Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[theceltichorse]

and cost? does she have true marans?

She does not. I am checking one other source though. Can you PM me your zip code if they have them for shipping estimate?

 

[Duck Drover]

As I've maxed out on chickens and can't hatch anymore, I've taken to hatching meal worm beetles! Growing my own to use as treats for my birds and for the wild bird babies I raise during the summer for the wildlife rescue!

I just spent the afternoon sorting pupae and beetles in the mealworm colony at the wildlife rescue where I volunteer! Lol

I used to raise my own but I stopped when we no longer had a bearded dragon. I should have fed them to the chickens but I could not freeze dry them and I was afraid the chickens would just let them get away.

I want to start a mealworm colony again but I am even more determined to start a colony of BSFL (black soldier fly larvae) this year due to their consumption of poop and their self-sorting instinct. I am hoping to trap some eggs to get started but I might have to buy some. I want to collect eggs from the flies and then release them to populate our yard and neighborhood as well. The adult flies do not eat so they are not pests but they supposedly give off a scent that works as a pesky fly repellant. It is worth trying now that I have done the research and I can set up a bevy of quail using BSFL to manage their poop at the same time. I am using greencone composters for dog poop so I need to get some BSFL going in them too in order to help the earthworms take care of it underground (the greencone composters have a basket that goes into the soil so we use it like a dog loo).

The quail I hatched for the wildlife rescue love the mealworms so when I hatch my own quail I want to at least feed them mealworms even if the chickens are not into them. The babies chase after them and gobble them up in the brooder.

 

[theceltichorse]

I just spent the afternoon sorting pupae and beetles in the mealworm colony at the wildlife rescue where I volunteer! Lol

I used to raise my own but I stopped when we no longer had a bearded dragon. I should have fed them to the chickens but I could not freeze dry them and I was afraid the chickens would just let them get away.

I want to start a mealworm colony again but I am even more determined to start a colony of BSFL (black soldier fly larvae) this year due to their consumption of poop and their self-sorting instinct. I am hoping to trap some eggs to get started but I might have to buy some. I want to collect eggs from the flies and then release them to populate our yard and neighborhood as well. The adult flies do not eat so they are not pests but they supposedly give off a scent that works as a pesky fly repellant. It is worth trying now that I have done the research and I can set up a bevy of quail using BSFL to manage their poop at the same time. I am using greencone composters for dog poop so I need to get some BSFL going in them too in order to help the earthworms take care of it underground (the greencone composters have a basket that goes into the soil so we use it like a dog loo).

The quail I hatched for the wildlife rescue love the mealworms so when I hatch my own quail I want to at least feed them mealworms even if the chickens are not into them. The babies chase after them and gobble them up in the brooder.

My older chicks love the freeze dried ones. Haven't tried them with live yet. Going to try them and my new babies soon I think.

As these are being raised for the wild bird babies this summer, I am holding off feeding any to my chickens! Figure, they are getting bugs outside right now.

 

[Chickielady]

Need advice on what to grow in my 3 garden beds! Each bed is 4'x8'. One bed will have a trellis- I am willing to figure out how to make trellises for the other two.

What are some of your suggestions on what to plant? I am wanting to have/like to eat:

Sugar Snap Peas
Tomatoes
Radishes
Kale
Leaf Lettuce
Beets
Carrots
Broccoli
Beans (maybe)
Cucumber
Zucchini
Peppers
Strawberries

Does this look like a pretty complete list?

I think my problem is that I think I have to fill in EVERY SQUARE INCH of each bed...

Beans are #1 on my list...pole romano beans we LOVE.in a 20 foot row, we get over 100# of fat awesome stringless beans a year.
That is a laundry basket...and we pick every 2-3 days.


See my row of beans below:




Don't forget Chives ! Awesome for dressing on any foods, and super easy to dehydrate, jar & save for over winter seasoning.


I have to fence it off or the chickens eat it all...mine are garlic chives.when they bloom, we save, and freeze the purple blooms, which are so yummy on salads or used as a garnish on anything...tater salad ? Meats ? BBQ vegies ? YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

 

[Chickielady]

I just spent the afternoon sorting pupae and beetles in the mealworm colony at the wildlife rescue where I volunteer! Lol

I used to raise my own but I stopped when we no longer had a bearded dragon. I should have fed them to the chickens but I could not freeze dry them and I was afraid the chickens would just let them get away.

I want to start a mealworm colony again but I am even more determined to start a colony of BSFL (black soldier fly larvae) this year due to their consumption of poop and their self-sorting instinct. I am hoping to trap some eggs to get started but I might have to buy some. I want to collect eggs from the flies and then release them to populate our yard and neighborhood as well. The adult flies do not eat so they are not pests but they supposedly give off a scent that works as a pesky fly repellant. It is worth trying now that I have done the research and I can set up a bevy of quail using BSFL to manage their poop at the same time. I am using greencone composters for dog poop so I need to get some BSFL going in them too in order to help the earthworms take care of it underground (the greencone composters have a basket that goes into the soil so we use it like a dog loo).

The quail I hatched for the wildlife rescue love the mealworms so when I hatch my own quail I want to at least feed them mealworms even if the chickens are not into them. The babies chase after them and gobble them up in the brooder.

I could not touch one....ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww ! More power to you though !

 

[theceltichorse]

Beans are #1 on my list...pole romano beans we LOVE.in a 20 foot row, we get over 100# of fat awesome stringless beans a year. That is a laundry basket...and we pick every 2-3 days. See my row of beans below: I love chives! I like beans too, but not that many! LOL Don't forget Chives ! Awesome for dressing on any foods, and super easy to dehydrate, jar & save for over winter seasoning. I have to fence it off or the chickens eat it all...mine are garlic chives.when they bloom, we save, and freeze the purple blooms, which are so yummy on salads or used as a garnish on anything...tater salad ? Meats ? BBQ vegies ? YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

 

[theceltichorse]

 I could not touch one....ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww ! More power to you though !  

I didn't think I'd be able to not to long ago. Then I got into wildlife rescue! Which started this whole landslide! LOL

 

[Chickielady]

I didn't think I'd be able to not to long ago. Then I got into wildlife rescue! Which started this whole landslide! LOL

nope, ain't gonna happen...they are all yours !

 

[Chickielady]

I took pics of my new babies...these are from 1) Exchequer Cockerel

and 2) Silver Am cockerel

OVER

1) Black Am pullets

2) OE hen (blue copper maransx blue Am ) hen colored Splash

3) OE hen (blue copper marans x blue Am) hen colored blue

So the mommas are black Am, OE blue and OE splash....and here is the babies super cool colors !

















The blue ones, with the odd dots on the head are so interesting!
Then the black one with a big dot & dash on the head......
The yellow guy is a Sulmtaler who was a bit sticky in the egg & required assistance, but is fine now...
A few days more & we will see def combs...so far I saw 1 with standard comb for sure...the rest look like peas...

 

[theceltichorse]

I took pics of my new babies...these are from 1) Exchequer Cockerel and 2) Silver Am cockerel OVER 1) Black Am pullets 2) OE hen (blue copper maransx blue Am ) hen colored Splash 3) OE hen (blue copper marans x blue Am) hen colored blue So the mommas are black Am, OE blue and OE splash....and here is the babies super cool colors ! The blue ones, with the odd dots on the head are so interesting! Then the black one with a big dot & dash on the head...... The yellow guy is a Sulmtaler who was a bit sticky in the egg & required assistance, but is fine now... A few days more & we will see def combs...so far I saw 1 with standard comb for sure...the rest look like peas...

They are adorable! Love the colors.