Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[CharterChick]

Welcome! Watch out here, there are some enablers.

That's no joke! I started this summer and I have something like 21 chickens, 5 guineas and 3 turkeys. Plus more in the incubator and there are some classes at the local schools that I'm going to let hatch eggs too! So I'll be hatching year round! This means I need more coops right? Lol

The secret squirrel mission was a success! DH came home with these (guts/heads go to 22 week olds) and I got .... Lemon Cuckoo Orpington chicks that are 12 weeks old! e I think I have two pullets and two cockerels

What a beautiful pullet! I love that color!

Farmland in Silverdale gets their chicks from the same type of hatcheries everyone else does, so it sounds like you were one of the lucky ones, congrats! It's not the feed store that sexes the chicks, it's the hatchery. [rule] For those of you that are new to raising chickens or used to raising just hatchery birds, I would really like to encourage you to go to at least one of the poultry shows in the area this fall or next spring. It's very educational to see the huge difference between well bred, purebreed chickens and the birds the hatchery stock produces. The size difference alone will amaze you, but you'll also get to see the proper shape, coloring, combs, etc.. Just like dogs and horses, chicken/poultry breeds have published standards. And more so than other pets, the chicken breed standards are aimed at production, meat, and health rather than "showing". You'll also find, over time, that well bred chickens will have more robust health, will lay well for more years, be less prone to laying problems such as prolapse, and experience fewer tumors. It's not always going to be that way, but I feel it's good to see both sides of the breeding coin so you can make an educated decision. As someone around here once said, [COLOR=0000CD]it doesn't cost any more to feed a good quality bird![/COLOR] The cost difference in getting the well bred birds is also very minimal. I saw Wilco selling their chicks last week for $4.75. You can easily get well bred (and less stressed) chicks from local breeders for $5.
[COLOR=0000FF]Upcoming Poultry Shows in Western Washington[/COLOR]

Oct 18-19 Pacific NW Poultry Assoc Show -- Vancouver Fairgrounds (technically it's Ridgefield, Wa) Nov 15-16 Wash. Feather Fanciers Show -- Chehalis Fairgrounds Nov 29-30 Stevenson Poultry Classic -- Stevenson Fairgrounds More info here

I'm going to check out the chehalis show. I would love to go to a chicken trade show! In the spring we have booths at all the sportsman shows for our charter boat. I would love to attend a show I don't have to work! Lol

 

[Hinotori]

Quote:
You need some EE eggs to hatch?

 

[CharterChick]

You need some EE eggs to hatch? 

This is what I'm talking about! LOL EEs are FUN! I have 1 EE named lady gaga she lays blue and pink eggs hmmm you are ONLY 2 hours away.... Lol

 

[LBurt6]

Do they ever have any in Kitsap County?

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
Blue and pink?! Wow, that's some chicken! Is it half and half, striped or polka dots???

Do they ever have any in Kitsap County?

No, the closest is Chehalis but it's really worth the trip and fun for the whole family. But in the spring when Mother Earth News does a fair at the Puyallup Fairgrounds there may be one there. They had one this year.

 

[CharterChick]

Blue and pink?!  Wow, that's some chicken!  Is it half and half, striped or polka dots??? 

I shouldn't type when I'm tired! It should've said... I have 1 EE named lady gaga she lays blue and 1 named Juliana she layspink eggs hmmm you are ONLY 2 hours away.... Lol I left out an entire chicken! I'm such a yard sometimes!

 

[Theegoliath]

For those of you that are new to raising chickens or used to raising just hatchery birds, I would really like to encourage you to go to at least one of the poultry shows in the area this fall or next spring. It's very educational to see the huge difference between well bred, purebreed chickens and the birds the hatchery stock produces. The size difference alone will amaze you, but you'll also get to see the proper shape, coloring, combs, etc.. Just like dogs and horses, chicken/poultry breeds have published standards. And more so than other pets, the chicken breed standards are aimed at production, meat, and health rather than "showing". You'll also find, over time, that well bred chickens will have more robust health, will lay well for more years, be less prone to laying problems such as prolapse, and experience fewer tumors. It's not always going to be that way, but I feel it's good to see both sides of the breeding coin so you can make an educated decision. As someone around here once said, it doesn't cost any more to feed a good quality bird! The cost difference in getting the well bred birds is also very minimal. I saw Wilco selling their chicks last week for $4.75. You can easily get well bred (and less stressed) chicks from local breeders for $5.


Upcoming Poultry Shows in Western Washington

Oct 18-19 Pacific NW Poultry Assoc Show -- Vancouver Fairgrounds (technically it's Ridgefield, Wa)
Nov 15-16 Wash. Feather Fanciers Show -- Chehalis Fairgrounds
Nov 29-30 Stevenson Poultry Classic -- Stevenson Fairgrounds

More info here

We got our Black Copper Marans from a local kid (must have been 15ish) in Bothel who has six different breeds he breeds/shows/sells. Silkies, 2 kinds of bantams, gold laced wyndotts, and two other kinds I don't remember. We really do want to attend one of those poultry shows. We are very curious to see whats out there in person for next spring to add to our flock if possible : )

 

[them chickens]

OK we gave her the egg and calcium and we will see how things come out lol

 

[Rainier]

Here they are. I think we have two cockerels and two pullets!

 

[KellyLyn]

Posting here to say Hi!
(And to remind myself to visit this thread for the great local info.)
Thanks from Kitsap County.