Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Lutefisk]

I mixed up some home made chick starter-
3p soft white wheat
3p hard red winter wheat
1p hulled barley
1p oat groats
2p sunflower seeds
1/2p peanuts
1p wheat bran
1p split peas
1p lentils
1p quinoa
1p sesame seeds
1/2p kelp
1/2p millet
I have been lacto-fermenting that and chick starter, so they are getting those with yoghurt and also ACV in the water. I have lentils sprouting also. I am having a hard time finding info on weather I need to use chick starter or if the whole grain feed mix is enough. Any thoughts?

I only raise 5-6 chicks at a time so a premix is a better use of my time. My first batch got drugged feed, the second had organic non drugged, and vinegar in their water to prevent coccidiosis. After 8 weeks they are free range 24/7 so I don't feel the need to micro-manage their nutrition.

 

[robj]

$50.00 per dozen, usually couple of extras

$75.00 for 18. if I ship, shipping is 16 as I use a large priority box instead of a medium, they are a buck more to ship

I have some eggs cookin and need to grow some out but I'm very interested for later in the summer. I'll PM you when I'm closer to being ready. I need to improve my Orp's for sure!!

 

[robj]

It depends on your breeding goals. Are you breeding to sell pets or are you breeding to improve to show/breeding standards. If pets, then have them all together, you will get some pretty cool colors. But if breeding for Standards, don't use the White boy. And also breeding non-bearded to bearded will give you thin beards, you would have to breed back to the bearded to improve those qualities. Honestly you have great potential for breeding pet quality birds. You will get the cool colors and you will be able to provide many birds to those who cannot afford show birds and yours will be MUCH better than hatchery quality. Don't read this the wrong way, I am not trying to be harsh, just honest. There are too many dishonest breeders out there giving bad advice just to make a buck.

Nicely said Travis!!

 

[pebcrb]

I only raise 5-6 chicks at a time so a premix is a better use of my time. My first batch got drugged feed, the second had organic non drugged, and vinegar in their water to prevent coccidiosis. After 8 weeks they are free range 24/7 so I don't feel the need to micro-manage their nutrition.

Thanks for the advise! I am new to chickens and I wanna do it "right". I only have 4 chicks of mixed ages, they are free to go outside in an enclosed area during the day.

 

[Duck Drover]

It depends on your breeding goals. Are you breeding to sell pets or are you breeding to improve to show/breeding standards. If pets, then have them all together, you will get some pretty cool colors. But if breeding for Standards, don't use the White boy. And also breeding non-bearded to bearded will give you thin beards, you would have to breed back to the bearded to improve those qualities. Honestly you have great potential for breeding pet quality birds. You will get the cool colors and you will be able to provide many birds to those who cannot afford show birds and yours will be MUCH better than hatchery quality. Don't read this the wrong way, I am not trying to be harsh, just honest. There are too many dishonest breeders out there giving bad advice just to make a buck.

I think I found a home for the white rooster where he will be a pet and have his own hen. All of these birds are really sweet and I am hoping the crest feathers come back in on the newer birds. One of the buff hens is smaller than the others but I will wait and see how they do before I cull anymore. They are getting along with each other so I don't need to seperate them if keeping them together will produce some interesting colors but in the future I could separate the blue, black, and splash with the blue rooster and the two buffs and the partridge with the red colored rooster if his color is desirable. I am not sure about the white hen, maybe with the blue rooster? I guess I will need to wait for eggs to see what I will get. I don't plan on showing chickens but I do want good quality if I am going to hatch the eggs. I am still looking for inexpensive hatching eggs but it will be nice to have my own supply.

 

[RedReiner]

$50.00 per dozen, usually couple of extras $75.00 for 18. if I ship, shipping is 16 as I use a large priority box instead of a medium, they are a buck more to ship

I have some eggs cookin and need to grow some out but I'm very interested for later in the summer. I'll PM you when I'm closer to being ready. I need to improve my Orp's for sure!!

no problem! they will still be laying I have chicks on occasion too, waiting on some really nice eggs to arrive so I can hatch a bunch more for growing out, just catch me here or there and I will fix ya right up

 

[RedReiner]

$50.00 per dozen, usually couple of extras $75.00 for 18. if I ship, shipping is 16 as I use a large priority box instead of a medium, they are a buck more to ship

I have some eggs cookin and need to grow some out but I'm very interested for later in the summer. I'll PM you when I'm closer to being ready. I need to improve my Orp's for sure!!

no problem! they will still be laying I have chicks on occasion too, waiting on some really nice eggs to arrive so I can hatch a bunch more for growing out, just catch me here or there and I will fix ya right up

 

[Paradox]

Hi WA chicken people.

I'm just getting started with my chicken adventure. I'm hoping to be ready to get some pullets by Monday, maybe Wednesday at the latest. Working hard on getting the coop and run "just right". I have been looking around and I was wondering if folks can point me to a good source for them or some sort of info describing the possible sources? Looking for egg making breeds as opposed to meat. I'll probably want to get 5-8. I'm in North Seattle area but I can travel. Hopefully someone can help take the mystery out of sourcing some neat birds for me?

Thanks!

 

[robj]

no problem! they will still be laying

I have chicks on occasion too, waiting on some really nice eggs to arrive so I can hatch a bunch more for growing out, just catch me here or there and I will fix ya right up

Sounds good! Thank You

 

[Imp]

Hi WA chicken people.

I'm just getting started with my chicken adventure. I'm hoping to be ready to get some pullets by Monday, maybe Wednesday at the latest. Working hard on getting the coop and run "just right". I have been looking around and I was wondering if folks can point me to a good source for them or some sort of info describing the possible sources? Looking for egg making breeds as opposed to meat. I'll probably want to get 5-8. I'm in North Seattle area but I can travel. Hopefully someone can help take the mystery out of sourcing some neat birds for me?

Thanks!

There are several members that breeds and sell in the north Seattle area. Rainwolf for one. She's not often on BYC anymore, but I'll send her a message.

Russ