Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Leigti]

I put the baby chicks outside for the first time today. All the others came over to look at them. I'm hoping to get them outside permanently by the end of the week.

I can't seem to download a picture. I just got the new app, has anybody else had this problem? I am using my iPhone.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I gave my chickens cantaloupe and grapes to help them cool off and get more hydrated. They're not interested in either one of them. I have weird chickens, they never seem to like what people say they like.

haven't tried cantaloupe or grapes they love broccoli, cauliflower, watermelon, Kale
and any greens so far

 

[Leigti]

haven't tried cantaloupe or grapes they love broccoli, cauliflower, watermelon, Kale
and any greens so far

Mine don't like broccoli or cauliflower. Or kale. They did eat some spinach tonight. They don't like tomatoes either. It's beginning to be frustrating. Maybe because they free range all day, I'm sure if they were stuck in their run all day long they might decide some of the stuff I give them is yummy.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Mine don't like broccoli or cauliflower. Or kale. They did eat some spinach tonight. They don't like tomatoes either. It's beginning to be frustrating. Maybe because they free range all day, I'm sure if they were stuck in their run all day long they might decide some of the stuff I give them is yummy.

maybe they go in not wanting more? mine always have room for goodies

 

[Gatewayto]

Mine don't like broccoli or cauliflower. Or kale. They did eat some spinach tonight. They don't like tomatoes either. It's beginning to be frustrating. Maybe because they free range all day, I'm sure if they were stuck in their run all day long they might decide some of the stuff I give them is yummy.

Hmm that is an interesting though, free range chicken are more selective on treats...

Talking about mine free range and quarantine chickens only:
Likes:
Both really like scratches (crack corn and what not in there)
Both loves watermelons.
Both enjoy DONUTS! (free trash donuts our donut place - not sugar clothed)
Both loves scrap meats
Both loves noodles
Both loves cooked rice (white more than brown)

Do not like:
Both do not like spent grain (also tried fermented with scratches - they just ate scratches and left spent grain) Now I have lots of spent grain for composing
Both seem to not like strawberries (found this very odd)
Both do not like avocados
Both do not like fruit/vegi peels of any type (even chop and mixed them, they still give me funny looks when I offer these)
The Free range seems to not care too much for oyster/egg shells, but the quarantine will have some and have more of them

These chickens are very picky, worse than my kids.

 

[junebuggena]

My free range flock will eat anything. They haven't refused a treat yet.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I offer crumble all day long and treats like every other day but am planting
rather than buying now to grow them spend less... now they will not eat
the rind of the watermelon or cantaloupe. after I cut them I freeze them on
the real hot days

 

[Duck Drover]

I want to set up a fodder system off our duck pond but I need to look into the best way to circulate our pond water to grow feed.

 

[HenKat]

Question about adding new chickens:

We are thinking about adding some chickens, either adult hens or older pullets. Currently we have 2 RIRs, 15 months old. We have them for eggs, and as pets. One has recently gone broody for the first time. I force her outside as much as possible, haven't resorted to a hanging cage yet...

Anywho... I assume I should wait until she isn't broody anymore for a more successful integration?

I briefly thought about getting fertile eggs for her to hatch, but we aren't allowed to have roos in my neighborhood, and I don't want to risk figuring out what to do with one. I know it would break my heart.

Other info: they are both farm-store chicks. I don't know if they were vaccinated, I assume not. So I was planning on adding other non-vaccinated birds. Also, are there breeds that are easier to integrate? They grew up with a barred rock and gold-laced Wyandotte that we lost to predators at around 5 month old. They all got along really well, and the to RIRs weren't particularly "alpha" at that age, so I hope they'll do well with new additions too.

Thanks in advance. I really appreciate the advice of the experienced members of this group!

 

[Leigti]

Question about adding new chickens:

We are thinking about adding some chickens, either adult hens or older pullets. Currently we have 2 RIRs, 15 months old. We have them for eggs, and as pets. One has recently gone broody for the first time. I force her outside as much as possible, haven't resorted to a hanging cage yet...

Anywho... I assume I should wait until she isn't broody anymore for a more successful integration?

I briefly thought about getting fertile eggs for her to hatch, but we aren't allowed to have roos in my neighborhood, and I don't want to risk figuring out what to do with one. I know it would break my heart.

Other info: they are both farm-store chicks. I don't know if they were vaccinated, I assume not. So I was planning on adding other non-vaccinated birds. Also, are there breeds that are easier to integrate? They grew up with a barred rock and gold-laced Wyandotte that we lost to predators at around 5 month old. They all got along really well, and the to RIRs weren't particularly "alpha" at that age, so I hope they'll do well with new additions too.

Thanks in advance. I really appreciate the advice of the experienced members of this group!

I don't really know if the hen going broody makes any difference or not. Maybe some more experienced people could answer that for you. And I wonder if because she is broody would she raise baby chicks if you got them? Maybe some breeds that you can tell the sex of at a very young age by color? I'm just throwing that out there, I don't know if it's possible.
As far as breeds go, I have a mixed group and they all seem to get along pretty well. I have two silver laced Wyandotte's that are two years old, three Easter Eggars and a black australorp that are around nine months old, and a white Plymouth Rock, a barred rock, and a road island red that are three months old. I have seen the most aggression from the Easter acres.