Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Leigti]

I have used DryDan pellets in my run. They break down into fluffy material when they get wet.

 

[Chickielady]

I love the look of the English Orpingtons! They are such beach balls! I already get such a kick out of my Chocolate Orpington and her build. Her name is Big Mamma but I mostly call her Mrs. Fuzzy Butt...I know, real mature.

I'm considering a Rooster...but a little nervous about it for my girls. Currently 9 of them are only 11 weeks old and my CO is just POL. I know she could handle it, but my babies? I don't know? It's about the same way I feel if I think a guy is looking at my 17 year old! LOL

I have an extra Lavender Orp cockerel....hollar at me if you want him !






cock on the left


cock on the left

 

[Chickielady]

One will crow, but that should be it. He won't let others crow (theoretically)

I have upwards of 10 coops, and each has at least one cockerel, or a pair of cocks depending on how many hens, and they crow in succesion, all night long.
No one cock can prevent the others from crowing.
They usually start at about 3 AM, and I suspect it is due to predators outside the coop: Owls, racoons, possums at the coop doors, or any other sounds the predators can make...what the result is the males crow, and each will answer the other's crow, and it can go on for 20 minutes before they settle down to sleep.
Chickens have uni- hemispherical brains....LOL
They sleep with 1 eye open, like a Dolphin



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unihemispheric_slow-wave_sleep

 

[Chickielady]

I have 13 roosters and they will all crow. As soon as one crows it will set off the rest and you will have a whole chorus for about 10 minutes.

Absolutely !

 

[Chickielady]

I'm jealous I wish I only had one.

Gotta love the boys...they are necassary on the farm ! I love my cockerels...the ones I keep for years to breed & protect my hens are LOVES !!!
I will not keep a mean cockerel, let alone a mean cock. I have had too many try to flog me or my family here.
I love them, they are beautiful, awesome !!!

 

[JulesChicks]

Great suggestion, JulesChicks. How deep a layer of chips do you use? I've been using arborist wood chips instead of bark in my garden beds.

Oh, sorry, I didn't see this until I just logged on to check updates. If you're speaking to someone directly put the @ symbol in front of their username - a box should come up if you start typing it so you can select it as well. That way they are notified.

I don't think there is a set depth, you just don't want it to get too compact or too smelly. If it smells, add more organic matter - anything but aromatics like cedar. You can collect leaves in the fall to add as needed through the winter (coop too). My husband mowed over them this year before I could do it though. If you can collect enough from your yard you won't have to buy anything. My girls have been digging in certain areas of their run so I took a heavy metal rake to it today to break it up and even it out a bit. I will add more wood chips in the next few days as well.

 

[Bridebeliever]

I have an extra Lavender Orp cockerel....hollar at me if you want him ! cock on the left cock on the left

He's a handsome cock! DH is not ready for me to add a single other hen OR cock right now. He says we just got our 10, let's get used to that first! Thank goodness for that man...or we'd be running a zoo right now!

 

[CGilbert]

He's a handsome cock! DH is not ready for me to add a single other hen OR cock right now. He says we just got our 10, let's get used to that first! Thank goodness for that man...or we'd be running a zoo right now!

I feel you! DH is probably the only reason we have as few as we do... Otherwise I'd just keep buying and make us broke

 

[lindalouly]

I can't wait till I add additional cockerels or Roos but right now I only have enough space for eight girls and one stubborn not necessarily mean but not overly friendly cock. Who else is ready for this weather to change in western Washington?

 

[lindalouly]

Hubbies are good at keeping us in check. I have 9 eggs in a bator. Due in a few days. He's not super happy