Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[anndelise]

Just curious, is anyone here from Whatcom or Skagit County?

 

[JulesChicks]

Hi there @anndelise and

and to the Washingtonians thread! I'm in Skagit County and I'm new to chickens this spring. I'm learning a lot from the friendly folks here on BYC though!

 

[seventreesfarm]

Just curious, is anyone here from Whatcom or Skagit County?

I'm in Whatcom county, north of Bellingham.

Anyone on the area have FBCMs or Birchens even? I need to scout a new Marans guy for my flocks and really really don't want to mess with shipped eggs.

 

[JulesChicks]

I have an extra cockerel - he's a Black Copper Marans and has feathered feet. He'll be 13 weeks this Sunday. I'm in Anacortes.

 

[Carolei]

Hi all, I have a first time broody Buff Orpington sitting on 5 eggs in a milk crate nest box. It's day 14. I set up a wire dog cage inside the coop and moved her with her nest box and eggs into the wire cage. As you can see from the picture, I'll need to make some changes when the babies start hatching. My plan is to put cardboard or something around the sides of the milk crate to keep the peeps from falling out, and then when they have all hatched move them to a low box on the floor of the dog cage. I am setting up a pen in the run for the mom and babies to be in where they can see and be seen by the other hens, but I would like them to sleep in the coop at night. Should I keep them in the cage in the coop for the first few days? Should i put paper towels over the pine shaving the way I would in a brooder to keep the chicks from eating the shavings at first? Once they are in the pen in the run, will the mom lead the babies back into the coop in the evening or should I try to provide a place for them to sleep out in the pen? I'm excited about these babies, but I'm nervous too. I don't want to screw it up!

 

[MargaretYakoda]

Hi all, I have a first time broody Buff Orpington sitting on 5 eggs in a milk crate nest box. It's day 14. I set up a wire dog cage inside the coop and moved her with her nest box and eggs into the wire cage. As you can see from the picture, I'll need to make some changes when the babies start hatching. My plan is to put cardboard or something around the sides of the milk crate to keep the peeps from falling out, and then when they have all hatched move them to a low box on the floor of the dog cage. I am setting up a pen in the run for the mom and babies to be in where they can see and be seen by the other hens, but I would like them to sleep in the coop at night. Should I keep them in the cage in the coop for the first few days? Should i put paper towels over the pine shaving the way I would in a brooder to keep the chicks from eating the shavings at first? Once they are in the pen in the run, will the mom lead the babies back into the coop in the evening or should I try to provide a place for them to sleep out in the pen? I'm excited about these babies, but I'm nervous too. I don't want to screw it up!

My experience is the broody does everything including keeping the other hens away from her babies. So, my opinion, you don't need the special run or the special nest box (been there done that!)
What you will need to do, however, is make sure those babies can follow mom back into the coop every night.
And, really, that's it. That's the beauty of broody hens! They do everything!

 

[Carolei]

My experience is the broody does everything including keeping the other hens away from her babies. So, my opinion, you don't need the special run or the special nest box (been there done that!)
What you will need to do, however, is make sure those babies can follow mom back into the coop every night.
And, really, that's it. That's the beauty of broody hens! They do everything!y

I really hope it goes that way with these babies. That would make life so much easier. I've read scary stories of hens attacking chicks, but this mama is pretty high status, so I think she'll do okay defending them. I only have five hens and they all get along pretty well.

 

[anndelise]

Hi Jules and Seven
I'm right on the border of the two counties, just a few minutes east of Alger.
I don't have any chicks yet. As soon as I figure out a coop design I like I'll build that in preparation for buying spring chicks. (We rushed like mad to get the frog pond dug and set up, I don't want to do that kind of rush again.)

Do either of you have suggestions on where to go to get chicks in the spring? I'm specifically wanting 3-5 australorpes hens, no roosters. I'd rather buy from local breeders, but will do the farmer's co-ops and feed stores if that's my best choice.

 

[Carolei]

I'd really like to vaccinate my chicks against Marek's when they hatch. Does anyone have a recommendation about where to buy the vaccine? I remember some posts on this thread (was it Chickielady?) about vaccinating, but I can't find them now.

 

[ochochicas]

I'd really like to vaccinate my chicks against Marek's when they hatch. Does anyone have a recommendation about where to buy the vaccine? I remember some posts on this thread (was it Chickielady?) about vaccinating, but I can't find them now.

I ordered mine from Strombergs. It takes a long time to get it shipped from them. You probably won't have it by the time the chicks hatch.

I have chicks hatching in 6 days. I will be vaccinating them next weekend. You are more than welcome to get some vaccine from me if you'd like. PM me if you are interested.

One more note, if you already have Marek's in your flock, giving the vaccine to broody raised chicks probably won't help them. However, if you are doing it has a preventative then definitely go for it!