Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

I have had some weird issues with a woman in Auburn I bought chickens from and I am wondering if anyone else has dealt with this woman. She lives on Academy past the casino. I bought a pair of Australian Spotted ducks from her last year and she had said they were from Holderreads. Later she said they were from someone I got hens from but the drake was unrelated enough so I figured there was no harm done. A few months ago I bought over a dozen fertile hatching Silkie eggs from her and when I picked them up I thought some looked a bit large and rounder than Silkie eggs but she said they came from her Silkies. She later realized they were from her RIR pullets that had just started laying. They were all infertile and so were the Silkie eggs. The only fertile egg was a Sizzle she put in the carton and charged me for so I sold the chick since I had not gone there looking for a Sizzle. She owed me 11 eggs but only had 8 when I went to pick up replacements. Only one was fertile and it did not hatch because its brain was completely outside of its skull (not just vaulted, the mass was huge and bulging to one side). When I went to get replacements the third time she tried to charge me for them and there were only 8 again, four Silkie and four Sizzle. Only a few are fertile and I don't know if any will hatch but I am done driving to Auburn and wasting my time and gas.

I have been wanting splash Silkies so I was looking for a splash rooster (I bought eggs from this woman because she has a splash rooster but I have yet to get any Silkie chicks from him). This woman had a second splash rooster with two Frizzles (the parents to the Sizzle I hatched) and she offered to sell me the trio for $35. I did not have the money at the time and I told her I needed to talk to my husband first. When I had my hhusband go with me to see them she claims I had agreed to buy them and changed my mind but I had told her I wanted them but I had to check with my husband. Anyway, I gave her a deposit because I did not have enough money to get them that day. I told her we would be getting a check on Wednesday and then we could pay the remaining $10 and pick them up. I went over on Thursday and then she told me that because I did not get them the day before she had put one of the hens on a nest of eggs and I would have to return for her in 21 days, although I still had to pay for her.

After talking with a friend and with my husband I realized I never should have trusted this woman because she only cares about getting what she wants while I am too much of a peacekeeper to stand up for myself. I called the woman today and told her that it was unfair for her to keep my hen to hatch eggs for her when I expected her to be laying eggs to hatch in the incubator. It could be awhile before I get anything from her now. I was not even sure I wanted to keep the hens and considered selling them and just keeping the rooster. I paid for the chickens so they are mine but this woman told me that taking my hen home was not an option (I even offered to incubate her eggs for free) and then she hung up on me.

This is not the first time she has been rude to me. When I had to call her because the eggs I bought were not fertile, she interrupted me while I was stating the problem to tell me I was talking too much and not giving her a chance to explain. Today when I was telling her it is not fair for her to keep my hen she again told me I was talking too much and not letting her talk. She did not even let me finish before she interrupted me to tell me that taking my hen was "not an option" because I was a day late picking her up and she was not going to take her off the nest. I did not say I was picking up the chickens on Wednesday, I told her that is when we were getting a check to deposit in the bank. Hens don't sit in a day and she should not have expected to be able to keep a hen I already made a deposit on anyway. Her attitude is "screw you, I am the only one who matters" when I have tried my best to be friendly and even listen to her spout off incorrect information as if she was an authority. I have never challenged her thinking even though she claims she has a brain injury and does not experience emotion.

I am certainly not buying anything from this woman again and at this point I am not even sure I will get what I paid her for already because she has a selective memory that does not reflect reality. I should not have trusted her to complete a business deal fairly but I had no idea she would blame me for the hen sitting on eggs she put under her (she actually moved her from the coop she was in to a different coop in the field where she keeps her chickens) when I picked them up as agreed (a day late, according to her). She tried to sell me some crappy looking coops at an inflated price when she knows I am struggling financially with my husband out of work (he just started a job on Wednesday so we could not even pick up his unemployment check until after the bank was closed) and after she took my money and kept my hen she tried to sell me some crates she no longer needs. She has lost me as a future customer no matter how much I would like something she has (I had talked to her about getting some Call ducks in the future once I know what ducklings I am keeping) and I would not recommend her to anyone I know based on how unfairly she has treated me.

Am I just stupid or ignorant to think I should be able to take home a hen I paid for and have her lay eggs I can hatch instead of buying her and letting this woman use her as an incubator the next 21 days? What do I do if I show up for her and this woman conveniently forgets she belongs to me? If I had not already paid $25 of the $35 for the trio I would have walked away and found a rooster somewhere else. The fact that he is not related to the father of the Silkies I hope to hatch (if I ever get anything from the few fertile eggs I got from her) will allow me to keep hens and use him with all my current and future hens until I have to rotate him out of my breeding program. It just amazes me that someone would give up their reputation and future sales over a hen that is no longer hers. Am I right in being upset about being taken advantage of in this situation or am I overreacting by not wanting anything to do with this woman again?
 
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I am having another issue with some drakes I bought, intending to use them for breeding next year. They are supposed to be purebred Australian Spotted drakes but they are full size ducks, not bantam ducks. Of course I could not tell when they were ducklings. When I got them I was told they came from eggs this woman had bought from someone in Massachussets. Now she says they came from a local woman whose flock I have seen so I know that can't be true. I at first assumed the woman made an honest mistake but now I think that based on her replies (in text messages) it is more likely she is either confused or not being honest with me. I don't know if these drakes are Australian Spotted crosses (this woman does have an Australian Spotted drake she bred with Indian Runners and later I saw a listing for "trout" colored Indian Runners so I wondered if they could have been the crossbred ducks) or if they are an entirely different breed. I want to sell them but I obviously can't sell them for breeding purposes when I can't even identify their breed. I have no idea what I should call them other than drakes. Does anyone have an idea what these drakes might be? They have coloring similar to an Australian Spotted duck so I am inclined to think they are a cross, possibly with Khaki Campbell based on the head color compared to pictures I saw online. A friend suggested I butcher them and I used to butcher Muscovy drakes but it does not seem worth the effort, not to mention that it would upset my daughter since these were raised as pet ducks and not as meat ducks.

Here is a picture I took of one of them with an Australian Spotted drake that is the same age (all are vent sexed drakes in eclipse phase). You can see how much bigger they are and how their head color is wrong. They have gray bills and no white neck ring. Their stance and body shape are also different (consider the fact that the Australian Spotted drake in front looks larger in comparison because he is in the foreground while the drake in the background appears smaller).
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Here is a picture I found online that looks like them.
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I'mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm BACK!!!!

Holy Moley Batman, whatta trip!
Me and #1 son limited out on the fishing trip.
Was a 1st for me being out on the Pacific. 28 miles out, sun finally burned off the haze and it was a beautiful day out of Westport, Wa.
Crossing the "bar" was an experience. 14 fishers on the boat (mostly one family) and everyone was great and got along very well, share food, drinks and commiserated with the ones that got sick.
Yes, I got sea sick, never have I ever done that, but it happened.
bow.gif
It was an experience. (I'll never, ever tease another bout it again. I promise) maybe.

10 sea bass for each of us (about 4lb avg) for a total of 20 fish which were fileted so I now have 40 filets, yumm,yumm.
My big concern was that I could take the physical stress. Turned out it was a piece of cake except for my hands but the cramps that began to occur in my hands when we got back finally eased up in the evening.

My gals blessed me with 12 extra large eggs while I was gone. whoot

No, I'm not going back, just going to cross it off my bucket list.
PS; it's a lot cheaper to buy fresh fish then do this. It's not just for the fish though, it's for the experience and meeting new people on very common ground (hmm, sea)

Hey Mikey, Welcome back. Glad to hear your trip was a roaring success! I'm glad the physical stress wasn't an issue, makes the trip a whole lot more fun. Sorry about the sea sickness though, if you go out again, try the patch behind the ear, it works great. I just realized I've never tasted sea bass, is it a light fish or more like salmon?


Hi there. I'm looking for some friendly egg layers. Hopefully a couple different breeds and different colored eggs. My run will be ready in September (gotta wait for my military husband to be home long enough to finish it) and they'll need to get along somewhat with my exotic duck as the ducks will occasionally join then in the run. So I'm looking for advice, recommendations, and people in wa (I'm on Whidbey Island, but I'll drive a good distance to pick up the right chickens) looking to sell. I'm looking for females only to start.

Lyn A. near Gig Harbor has great birds. I have her Ameraucanas and they're super gentle which often is not the case with AMs, and hers lay a very pretty blue (not green) egg. PM me if you'd like contact info. Her name here on BYC is Cowgirlgrace, but she's not online often.

Yes indeed, my little Dorking crowed!

It was pretty feeble though. The first one I thought was some strange bird, but when I went outside and heard it again, I was sure. I know he'll do better as he practices, but it really is funny to hear him now. He has two others with him, one is a girl and one I'm not sure about yet.

The rest are just two weeks old today and tomorrow. Wow are they growing. Some have tails already, and one Marans has the strangest markings. It looks like barring to me, but I didn't think CL had any cuckoos?!?!? There are 14 so I'm hoping to have an even split of pullets to cockerels. Just got to be patient; and the coffee doesn't help
caf.gif

I think that's so entertaining to see/hear. I get a kick out of Serama roosters trying to crow at shows, I'm imagining it's similar. Growing up babies is so fun to watch.... Enjoy!

My EE found a new home yesterday, she'll now have mega space to free range and lots of new friends. I think she's going to be in chickie heaven without the help of a blade!

Now I'm off to get some of the fresh coffee that just finished brewing.... ummm.... before the darling grandkids wake up. We're sewing and baking today, and they have SO much more energy than I do. LoL
 
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I am having another issue with some drakes I bought, intending to use them for breeding next year. They are supposed to be purebred Australian Spotted drakes but they are full size ducks, not bantam ducks. Of course I could not tell when they were ducklings. When I got them I was told they came from eggs this woman had bought from someone in Massachussets. Now she says they came from a local woman whose flock I have seen so I know that can't be true. I at first assumed the woman made an honest mistake but now I think that based on her replies (in text messages) it is more likely she is either confused or not being honest with me. I don't know if these drakes are Australian Spotted crosses (this woman does have an Australian Spotted drake she bred with Indian Runners and later I saw a listing for "trout" colored Indian Runners so I wondered if they could have been the crossbred ducks) or if they are an entirely different breed. I want to sell them but I obviously can't sell them for breeding purposes when I can't even identify their breed. I have no idea what I should call them other than drakes. Does anyone have an idea what these drakes might be? They have coloring similar to an Australian Spotted duck so I am inclined to think they are a cross, possibly with Khaki Campbell based on the head color compared to pictures I saw online. A friend suggested I butcher them and I used to butcher Muscovy drakes but it does not seem worth the effort, not to mention that it would upset my daughter since these were raised as pet ducks and not as meat ducks.

Here is a picture I took of one of them with an Australian Spotted drake that is the same age (all are vent sexed drakes in eclipse phase). You can see how much bigger they are and how their head color is wrong. They have gray bills and no white neck ring. Their stance and body shape are also different (consider the fact that the Australian Spotted drake in front looks larger in comparison because he is in the foreground while the drake in the background appears smaller).


Here is a picture I found online that looks like them.
looks like a mix to me....was her name "Sandra"?
 
I really need some help guys. I have no idea what to do. I have lost nearly all my hatchlings from some kind of illness. I have lost 10 this past week. This is the second time I have incubated my polish frizzle and have had them died. The first hatching they were doing good until I bough some chicks from a lady in hoodsport. All but the older ones I gotten from her that were already outside had died. Then I lost nearly all my first hatch except for about three. I had more eggs from another friend in my bator. I was told it was cocci and that her chicks prob had something or it and infected them all. After the second hatch we had bought a brand new plastic brooder and put them in. My husband took the old wooden one out and bleached everything. Their new brooder, food dishes and everything. Vacumed the carpet and we shampooed it with our Kirby. By all means we should have killed whatever. We keep the babies in our house int he spare room. We also put corid into their water to treat for cocci. The first group did have some blood in their stool so that's what we thought this was. They would get lethargic, slow down, eyes closed and then would just die.
My second group I wanted to prevent this. Only my babies are dying. My older ones outside are fine. I have a few chickens that are laying but I am only getting one to two eggs a day. One I normaly don't keep cause the shell is brittle. I have also been adding shell into their feed to help that. I know a sign in older birds is a drop in eggs, but it has been very hot so I am at a loss. This is our first year with chickens and I am so close to just wanting to give up and not do this anymore. It's sucking our money away and everyone I have talked to is flabbergasted at what this could be. I am already tied to picking up some chickens next week, but at last they are older. Some will not be going into the main herd, but to a separate coop I have built. Anyway, now with this second group its happening again. I have only a couple babies left. I am crying and don't know what to do. I know they are only chickens but I am really regretting doing this. Its the same symptoms with this one. Just I see a little runny poo, they get lethargic, lay down and die. and they would be healthy and running around earlier. Eating and drinking. It's not worms, or anything that I was told by other friends. No other animal gets into the room. We turned the heat lamp off thinking it was being too hot in there. Its a saunas is during the day. I wasn't loosing chicks until after I got those ones from the lady in hoodsport. The eggs I get from my friend, her birds are all healthy and she hasn't lost any like I am. We have the chicks on chick starter. Medicated feed now. The first were not on it s we were told to try medicated starter. I also put a little chick grit in their feed. We stopped treating with corid sense its not helping. Have apple cider vin in their water as well. I have eggs again in my bator that I just put in and a friend hatching me some more. I don't want to cull all the birds we have just in case its whatever. We can't afford that.
 
I really need some help guys. I have no idea what to do. I have lost nearly all my hatchlings from some kind of illness. I have lost 10 this past week. This is the second time I have incubated my polish frizzle and have had them died. The first hatching they were doing good until I bough some chicks from a lady in hoodsport. All but the older ones I gotten from her that were already outside had died. Then I lost nearly all my first hatch except for about three. I had more eggs from another friend in my bator. I was told it was cocci and that her chicks prob had something or it and infected them all. After the second hatch we had bought a brand new plastic brooder and put them in. My husband took the old wooden one out and bleached everything. Their new brooder, food dishes and everything. Vacumed the carpet and we shampooed it with our Kirby. By all means we should have killed whatever. We keep the babies in our house int he spare room. We also put corid into their water to treat for cocci. The first group did have some blood in their stool so that's what we thought this was. They would get lethargic, slow down, eyes closed and then would just die.
My second group I wanted to prevent this. Only my babies are dying. My older ones outside are fine. I have a few chickens that are laying but I am only getting one to two eggs a day. One I normaly don't keep cause the shell is brittle. I have also been adding shell into their feed to help that. I know a sign in older birds is a drop in eggs, but it has been very hot so I am at a loss. This is our first year with chickens and I am so close to just wanting to give up and not do this anymore. It's sucking our money away and everyone I have talked to is flabbergasted at what this could be. I am already tied to picking up some chickens next week, but at last they are older. Some will not be going into the main herd, but to a separate coop I have built. Anyway, now with this second group its happening again. I have only a couple babies left. I am crying and don't know what to do. I know they are only chickens but I am really regretting doing this. Its the same symptoms with this one. Just I see a little runny poo, they get lethargic, lay down and die. and they would be healthy and running around earlier. Eating and drinking. It's not worms, or anything that I was told by other friends. No other animal gets into the room. We turned the heat lamp off thinking it was being too hot in there. Its a saunas is during the day. I wasn't loosing chicks until after I got those ones from the lady in hoodsport. The eggs I get from my friend, her birds are all healthy and she hasn't lost any like I am. We have the chicks on chick starter. Medicated feed now. The first were not on it s we were told to try medicated starter. I also put a little chick grit in their feed. We stopped treating with corid sense its not helping. Have apple cider vin in their water as well. I have eggs again in my bator that I just put in and a friend hatching me some more. I don't want to cull all the birds we have just in case its whatever. We can't afford that.
I have read that bleach doesn't kill cocci- ammonia does.

Here:http://www.bing.com/search?setmkt=en-US&q=bleach+cocci+ammonia
this is just a bing search result with other people saying it too

Now, as far as the Corid not successfully treating coccidiosis, how much did you give - was it the liquid or powder- and for how many days?
 
So, I've made no bones about being a show poultry guy (however one that values production very highly), but admittedly that sometimes puts me out of touch with the more local, mostly backyard/homesteading/pet chicken crowd...my question is, what breeds and varieties do y'all think are the most in demand when you remove the showroom from the equation? Why do you think that?

(No agenda here just hoping for some honest discussion, I have a lot of time to think lately with surgery recovery making it impossible to work normally.)
 
I don't know if I can post this here. But I am putting my 5 light brahmas up for sale. I have 5 of them. They are about 15 wks. If anyone is interested let me know I'm in Kitsap county. 1 roo * I think * and 4 hens
 

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