Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Shanny050]

Is it like this?

I saw this in town the other day and it freaked me out I thought it was taxidermy at first...

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That looks like a nutria to me. Don't know if they eat eggs though.

 

[JennysHens]

Oh boy, anyone else having crazy weather? The girls are experiencing their first thunder storm and hail! The thunder spooked them a bit, but they just started eating the hail that was bouncing into the run! It's small, thankfully, bb/pea sized. I was worried about them getting hurt if it got too big but they don't seem phased at all, just enjoying some new "enrichment" hahaha

 

[sphinxface]

HE

Is it like this?

I saw this in town the other day and it freaked me out I thought it was taxidermy at first...

He said at first the thought it was a brown squirrel but it's body was too long, and then thought it might be an escaped pet ferret but it was brown? I guess they probably do have brown pet ferrets but apparently(according to google) they re-introduced martens and fishers into Washington a few years ago so it could be one of those? IDK

I'll look on here for tips but I was curious if anyone else has seen them around?

 

[Lil Go Peep]

Anyone here have the Breda Breed? - I came across them and bout fell head over heals for them, thinking maybe I'd try and acquire a breeding set.

* Not mine, but I think they are beautiful (ok Im partial to the feathery feet) *blush*

 

[Chickielady]

Just wanted to post a picture since I've been finding discarded shells from robin hatchlings the last week. There are a lot nests in the hawthorn trees this year. Probably because the cats can't get up there.

Two of my wheaten ameraucana eggs with the little robin shell. Comparing the picture to the actual eggs, it look's pretty close to real color.

And I am after a few blue egg pullets for my egg basket.

 

[Chickielady]

I just wrote this to lovely Karen at catdance silkie farms and want to share with my fellow washitonians so hopefully you don't have to experience the same heart break I have. I am veterinarian (doctor of veterinary medicine) who lives in Battle Ground WA, is fairly new to chickens (not including the years of coarses in chicken husbandry, diseases, etc.)

My latest issue is that I'm 99% sure I have Mareks in my flock. 4 out of 18 were suffering enough to euthanize over the last 2 weeks (non-responsive crop stasis in one, progressive leg paralysis in one, one lethargic and wouldn't thrive,and now one that is blind, and another that has a crooked neck...not wry neck) 4 of these were not vaccinated for Mareks and under 6 weeks of age while the other 4 mths old sizzles and Silkies are doing great, only 2 were vaccinated. I've been traumatized and despite my pain and the poor birds morbidity, I hope I can help convince others to make sure you acquire vaccinated chicks. I was naive and took advice that was incorrect whileI should've been seeking my colleagues advice all along.

I've spoken with 4 of the top poultry vets in the U.S. and Dr. Crestor at wsu in puyallup.
From now on before introducing any more birds they must've been vaccinated from a reputable Mareks vaccine within 24 hrs of hatch. My options are to hatch my own via incubator and vaccinate within 24 hrs (I don't have an incubator yet...not sure if I want one), let my own birds breed and raise their own...either vaccinate or let nature take its coarse with the strong ones building up their immunity, or get ones from a breeder that routinely vaccinates for Mareks with a reputable vaccine within 24 hrs.

I would very much love to have a couple more lavender silkies and bantam Americaunas but must be patient and wise to find or create only vaccinated chicks.

Best wishes to all the chicken peeps and learn from my experience please.

Thank you
Sincerely,
Dr. Cory Gadwood

LOVE Dr Crespo & love Dr Dhillon.................you can also talk to Lyndon Badcoe @ the NPIP in Oly....he may have some resources for you.

 

[Chickielady]

Atmosphere, trees, hills all seem to affect noise…I live about 600 feet from the community club and can hear the party noises often, less during the day, much during the stillness of night and much more than the neighbors closer…. The neighbors across the street hear my roosters, but next door not so much.

So very true !

 

[Chickielady]

Landlord wanted done cheap as possible and quick... So contractor used reciprocating saw and chopped it all into 2 foot bits.

Seriously, I do NOT want to discuss it right now. Cried for 2 days and put myself in hospital with MS being exacerbated.

 

[Chickielady]

I monitor them as well, giving them time to hatch on their own of course- if they don't fully hatch within the next day or more then I've learned they can't - usually it's due to they are stuck and can't either a wing is in the way or sometimes a foot- we've had a few hatches that way- then they end too exhausted to keep at it and that's where I step in or they end up too big with no room- tho each chick that I've assisted given those circumstances has lived and are healthy, just with a little rough start- only ones I've lost is when I first hatched some and did try to save one that didn't pip - I learned my lesson the hard way there because it was oxygen deprived to a point there was no survivabilty in it and one that pipped in fluid- so luckily I've learned when and who I can save with no problems later on - I know not a lot of people agree with that, but if they made the pip stage and try but for some reason get stuck on a wing or leg and can't finish then they are still healthy enough to survive to live a happy life which most ours have and are going on 4 years old this year - it's all a learning process for sure that isn't an instant thing either 4 years later still learning knew things I wish I knew in the beginning - as someone put it " you can read up all you want, but when you actually do it, new things happen or everyone has their own opinion on what to do or not to do". I have found that out to be true in some cases.

One of the oddest issues here is the variation from 1 day to the next, of humidity.
Some out here, use the dry method and do very well due to the humidty here at optimal standards for incubation (like 30-40%) and then the next day it is warm & DRY and humidity plummets........I find it much easier to hatch in January & February as there is little difference from day to day, in relative Humidity.
I run gQf proffesional models & hatcher.
Love the incubators I have.

 

[Chickielady]

My fiancé just told me that he saw a brown weasel looking animal a couple blocks from our house. I've been warned about them before but I never thought they were around. Should I be taking extra care for these kinds of critters? Are they nocturnal? He saw it during the day though... ;0

MINK.........the worst thing for chickens in the world !
Father's day 2 years ago at 10 AM we left home & when we came home at 4 PM, ALOT of my birds were beheaded, some buried feet UP, and Einstein set up the wildlife cam, and got pics at 10PM when these 2 MINK returned....OH YEAH, they are devastating day or night & can crawl through fence wire.
They also dig down 12", which is why I bury my pen fencing 12" & cover it with concrete.