Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Stumpfarmer]

Plants: two kinds of mints, because the chickens love mint, and a four pack of my favorite violas, Tiger Eyes.

I love to garden too, but I did not know chickens love mint - I thought they avoided mint and other strong scented herbs (rosemary, lavender, etc). I read it somewhere, I don't have the experience. I love mint and would love to plant some for my girls too - what time of mint do yours like? I currently grow peppermint and chocolate mint and spearmint (for ice cream and mojitos) would any of these work for the chickens? -Gina

They like Apple Mint and Spearmint best, and also Lemon Balm. They like all Labateae best when they're loaded with green seed, but prefer soft-leafed kinds for greens.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: Are ya seeing Carpenter?? He is who fused my back.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

I can go weekday evenings or on weekends =)

Please let me know what you decide as I may intervene

Will do! =) Let me know what you have in mind!

PS - for anyone that doesn't follow Sudsy Chicks Facebook or Twitter - there is a 10% off Happy Friday sale today only! Just search Sudsy Chick on Facebook (sorry cannot post a link per mods.)

How are the eggs "more nutritious" ?   I do not believe that the nutrition varies from breed to breed. 

Also - and I'm being quite picky - there is no such type of bird as a "Americauna". 

Exactly.
If one speaks of exact science, one needs to be exact, right ?
And the name is Ameraucana, and this breed ONLY LAYS BLUE EGGS.
PERIOD.
Not pink, not purple, not brown.

Ha!  I want purple eggs! (I have pink eggs - our Easter Egger Foxglove lays them. Hatched her from eggs given to me by Kanake - wonder what she is up to?)

Even with my "blue" laying Easter Eggers, the eggs change shades...a little more green sometimes when placed next to our true Ameraucana eggs which are always a brilliant blue.

If any chicken has access to the outside and grass and bugs and good food and water, they will lay much tastier and healthier eggs per studies, including this one: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-10-01/Tests-Reveal-Healthier-Eggs.aspx#axzz2QJ4msMPE

Your EEs and mine are siblings, then- Tertia, Quinta and Ginjur are from Kanake eggs. Wish I knew what she was up to.

 

[cieraphoto]

Anyone selling any LF or Bantam Cochins at the Vancouver show? I'm looking for a few different varieties to add to my flock and to create some trios.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: And hopefully there are enough of us skimming that NO QUESTION SHOULD GO UN-ANSWERED!!

 

[mikeyb]

Wow, not a good day at all. Seemed to spin my wheels and did not accomplish much. Did a lot of running around, did manage to get a yard of topsoil for the strawberry box (plants coming tomorrow).
Brooder nearly done, will be done by tomorrow eve.

To ALL the new peeps;

WELCOME TO THIS CRAZY FORUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK QUESTIONS, THIS FORUM HAS MUCH INFO AND WISDOM.

 

[Sudsy Chick]

Quote:
Aw, darn! But HH and I were talking, we should do this at least once a month anyway =)

Your EEs and mine are siblings, then- Tertia, Guinta and Ginjur are from Kanake eggs. Wish I knew what she was up to.

Hopefully soaking up the aloha and enjoying her wild chickens!

My Foxglove got much larger than all my other EEs, she's white & black and lays an egg the same size as our Jersey Giant! Good girl!

 

[RainMom]

I will really try to remember this, we needed it tonight. They were soothed by a lot of singing and stories but this would have been very helpful. I need to pick up a big container of epsom salt...for me too

At least I used a Gluten Free cake mix. Not thrilled with Betty Crocker as I know they use a TON of GMO stuff, but I'm thankful I didn't have to put in a ton of work to make the cakes today. I need to get myself a really good gluten free baking cookbook, for stuff people actually make all the time like birthday cakes and cookies and muffins and stuff. I'm sick of mixes. The frosting was loaded with food coloring and I know I shouldn't have stuffed the kids with that junk but when a little boy asks for red frosting...well, you know the drill.

unsure if you kow, but there's "organic" food dyes on the market. The red is made from red currant I think. I've run out before, and used beet juice- works like a charm- just grate raw beets, set in small strainer and collect juice - only takes a little and you never taste the beets. Another way to get red/pink is to use the freeze-dried strawberries, and toss them in a blender or food processor- whirl them up and the concentrated dried powder makes a delicious and gorgeous frosting color.

Green is easy- either spinach juice or powdered chlorella. Spinach is more grass green, chlorella is a darker green.

I made some homeamde candy canes with my son and his friends awhile back using those natural home-made colors. They were not quite as brilliant because I used brown rice syrup (which is tan colored) for the base of the candy canes instead of karo corn syrup or white sugar, but imagine what these colors might look like if not added to brown-colored candy canes:

 

[Chicken Rustler]

How the heck did dat happen???

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Ended up going grocery shopping at 8pm and eating dinner at 9; not something I'm thrilled with since I have to check pregnant cows and feed everything before 2pm tomorrow, so I can go do the other half of the weekend's serious shopping.

Nine eggs today, Quinta the EE and Sarah the wrong-combed SSH skipped. I've got 16 fertile SSH eggs under ten days old, and they should be incubating, except for the whole "no incubator" problem. Should buy one some day I hit the lotto, I suppose.