Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Chickielady]

Much the opposite really. The longer I've been in birds (going into my 20th year now) the more I realize the importance of having strong healthy genetics in a flock. I do agree that proper management practices are a tremendous benefit that one gains with experience (The best way to control disease other than breeding genetic weakness out of your flock? DRY living conditions). Plus, the added benefit of not medicating or vaccinating is you aren't putting that junk in your body when you eat meat or eggs from those birds. Same way it's far better to use natural methods to control parasites so you aren't using a chemical, I've actually known people to use frontline on their birds to keep them free from parasites, that toxic stuff ain't safe for dogs and it darn sure ain't safe for our birds, especially if we're eating their eggs or meat. Best way I've found, is with adult birds use cedar shavings (they aren't good if eaten, but an adult bird isn't going to accidentally eat shavings), use PVC for perches so bugs can't live in the wooden perch, and I'll make or buy a citronella and other essential oil spray that I use for flea control on dogs as well. Haven't had mites or lice for over 10 years on any bird I've owned, my new coops will follow these practices as well as having a dust bath area with DE mixed in with sand, a great idea I saw on here). I did have worms once in about 5 years ago that came with some birds imported from the midwest, but mixing diatomaceous earth in with the feed for a month or so took care of that problem (always used it for horse and cat and dog intestinal worms too)

The longer I live, the longer I raise poultry, the more I realize the old timers were right and did it the right way. Old school chicken medicine kit? A hatchet. I wish I had the strength to do that immediately, but alas I normally isolate, give some extra vitamin supplements and sometimes they surprise me by pulling out of it, which is great because that's a stronger bird.

Do you seriously read what you have written and think YOU ARE NOT LEARNING ??????????????????

Sounds to me like you are learning very well !

 

[BGMatt]

I don't use coccistat (well I suppose apple cider vinegar is supposed to do that naturally so if that counts, I guess I totally agree) and my wormer is not a chemical because I don't believe in that stuff, but I suppose I agree in general principle. No sulfradrug, no tetracycline in any form, no vaccines, no chemical wormer, and just to cover my bases no antibiotic of any sort.

Edit: No I agree I'm still learning as I go. But what I learn is that the natural old ways are best. I guess I misread what you meant before. I won't ever "learn" to be the one that medicated at the drop of a hat, or gives my chickens names and treats them as pets, or coddles them. My apologies for misunderstanding.

Edit 2: As a matter of fact we're all learning. The day you stop learning is the day you die. didn't some philosopher say something about that?

 

[bikerchicky]

Howdy all,

I have it set to pick up my poultry fence for my trampoline, and galvanized poultry fence for the roof of the pen tonight. Now to get the hubby to work with me tomorrow morning to get things ready for the girls moved in. I found DE, food grade, at the country store for $29.99 for 50 pounds to mix in the sand in my pen. I found mason sand (read on here it is a finer sand that the chickens will use as a bath and is easier to clean then pea gravel) at a local red-i-mix location for $25.00 per cubic yard. I'm going to split a yard with my GF, so that will be done next week.

My girls are getting feisty and are ready to play outside. They love their grass when I give it to them each day. I am definately using less feed by wetting it. Twice a day I sit with them and let them out of the crate to move around and stretch their wings. They are now trying to fly from the floor to the counter with the sink in it. They are only missing the landing by about 2" so I would love to get them out to the pen so they can move around more.

What size of PVC pipe is best for the roost? What is the best way to rough it up to allow them to grip it without hurting the skin on their feet? What is the best way to secure it if I have plywood on the inside of the pen to act as a wind guard for them? You can see below a side section of the pen with the plywood on the inside. The side towards the house is without plywood so I can watch them, and be entertained as well as make sure there isn't something in there that shouldn't be there.

Am I missing anything, other than the feeder and waterer for the pen? I've seen many people mention the nipple water system and how easy it is. Would this be worth the investment since this pen is quite a ways from the house and a hose attachment isn't possible at this time?

I'm so excited to get them going in the pen and tractor.

 

[BGMatt]

bikerchicky sounds like a fun exciting time for you and your birds! As far as what size PVC for perches, I used whatever I could find cheap but 1 1/2" diameter was good enough for everything except my biggest breeds then I'd go 2" to stop it from bowing in the middle. Brackets for closet rods work pretty decent for attaching it, you could also run rope or chain through it and hang it from roof which I did many times. You don't need to rough up the surface. Just makes it get dirty.

 

[bikerchicky]

I don't use coccistat (well I suppose apple cider vinegar is supposed to do that naturally so if that counts, I guess I totally agree) and my wormer is not a chemical because I don't believe in that stuff, but I suppose I agree in general principle. No sulfradrug, no tetracycline in any form, no vaccines, no chemical wormer, and just to cover my bases no antibiotic of any sort.

Edit: No I agree I'm still learning as I go. But what I learn is that the natural old ways are best. I guess I misread what you meant before. I won't ever "learn" to be the one that medicated at the drop of a hat, or gives my chickens names and treats them as pets, or coddles them. My apologies for misunderstanding.

Edit 2: As a matter of fact we're all learning. The day you stop learning is the day you die. didn't some philosopher say something about that?

While I name my girls, I also recognize that I am responsible for thier health, just like my cats. I don't put them on a pedestal, nor do I give medication just because. My girls are for egg production. They WON'T be a pet in the house, but they will be a pet as in given a great life.

 

[bikerchicky]

bikerchicky sounds like a fun exciting time for you and your birds! As far as what size PVC for perches, I used whatever I could find cheap but 1 1/2" diameter was good enough for everything except my biggest breeds then I'd go 2" to stop it from bowing in the middle. Brackets for closet rods work pretty decent for attaching it, you could also run rope or chain through it and hang it from roof which I did many times. You don't need to rough up the surface. Just makes it get dirty.

I've seen comments that people have roughed up the pipe so the birds feet don't slip. Has that not been a problem with a smooth pipe?

 

[KMoran]

Stopping in to say hi

. My newborn is getting her first teeth so its been a tough week.... I just wanted to update everyone.. today is day 20 on lock down for the bator so far nada...

Not a peep or anything so we will see... I switched my chicks and poults to wet food and let me tell ya LIFE CHANGING!!! Thanks all for your suggestions. I learn so much here and I am so very thankful. Also I have seen all 3 of my poults eating and drinking

. Not saying they will all live but at least they are less likely to starve out.

 

[BGMatt]

Not for me. I originally heard about the idea from some old english game breeders who used swinging PVC perches because it helped develop better chest muscle and higher wing carriage as with the swinging version they use their wing and chest muscles to keep balance. When you first make the switch for the first couple times you might have a few slide off because they're not used to it but after that they should settle right in.

Edit: clarification

 

[nikki1]

If I where you I would record with video camera some of the times when noise is loud next door so that if they complain you have some proof they are noisier than you. Do it before you get the chickens.

Humph. Neighbors. Ours aren't bad as neighbors go, but I don't lose a lot of sleep over what they think. I stay within the law, and I try to be a good neighbor (keep noise down, keep the place looking respectable, etc.), but if they want to be offended, that's their business. On the other hand, I'm not going to go out of my way to be offended by them, either. Yeah, their weimeraners bark sometimes, and their elderly dog regularly poops in our front yard, and their kid is sometimes loud, but since my dog also barks, and I have 2 loud kids (my dog DOES NOT poop in their yard, however! WE have a fenced backyard.), I won't throw bricks in my glass house.

Bottom line...obey the law, be nice, and then let them feel the way they want to.

 

[nikki1]

Stopping in to say hi

. My newborn is getting her first teeth so its been a tough week.... I just wanted to update everyone.. today is day 20 on lock down for the bator so far nada...

Not a peep or anything so we will see... I switched my chicks and poults to wet food and let me tell ya LIFE CHANGING!!! Thanks all for your suggestions. I learn so much here and I am so very thankful. Also I have seen all 3 of my poults eating and drinking

. Not saying they will all live but at least they are less likely to starve out.

Aaah...teething! I loved my kids' babyhood, but teething was a bear. Be grateful chicks have no teeth!