Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[lynnehd]

I'm trying to convince them that they don't all have to use the same two nest boxes. They tossed out the golf balls I tried. The brown ceramic eggs work really well with them. Unfortunately I can't tell them apart from the brown eggs without candling.

I think they will toss the white ones out of the nests. I've never had any white layers. Had an EE that actually laid an egg this color of green though.

I put a small black 'X' on the fake brown eggs with permanent marker. They don't care, and then I don't try to eat the fake ones, lol

 

[Leigti]

Well I have went and done it this time giggle, I was going to get 8 Bard Rock pullet to raise so i had layers all the time I go to Dels close by us they know I prefer my bards I jokingly said I would give up all the light Brahmas and just have all bards so he is coming after the bards tonight and I have 16 pullet Bards.

So you gave away all your Brahmas? This is my one barred rock.

 

[pennyJo1960]

All nine of them but I sold them

see I really do prefer my bards they are easy tempered lay everyday never get stressed birds

 

[jancweb]

Hello! I am very new to chickens. My girls are a week old. I live in the everett area and was just wondering when you typically put them in the coop full time? They'll be 8 weeks the end of April and I wasn't sure if it would be warm enough yet.

 

[CoopDeDoo]

Hello! I am very new to chickens. My girls are a week old. I live in the everett area and was just wondering when you typically put them in the coop full time? They'll be 8 weeks the end of April and I wasn't sure if it would be warm enough yet.

Congratulations - they are so cute ! I put mine out at 6-8 weeks. When I notice they are not using the ecoglow anymore.. which is usually about that age if they are feathered in. The cooler the environment you are brooding them in (not counting under the heater) the faster they feather. So if they are in a warm room in your house - slower feathering vs. an unheated shed/garage - faster feathering. Good luck with them

 

[junebuggena]

I put mine out as soon as they are mostly feathered in, at about 4 weeks. You do need to 'harden' them off before leaving them overnight with no heat. Gradually expose them to outdoor temps by taking them outside for some playtime starting at 2 to 3 weeks old, weather permitting. Start with short trips on sunny days and then gradually lengthen the amount of time they spend out.
If the weather doesn't cooperate for you, an unheated garage will help accomplish the same thing.
This is my setup for chicks that are almost ready to move outside. There is a heat lamp that warms the left side of the kiddie pool, the room is an unfinished room next to the garage. When they no longer spend time in the warm zone, they are ready to move out.

 

[Amberjem]

 

[jancweb]

I put mine out as soon as they are mostly feathered in, at about 4 weeks. You do need to 'harden' them off before leaving them overnight with no heat. Gradually expose them to outdoor temps by taking them outside for some playtime starting at 2 to 3 weeks old, weather permitting. Start with short trips on sunny days and then gradually lengthen the amount of time they spend out. If the weather doesn't cooperate for you, an unheated garage will help accomplish the same thing. This is my setup for chicks that are almost ready to move outside. There is a heat lamp that warms the left side of the kiddie pool, the room is an unfinished room next to the garage. When they no longer spend time in the warm zone, they are ready to move out.

 

[torrelee]

My post valentine's day massacre chicks started pipping today! I just locked down the incubator today, thinking that they would hatch sunday, but 2 of 4 pipped this afternoon. Can't wait to see what is in there: 2 silkie eggs that I'm hoping the showgirl fertilized, but may be BR roo. The other two I can't figure out if mom is the Brahma-dotte or the EE who lays brown. I tossed them in to figure out who lays the egg, lol!

 

[Hinotori]

Well I have went and done it this time giggle, I was going to get 8 Bard Rock pullet to raise so i had layers
all the time I go to Dels close by us they know I prefer my bards I jokingly said I would give up all the light Brahmas
and just have all bards so he is coming after the bards tonight and I have 16 pullet Bards.

So very cute!

I had barred rocks before. I had issues with them bullying other breeds, though. (Not the silkies. The silkies are evil and have ALL of the large fowl running in terror.) They were nice sized birds for hatchery stock and good layers. If I was just going to have brown layers for eggs for my customers, I'd just have barred rocks.

For me I have my wheaten ameraucana and silkies.