Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Bleenie]

So the family all went to Ocean shores this past weekend for clam digging, weather was crazy the first day but we all did well. Second day the weather was nice but the waves tried to swallow up a bunch of people(actually had to save an older lady from getting pulled back out after she got knocked into the water by a big sudden wave), clams weren't showing at all so we didn't do very well .

Haven't felt great since the weekend , BUT, I had a lovely little chick hatch on Easter and then two more today, all are babies from the rooster I lost to the bobcat not long ago. I'm really hoping for at least one pullet from him . 2 blacks 1 blue.

 

[CarolynF]

You do know they will have a juvenile molt and then molt again at about 1 year of age.

Their bodies get bigger & there just is not enough feathers to cover it all...LOL

None of mine are molting now.
New babies hatched in the spring will molt between September & October and the adults for some reason decide to have their molt as soon as it is really cold, like November-December.
poor chooks run around half bald in 20 degree weather.
And they do it year after year after year !
You may want to check your birds for mites, they may be pulling feathers to get at mites as the mites BITE.

CL, thanks for reposting this reminder. Someday I'm actually going to write it down in a place I can find it again! (yeah right). My girls seem to ignore the rules for the most part. They either don't molt when they're "supposed to", or they're overzealous and do it twice just to make sure. And now I have a Swedish Flower Hen that seems to be totally undecided. When she hit a year, her egg quality dropped, frequency dropped, and a few feathers dropped. She also forgot where the nest box was about a third of the time. It's been about a month now and she seems to be getting back into the swing again --- but watch she'll make a liar out of me now. Always entertaining!!!

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
I noticed that, too. If they don't know the difference what else might they be missing? But then again, it's a widely spread misunderstanding. I'd want to ask more questions before assuming too much about them. They seem well intentioned which is at least a good starting point.

 

[Totalcolour]

I noticed that, too. If they don't know the difference what else might they be missing? But then again, it's a widely spread misunderstanding. I'd want to ask more questions before assuming too much about them. They seem well intentioned which is at least a good starting point.

Well, they say "The road to hell is paved with good intentions..."

 

[NanaHess]

Hi. I am new to chickens. So new that I don't have any yet. We are almost done with the coop and run. I want to start with girls that are almost ready to lay, rather than chicks. What is the most common way to find that age range? I would prefer to buy locally rather than from an online hatchery. Any recommendations in the Rochester area? I lean towards Orpingtons, Barred Rock, Easter Eggers, Australorp, maybe Welsummer. Just going to use for eggs and entertainment.

I have a couple that you might be interested...since I am new to hatching & can't seem to stop I am having way too many cute babies growing up and need to make more room in the big girl coop within the next month. My original flock of 14 birds are all either just over or just under a year old, I am looking to rehome about half of them as well as remodel and make more room.
Some are already waiting on new homes, but I do have 2 Barred Rocks & an Australorp that I can start you out with. Also an Olive Egger that I am not sure has laid yet or not since she is one of my youngest. She is from a Rhodebar & has that look. My smaller Barred Rock was my 1st layer ever, I have a soft spot for her but I am super attached to all my egglet babies
We are headed through Olympia on our way to Hood Canal on the 1st or 2nd if you are interested & want to meet up on our way there?

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
TC... you smarty pants!

 

[Chickielady]

LOL its been along time since I tried to double post. Not sure what happened

CL so are you living in the house now? I put chicks under this same hen last Sept. after 20 days of sitting on wood eggs and she took right to them. was just wondering if 9 days are too early ??? if she can count I might be in trouble

I tried to break her three times but no luck. I put her in a separate coop and when I would let her out she would just run around the barn and into the nest boxes again.

HA HA HA Sweetie Heart, just give it a try & see, but be prepared as I said, to brood them yourself if she hates them....she may be able to count, it is awfully early !

YES we are IN the house !!!
Soon as the weather is NICE & T-Hi is better, we'll have her do dj here & a bar be cue...carne esada ?
Shellfish ?
Ribs ?
Both ?

 

[Chickielady]

TC... you smarty pants!

Actually, around here the road to hell is paved with OSB ! ! !

 

[Chickielady]

on the other hand, those "Americanas" that I got from Del's, hatched by the Privett hatchery, have been great hens (beautiful but not so great rooster) -- since what we wanted was sturdy birds who lay pretty eggs ... good fertility too since half the Washingtonians seem to have hatched chicks from my eggs ...

mutts they may be, but it appears that Privett selects for health, fertility, and egg laying consistency, all of which are just what I wanted

darn this rain, it's putting a bit of a crimp into my building my quarantine coop and run; I just get everything nicely sanitized with bleach and vinegar, and it's ALMOST dry, when the heavens start leaking again ...

fitting these underneath a deck that sits 4 feet off the ground, is a bit of a design challenge, especially since I'm making it all up from materials laying around the place, and from the pieces of pallet discarded at J&I and Del's, that I can fit in my compact car

does not help that both hubby and I have come down with some sort of a respiratory bug; he's coughing and wheezing like a cross between a donkey and Darth Vader .. I'm feeling like I've got the mumps and arthritis at the same time ...

even Deirdre-hen has the runs ... or did this morning, but that seems to have cleared up now

Krispy-cat is applying feline purr therapy

Get well ! I too am inside...and doing exercises and "put-and-take" which is what we call putting things away, and here that involves STAIRS and so trying to exercise more & only allow myself 1-2 hrs on the puter A DAY !!!

 

[Chickielady]

Our "Ameraucanas" came from the feed store but are actually Easter Eggers. They all look completely different now that they are feathered out. We've had them for 3 1/2 weeks and they are finally starting to calm down a bit and aren't so freaked out by people. We've spent a lot of time working with them to encourage them to be friendly. I'm hoping they mellow out as they mature. Of all the chicks we got the EEs are my least favorite at the moment. I'm really loving the Red Star though, and the RIR, and the mystery white chicks...

Post pics of the mystery white chicks ?
What did the feed store tell you they were ?