Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[lynnehd]

We got the house in Graham! Now to work out all the details.

Tobias (oldest son) and I did a fair bit of chatting and we are leaning heavily towards salmon Faverolles. They meet his fluffiness requirements and my egg laying requirements.

I wonder if there is a 4H in the area.

Congratulations on getting the house!!!!

 

[pennyJo1960]

We got the house in Graham! Now to work out all the details.

I wonder if there is a 4H in the area.

There is a large 4-H in Graham allot of is available on google
parent sit is http://www.4-h.org/
congratulations now work begins

 

[junebuggena]

80* at the beach today. First day over 70 all year. Poor chooks seem pretty uncomfortable. I was going to mow but now, I think I'll just stay in and hide from the heat.

 

[pennyJo1960]

80* at the beach today. First day over 70 all year. Poor chooks seem pretty uncomfortable. I was going to mow but now, I think I'll just stay in and hide from the heat.

The little pullets are testing the big outside a bit, it is beautiful here today
as well haven't really looked at the temp but headed out to mow just moving a little slower today
its a bit odd seems we have reversed roles between Mom and I these days
we will take her home on Saturday or Sunday

 

[Scram85]

I was all set to work around the yard but the Bureau is out burning the canal that runs through the back of property. Instead I am shampooing carpet...I need to be outside with the chickens.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Been out mowing have to come in let the mower have a break and me
chickens are sure enjoying the weather first time this year NO long johns on

 

[Duck Drover]

I am seriously thinking about raising quail. I keep seeing listings for snowflake quail and I like the look of them, plus I think they are bobwhites and have white meat, but since I have not raised quail before it seems more economical to start with coturnix since they are more common and seem like they are easy to raise.

Ideally I would like to trade chicken eggs for quail eggs or chickens for quail so there is no start up costs. We already have some nice bird enclosures my husband built for older chicks that we have not used much because the feathered chicks are able to transition outside into the Silkie coop rather than moving into indoor brooders in our shop in order to move them off heat. We can easily set the light on a timer to keep up egg production year round so we can have a steady supply of eggs and meat.

I would love to eat our surplus roosters because I have raised my own meat in the past but we raise our chickens like pets rather than meat and none of us wants to kill birds we have become attached to as babies. I think the quail would be something we could remain unattached to and see them as a food supply because they are not as friendly and they grow so fast, plus they would all look alike and have more of a wild bird appearance.

If anyone in the area has an abundance of quail or eggs, I would love to hear from you. I researched the blue egg genetics but it seems sort of hit and miss to get them once you have blue egg layers so I don't necessarily need to raise blue egg lines but it would be kind of fun to breed for blue eggs. I got a Quechoa rooster to put over our two Easter Egger hens to bring back some of the original blue egg genetics but I have not started hatching yet since I need to get on my feet again before I start up the incubators (although I have Silkies that would probably hatch the eggs and raise the chicks for me if I let them).

Anyway, I would like to get started with some quail in the near future and see where it takes us. Hatching eggs would be the cheapest way to get started but then having my own egg layers would be even better. I could potentially start with chicks but that is the longest route to get eggs to hatch and hatching is how we will keep a steady supply of eggs and meat going.

I like chicken eggs okay but I like hatching them even more because that makes more chickens! It is terrible to have Spring fever and all of my incubators are empty for now. Certainly a batch of quail will fill the void, eh?

 

[Duck Drover]

I am also itching to start planting our garden but I am not able to do much until I am on my feet again. I will be cleaning the rabbit pens and moving the fertilizer into the garden today. I can do it sitting down because the pens are designed to hose out right into the garden. I am also going to sit and sift the worms from the worm bins so we can add the worm soil to my strawberry planter. I am not sure how much planting I can do sitting down, though, so my beautiful garden space is not being utilized. Yesterday I sat and watched the chickens and ducks so I enjoyed getting outdoors but my ankle swells up painfully when it is not elevated and I can't take anti-inflamatory medication before my surgery. I am so impatient to start healing after 8 months of pain so I can get back to doing things. I have not even been able to go horseback riding since August.

 

[CarolynF]

I am also itching to start planting our garden but I am not able to do much until I am on my feet again. I will be cleaning the rabbit pens and moving the fertilizer into the garden today. I can do it sitting down because the pens are designed to hose out right into the garden. I am also going to sit and sift the worms from the worm bins so we can add the worm soil to my strawberry planter. I am not sure how much planting I can do sitting down, though, so my beautiful garden space is not being utilized. Yesterday I sat and watched the chickens and ducks so I enjoyed getting outdoors but my ankle swells up painfully when it is not elevated and I can't take anti-inflamatory medication before my surgery. I am so impatient to start healing after 8 months of pain so I can get back to doing things. I have not even been able to go horseback riding since August.

If you haven't already done so you might plant seeds indoors so they'll get started while you're gaining strength. Spinach and lettuce seem to do quite well as transplants. Then of course tomatoes, squash, etc. I think kale works well, too. My chickens go bonkers for kale. I just transplanted 5 fairly large plants yesterday that wintered over in a 5-gal pot. Poor things were really struggling. I love that they're perennials! And just last week I learned that when they try to bolt, that tall skinny stem with the immature blossom buds are called raab and the tender parts are very edible. Who knew! I've been cutting them off and tossing. sheesh. Well now I'm looking forward to the next batch.

 

[Leigti]

Hello, I haven't been on here too much lately. But if any if you get bored could you check out my integrating all chickens into new coop thread? I haven't gotten much input from yet and I was hoping to get some more suggestions before I try it. Thanks. The coop will be done hopefully today, then all I have to do is paint the outside of it.