so no clearings, not too worried about fly-y things.