Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Carolei]

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!

Mine will be hatching in 6 days too -- I hope.
My flock is made up of five vaccinated one-year-olds -- so no Mareks here. I'll PM you. Thanks!

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
At least two people I know had issues this year because they didn't separate the broody momma from the other hens. In one case a baby climbed back into the wrong nest box and got killed, another time the broody hen returned to the wrong box and let her clutch of eggs get stone cold. Given the choice I'd give the broody hen in a safe area of her own. Just using some type of net or fencing could do the trick. It doesn't have to be fancy or complicated. That milk carton could be tipped onto it's side perhaps. Even a shallow cardboard box will suffice, then you can toss it when she's done with it.

 

[MargaretYakoda]

At least two people I know had issues this year because they didn't separate the broody momma from the other hens. In one case a baby climbed back into the wrong nest box and got killed, another time the broody hen returned to the wrong box and let her clutch of eggs get stone cold. Given the choice I'd give the broody hen in a safe area of her own. Just using some type of net or fencing could do the trick. It doesn't have to be fancy or complicated. That milk carton could be tipped onto it's side perhaps. Even a shallow cardboard box will suffice, then you can toss it when she's done with it.

Fair enough. Yeah, we've only got the one broody, so no one's getting confused.
If you do set up an area for mom and chicks, make sure the netting or fence or whatever you use has spaces/holes that are smaller than 1 inch. Newly hatched chicks go right through anything bigger.

 

[elizmartin]

On one of the FB Washington Poultry sites it has been stated that Rock River Poultry-IOWA has shipped eggs and chicks to farms and hatcheries ( at least 4 in Louisiana) and is now in quarantine status till tests are finished and it has been said that all the folks they have been selling to is being sought also. It has been recommended to not purchase eggs, chicks from anyone, anywhere for the time being. I am just mentioning this so each of us can investigate the truth as it applies to each of us.

 

[ochochicas]

On one of the FB Washington Poultry sites it has been stated that Rock River Poultry-IOWA has shipped eggs and chicks to farms and hatcheries ( at least 4 in Louisiana) and is now in quarantine status till tests are finished and it has been said that all the folks they have been selling to is being sought also. It has been recommended to not purchase eggs, chicks from anyone, anywhere for the time being. I am just mentioning this so each of us can investigate the truth as it applies to each of us.

Quarantine for what? Influenza?

 

[elizmartin]

As far as i can understand it is the AI that is going around. It is quite possible that if there is an outbreak being there or with any of the eggs/chicks that have been purchased that are in other states, that there could be a several mile ring of depopulation with or without testing…That is what happened with the Mad Cow in Europe 8-10 years ago. I have only read the FB info, now to research what is real.

 

[LaurelC]

I am working on getting my duck pen converted for chickens and would love your guys' input here. The previous duck "house" will be a temporary nesting box. I'll put a couple of plastic bins in there until I get something built that allows me to collect eggs from outside the pen.

I built a roosting "loft" and will be enclosing the 2 exterior walls of it. I'm building 2 removable walls to mount as interior walls when the weather gets cooler this autumn/winter. I intend to build a poop hammock under the roosting bars and I assume that should be enough protection against the weather? The area that the pen is located is protected by fences and a huge fir tree. I'm getting clear corrugated plastic roofing to go up. I'm modifying my duck waterer to take 5 of the cup-style nipple waterers, and I'm building another 5 gallon PVC elbow type feeder. Does this plan seem like it will work? The pen is very secure, and I have had no evidence of predators in the yard at all. I imagine that my 2 large dogs have a little to do with that.


In my city, we are allowed up to 8 hens, but I think I want to start with 4ish to get started. That'll allow me to work out the kinks and give me room to expand the flock once I decide what types of chickens I really like.

 

[CarolynF]

I am working on getting my duck pen converted for chickens and would love your guys' input here. The previous duck "house" will be a temporary nesting box. I'll put a couple of plastic bins in there until I get something built that allows me to collect eggs from outside the pen.

I built a roosting "loft" and will be enclosing the 2 exterior walls of it. I'm building 2 removable walls to mount as interior walls when the weather gets cooler this autumn/winter. I intend to build a poop hammock under the roosting bars and I assume that should be enough protection against the weather? The area that the pen is located is protected by fences and a huge fir tree. I'm getting clear corrugated plastic roofing to go up. I'm modifying my duck waterer to take 5 of the cup-style nipple waterers, and I'm building another 5 gallon PVC elbow type feeder. Does this plan seem like it will work? The pen is very secure, and I have had no evidence of predators in the yard at all. I imagine that my 2 large dogs have a little to do with that.


In my city, we are allowed up to 8 hens, but I think I want to start with 4ish to get started. That'll allow me to work out the kinks and give me room to expand the flock once I decide what types of chickens I really like.

You've obviously put a lot of thought into the conversion. The only thing that came to mind right away is the roofing. I would suggest you get the translucent smoke color. It lets in a lot of light but is cooler than the clear when the sun is on it. In fact, the specs I read say that more light comes in with the smoke. Hard to believe, but that's what the spec said.

If you haven't already, be sure there is PLENTY of slant to the ground so the water drains away. And use half-inch hardware cloth on the bottom 2 feet of all the fences. And an apron around the outside perimeter that's 18"-24" wide to deter any digging. You may not have seen predators, but it's just a matter of time, roaming dogs, possoms, and racoons don't follow the rules, even when we have dogs of our own.

 

[ochochicas]

I agree that the no climb fencing has too much spacing. A raccoon could get it's arm inside and grab a chicken while it is asleep. That is how my cousin lost a couple of her chickens. You could cover it with 1 inch poultry netting or hardware cloth to make it safer. My entire coop is made of 5/8 inch hardware cloth and I have not had a problem with small vermin.

 

[elizmartin]

Hello All, A link to what has happened to a poultry owner in Virginia regarding Ai is important to read. The link can be found on the Faverolles Thread, page 1610, Keesmom post. All he did was purchase eggs from someone whose poultry after the fact tested positive for AI. he almost lost everything even though his group in another state tested negative.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/990599/destruction-and-disposal-orders-help