Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[ochochicas]

Thanks for the report. We would really like to add some more pullets to our flock but have not had the best luck with chicks labeled as pullets actually being pullets!

Did you get any?

Wonder if I can convince DH to drive down and get some tomorrow ... chicken math strikes again!

No, I didn't get any. I won't buy chicks from Coastal for the exact reason you said. Not only did we get cockerels this spring, we also got breeds we didn't want. One of the chicks we brought home was a black sex-link cockerel that was sold as a Barred Rock pullet. I'm pretty sure that was the fault of the hatchery since I doubt Coastal ordered male sex links. In any event, half of our crew from the store were "surprises" so now I'm just hatching out my own babies. After educating myself here on the forum I believe getting chicks from a local breeder or local person is a better idea anyway.

There is a place in Yelm (CCL farm) that has nice breeds to choose from. I think I'd try there first if you are looking for Ameraucanas.

 

[Rainier]

No, I didn't get any. I won't buy chicks from Coastal for the exact reason you said. Not only did we get cockerels this spring, we also got breeds we didn't want. One of the chicks we brought home was a black sex-link cockerel that was sold as a Barred Rock pullet. I'm pretty sure that was the fault of the hatchery since I doubt Coastal ordered male sex links. In any event, half of our crew from the store were "surprises" so now I'm just hatching out my own babies. After educating myself here on the forum I believe getting chicks from a local breeder or local person is a better idea anyway.

There is a place in Yelm (CCL farm) that has nice breeds to choose from. I think I'd try there first if you are looking for Ameraucanas.

ack and I thought sex linked would be "safe"

I'll check out CCL. Right in my backyard and didn't even know they were there!

ETA
If you order sex linked from hatchery do they get it wrong?

 

[ochochicas]

ack and I thought sex linked would be "safe"

I'll check out CCL. Right in my backyard and didn't even know they were there!

ETA
If you order sex linked from hatchery do they get it wrong?

I don't know...I think when there is a large order of hundreds or even a couple thousand chicks the hatcheries probably throw a few boys in as "extras" to make up for the chicks that die during transport. However, getting the wrong breed because the store mixed them up and can't tell them apart is unacceptable. There is a store in Enumclaw that is much more knowledgeable when it comes to chickens. I get my chicken feed and advice from them now.

 

[elizmartin]

Thanks for the report. We would really like to add some more pullets to our flock but have not had the best luck with chicks labeled as pullets actually being pullets!

Did you get any?

Wonder if I can convince DH to drive down and get some tomorrow ... chicken math strikes again!

At least several of the farm stores up my way will honor a return if it was supposed to be a pullet and turned out to be a cockerel….I would ask….Also if it is a sex link, i would think that the hatchery would get it right…..I would ask what hatchery they use….there are some hatcherys that the breeds are becoming less according to the true description of said breeds….I breed Faverolles and my first came from Cackle and Ideal….both at the time had chicks that were true color and they grew up to be colored and built as true Faverolles. Now all the time people post chick & adult pics from hatchery stock that are far from the right coloration and conformation.

 

[Rainier]

We got 10 chicks from Del's. We were suppose to get three Production Red (they had them labeled as RIR) pullets and one ended up being a cockerel and he was mean. Broke the skin and attacked us every time we stepped in the run. He went to freezer camp at 15 weeks! The rest were straight run. Of those nine, four where pullets. Then we got 10 chicks from a co-worker who said they had being doing this a long time and could sex the barred rocks. Of those ten, four were a pullets!

Straight run just doesn't work out for us! We eat a LOT of eggs in our house so we need more pullets. I think if DH has to butcher any more cockerels I'll have to let him go hunting for a month to get back in his good graces

I do want Ameraucanas but do not want them from a hatchery or feed store. What I want to do is have a flock of them (maybe five hens and 1 roo) that is separate from our meat/egg flock. Right now I don't have the set-up to run three separate flocks and still be able to have them free range (the little that they can). Right now I am also a bit paranoid about buying Ameraucanas since so many seem to sale EE's and call them Ameraucanas.

 

[ochochicas]

I did call the store and ask them where the chicks came from. Most of them were from some hatchery in Idaho. I have the info written on a sheet of paper someplace but can't remember off the top of my head. I do know that freebies are thrown into shipments so that if some perish during shipping there will still be the same number of live chicks as ordered. I asked the store about their policy. The lady was pretty non-compassionate and said the chicks are "sold as is". I will still shop there if stuff I need is on sale, but they lost me as a loyal customer.

 

[Rainier]

I did call the store and ask them where the chicks came from.  Most of them were from some hatchery in Idaho.  I have the info written on a sheet of paper someplace but can't remember off the top of my head.  I do know that freebies are thrown into shipments so that if some perish during shipping there will still be the same number of live chicks as ordered.  I asked the store about their policy.  The lady was pretty non-compassionate and said the chicks are "sold as is".  I will still shop there if stuff I need is on sale, but they lost me as  a loyal customer.  

well if they are sold as pullets and bought as pullets then if they are not a refund should be in order, right?

 

[Theegoliath]

My wife and I live in Kitsap County. Many of our friends, and ourselves have used "Farm Land" to buy our pullets. Five of five for us, and we have not heard anyone else not getting what they thought they were getting. So if you live in the area, give 'em a call. They get in a wide varriety of chicks in all the time. Just there last week for another 50lb bag of crumble, and almost walked out with another pullet...... Chicken math!!

 

[Chickielady]

142 pages I missed !

But I've been canning ever single day until today, and I am BEAT TIRED !
As soon as I picked & can all the green beans, I'd have TONS of tomatoes to can, as soon as that was done, the guys brought in 2 TUNA and more plums, and when that was done, the green beans were full again, ON & ON & ON !



Last 3 days have been bread & butter pickles, then Dill pickles, and another batch of Tomatoe Sauce with basil & Oregano.


And now, I am ready for Salmon !
Smoker's ready, Canner is ready !

I think in another day I'll have enough Tomatoes ripe to do another case of Sauce.............then the green beans again......................

Took a bunch of pics but left the camera downstairs...I promise to upload next time.................

I am now going to sit DOWN and read a good book, later chookiezoids !

 

[Chickielady]

My wife and I live in Kitsap County. Many of our friends, and ourselves have used "Farm Land" to buy our pullets. Five of five for us, and we have not heard anyone else not getting what they thought they were getting. So if you live in the area, give 'em a call. They get in a wide varriety of chicks in all the time. Just there last week for another 50lb bag of crumble, and almost walked out with another pullet...... Chicken math!!

Your "strange coop" looks alot like my brand newly constructed Barn House, LOL


You could use the plans from the dormer for a cute Coop !


Building the big trusses, but the dormer is an exact minature, like your coop !
See dormer truss leaning on the wall:

We went through alot of extremely large tarps that year, and finally finished & moved in last spring, of this year.
Another side view of dormer: