Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[OverEggstended]

I see we have another SW coaster in here. I am probably what considered walking distance to your place if you shop at BiMart. I am right on the line but on Hoquiam side. Just requested the feed store order me some Hamburgs. They are going through Meyer this year and the Hamburgs from there that I have seen look pretty decent.

 

[catface]

I have eaten silkies and found them to be stringy. I've heard this is normal for a black meat chicken. I raise Ayam Cemani's but I haven't eaten any to find out.

 

[catface]

I did a lot of reasearch on them and read quite a few reviews and it seems a lot of people had injured or dead roosters because of the collars. They need constant adjustment to fit correctly and safely and if you don't get the adjustment just right you can cause a lot of harm (so I've read). I decided that my neighbor can just live with my rooster crowing around the clock every 2-3 hours.

 

[DaveOmak]

This for Dave & whomever was looking at feed.
I have been getting this for my ducks, a 50# bag is on sale for $11. and off sale $12. at Bi Mart, I get in Aberdeen.
Not sure where any other BiMarts are.
They also carry extremely nice scratch for sale price $9 and off sale $11 also a 50# bag, and has loads of millet/barely & wheats in it besides just cracked corn like DuMor (Dell's Tractor Supply) or Purina.
Compare to Layena....and remember the price, AND the fact that this is a 50# bag.
The bad part is it is pelleted and my birds HATE pellets.
BiMart does not carry crumbles. They DO carry other feeds, I noticed some Omelean, COB...and some calf feed (I think)
BUT, these pellets are very small, so far, the chickens love it & it works excellent for the ducks.
Compare ingredients:

 

[Amberjem]

Well I put in 3 more bare root trees today.......6 last week....
I have 1 more to go and so better get out there & do it.

Hospital is supposed to call me about what time my surg is on Wednesday....an hour ago, that is why I am sitting here talking your ears off.
Seems they ain't calling today !!

So talk at ya later chookie fans !

Kim************** PM me about the Silkiezillas !

what kind of tree's?

 

[Chickielady]

I only have the wheaten ameraucana. Waiting on the girls to start laying so I can hatch me some more.

ok

 

[Chickielady]

You know, surprisingly even with them being slower moving, they're kind of tough. They're traditionally used as a stewing or braising bird. Excellent for soup and other low and slow heat source applications.

OK, you think they are a better stewing bird than a dual purpose, such as a Java or Barred Plymouth Rock ?

 

[Chickielady]

I can attest that silkies can move very fast. They also seem smarter than my other birds. I was chasing one hen with a net yesterday and she ran around the run and stopped dead on the opposite side of me. I had to call the dogs to help herd her. They like to fake me out on which direction they will go. They also have this annoying habit of launching themselves into the air with as much flapping as they can and land running in a random direction.

I also have the issue of mine are aggressive with large fowl and WILL beat them up any chance they think they can get away with it. They actually go looking for trouble. It's like and evil horde of fluff bent on taking over everything. Pumpkin Khan encourages his flock to action. The only thing that stops them are other silkies. I had to separate out the younger boys. No girls with them so they don't fight with each other. The only large fowl who is safe is the young ameraucana boy was the only LF to hatch in a bunch of eggs. He was raised with the silkies and thinks that he is one.

Your descriptions here have me laughing so hard !
I can just see the evil hordes of fluff !
I have had a few silkies and they honestly just sat.
They sat so much I worried they'd starve and could not see their food & water !

 

[Chickielady]

I see we have another SW coaster in here. I am probably what considered walking distance to your place if you shop at BiMart. I am right on the line but on Hoquiam side. Just requested the feed store order me some Hamburgs. They are going through Meyer this year and the Hamburgs from there that I have seen look pretty decent.

Well hello !
There is a few here on this thread who raise Hammies...cannot remember who just now.
Carolyn probably remembers....or ask HallerLake, she has Spitzhaubens now, but may know who has Hammies.
I am toying with the idea of getting some white faced black spainish, just for egg production...but at the same time I am trying to restrain myself from being overcome with hatchititus as I usually am this time of year !

 

[Chickielady]

Yeah, I have found no feed is exactly perfect.
And I also am aware Purina is a sponsor here so I will avoid purina bashing.
One thing I dislike about them is their statement about 'Marigolds, for dark orange yolks' or some such thing, which is rediculous.
It is yet anout food coloring, however natural.
A hen free ranging rarely eats marigolds.
The other factoid is the 40# bag !
How cleverly......

Everyone here concerned with their feed not having everything needed for a hen's perfect health needs to also remember how much nourishment they can find while free ranging !
Like tarp strings (YUMMY!!!) and styrofoam ! (DELISH !!!)
There also the bugs and other crawlies.like Salamanders...frogs, baby snakes and small slugs !
YUM !!!

I do not worry too much about feed, except to buy what I can in the highest amount of vitamins & proteins, unless I have thin shell issues, and that is a calcium & PHOSPHOROUS issue, so I toss oyster shell at them or mix in their feed.
My grandmother & great grandmother both had a big working flock that contained all breeds and sustained their own numbers (from broody hens) and they ran loose all day, had a hen house, and were fed only scratch thrown out for them 2X a day.
other than that, they were on their own to find bugs & other ymmy stuff to eat.
Of course, this was way back before styrofoam was invented !!

We raise sweet meats squash every summer.
Most get between 15-20 pounds, and store well over the winter, and Einstein hacks one open every week or so & distributes a hunk (seeds and all) to each pen.
Helps make dark orange yolks !

Anyone want sweet meats seeds, give me a PM.