Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Chickielady]

Did you hear that Ole and Lena froze to death at a Bemidji drive-in theater? They went to see a movie called "Closed for the Winter."

 

[Chickielady]

Pictures Please!!!!

I didn't realize you were doing AMs this year!

Will try...I am swamped with work right now, have not even had food or coffee yet today & loads of Doc visits & tests and scans and stuff..............I have pics on the camera and have not uploaded them yet.

 

[Chickielady]

Great question. I've been using sand for five years and love it. I've learned a few lessons, let me see if I can relay a few that will be helpful.
If the ground has a good slope, that's good but only if the area in question is at the top of the slope. Sand holds onto a lot of water, even coarse sand, so keep it dry. Don't expect the water to flow through it. If you need water to flow THROUGH the area take a 2 pronged approach: 1) Divert the water so it doesn't flow into the area. 2) Create drainage with round rocks like that used for drainage fields. But remember, keeping the water out is far more effective and dealing with it once it gets in.

Seriously.... sand is only a good thing when it's kept dry (or slightly damp). Ask me how I know! But in a wet spot nothing is great, you really have to keep the rain and water out in most any situation.

Another thing I learned is that our weather comes in from the South. So if at all possible make the pen/run as wide as possible in the North-to-South direction, so when the wind and rain comes more of the ground can stay dry. We didn't so I ended up using heavy clear marine plastic to make sides for the pens to keep the rain from blowing in. I'd also suggest an overhang that sticks out as far as possible for the same reason.

We have tried so many things here in this super snot-slick clay we have, and nothing works except pea gravel.
Even that we have to "wash" with the high power water once in a while as it eventaully gets ground down into the clay & the goo burps up so you cannot see one peiece of gravel anywhere !
The high pressure hose washes the gooey clay off & presto! Fresh pea gravel.

Oyster shell from the farms out here works, but I do not use it anymore despite it being free, as the birds try to rotovate & end up cutting their feet on sharp pieces of shell.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I have used the stall pellets then shavings once the birds decimated the ground
might do the pea gravel idea

once they decimate the new run as the grass/crab grass
has not been mowed in the last two weeks since it has been started but near
finished now.
a whole new route we have raised three feral cat's next to the chicken coup and connected run for about 10
months now, yesterday I walked in to my coup to be greeted by two cats laying in the run chickens walking about
like it was all very normal

I was the one freaking out but not one feather had been touched and
normal egg counts like any other day

little darlings walked up the tarp that covers the coop getting in the run above the door
obviously showing me the weak spot but I have come to believe we have a weird karma here
anyway

 

[pennyJo1960]

Did you hear that Ole and Lena froze to death at a Bemidji drive-in theater? They went to see a movie called "Closed for the Winter."

did they have pretty good parking at least

 

[GardenDad]

Hello from Lacey, Washington. My little family and I just joined the ranks of the backyard chicken lovers.

 

[Leigti]

Hello from Lacey, Washington. My little family and I just joined the ranks of the backyard chicken lovers.

welcome to the forum!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Hello from Lacey, Washington. My little family and I just joined the ranks of the backyard chicken lovers.

so glad you stopped in and yes

so glad you stopped in good looking peeps
and nice coop with run we are in Mossyrock not so far away.
looking through the many forums you will find a wealth of information any
questions feel free to as any of us.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good morning every one doesn't want to rain not enough sun new run not done

 

[Banaynaychicken]

allo oh Washingtonians.

So i'v recently heard about the great increase in chicken owners, and when i move to washington, I want to go into something involving chickens (A little more than Breeding/Selling of course)

I heard that an Avian Veterinarian is actually a high paying job that people are looking for, because many vets willnot take birds, as they do not know thier dieases and ailments enough to help/id.

Is there anywhere is Washington, close to the La Conner area that I could earn a degree as an Avian Vet?