Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Chickielady]

Hello Washington!
Just stopping by to introduce myself. I have a flock of 13 chickens in my backyard and 4 in a brooder on my kitchen table.
I started with 4 chickens a little over one year ago because my wife was having difficulty with standard eggs, and I wanted more control over what we eat.
I built my own coop from recycled barn wood. As far as I am concerned they are pets with the added bonus of fresh eggs.


My Flock
3 Black sex link
2 Americana
2 gold sex link
2 silver laced Wyandotte
1 bared rock
1 coco moran
1 austalorp
1 novogen
1 lemon cochen
3 game hens 1 each
Blue red
Blue
Crele

HOWDY neighbor !

 

[Chickielady]

Well, I decided it was time to move the chicks outside. I've been sick all week, haven't gotten anything done. But decided that the chickens don't care if I coughed all over them so I might as well try to get one project done. They are around six weeks old so I think they'll do fine. I will put them in the coop in their little cat carrier at night.

Try that brooder deal I just did.......................PIPE tape, plugged into a socket & wrapped round & round in a tub or crate & fire bricks on top, then a sack of playsand..............even if the power goes off for 10 hours or so, the sand will retain warmth.
Inddors, it gets to 120 degrees at 1" below the surface, and on the surface it stays about 80, my new hatched babies love it..it is easy to clean after them with a sifter, and non flammable....and the bricks are a great heat sink.........and an added bonus is that the chicks NEED sand & grit, so they are super happy in their sand box !

I want to go in there with them...

 

[Chickielady]

I planted tomatoes today......................I ignored Mother Nature and I filled my tomato pots, all 12 of them, and it started to rain, then I went into the barn and dibbled my pots and planted the seed..................still have ssooooooooooooo many more veg to go.
It is crazy, usually we are putting 12" tomatoe starts in the soil, about the 2nd week of April.........we are so late this year !
Now the wind is howling again !

 

[pennyJo1960]

Way cool I did get out planted all last years seeds in waiting
to get the seed order from Gurnsey seed have two fairly long starter
tubs about 3 1/2 ft long for them to get a start in
we had sunshine this evening

 

[junebuggena]

It stopped raining here for about an hour. Hoping for a dry day tomorrow.

 

[pennyJo1960]

It stopped raining here for about an hour. Hoping for a dry day tomorrow.

oh wouldn't that be nice supposedly we will have dry through the weekend at least
would you be open to supply me with a few more EE in the next two months

 

[junebuggena]

oh wouldn't that be nice supposedly we will have dry through the weekend at least
would you be open to supply me with a few more EE in the next two months

Most definitely. I'm hatching just about every month now. I should have a bunch ready by the first week of May.

 

[Leigti]

Looking good. I need to get a covered spot for my young ones. 

About two thirds of the run is covered. Thank god because it will never quit raining. I am so sick of the rain I could just scream! I put the black rug on top so that the big chickens wouldn't jump up there and pooped through the bars. And they wouldn't be intimidating the young chicks.
I now have all the chickens locked in their run for the next few weeks. I want to try to get some grass etc. growing in the yard and it won't happen with them out there. So I will be giving them more entertainment in the run. Somethings to climb on etc. and they will always have the new little checks to stare at.
I decided this year I'm going to go for a miniature version of rotating pastures. I'm going to let my chickens in only part of the yard for a day or two then rotate them to another party. Maybe this will keep my yard from being a mud pit next winter.

 

[Leigti]

Try that brooder deal I just did.......................PIPE tape, plugged into a socket & wrapped round & round in a tub or crate & fire bricks on top, then a sack of playsand..............even if the power goes off for 10 hours or so, the sand will retain warmth.
Inddors, it gets to 120 degrees at 1" below the surface, and on the surface it stays about 80, my new hatched babies love it..it is easy to clean after them with a sifter, and non flammable....and the bricks are a great heat sink.........and an added bonus is that the chicks NEED sand & grit, so they are super happy in their sand box !

I want to go in there with them...

That does sound interesting. I don't have any electricity out to the coop. I think the little chicks will do fine.

 

[heavenlyducks]

Hi,
I posted this in the new thread and was advised to post in my state thread.
I've been doing a lot of research and I found this forum to be very helpful. I live in the city with neighbors on both sides of me. I checked our ordinance which allows small flock of domesticated ducks. I am looking at getting no more then three ducks for pets, eggs and weed control. I have a small grassy area about 2500 square feet that is totally organic Kentucky blue grass no weed killer or fertilizer ever! I hand weed dandelions. Is it unrealistic to think the ducks will help keep dandelions down? Also will ducks be good for my grass or kill it if let to forage daily? I'm hoping that's a big enough area for three ducks that they will be a benefit and not kill the grass. I have a six foot fence completely secure. I realize I will need to pick a none flying breed. Best quiet, sweet, pet breeds? I also have a covered dog kennel that I can convert into a duck enclosure at night with a duck house. I'm prepared for them to trample grass in small duck enclosure. I plan to get day old or couple day old ducklings in hopes of imprinting. I work from home so I have all the time. Should I get one duck at a time for imprinting? I would worry at night they would be lonely. If you raise just one duckling at a time what do you do when you have to leave them? With puppies it is ok to leave them in a small safe enclosure for short periods of time alone. Would a duckling be similar? I realize ducks are flock animals as dogs are pack animals. They do better in pairs. Would two or three imprint? Suggestions here? And yes I have dogs and realize I will need to be very careful. However my Chihuahuas are all elderly and have lost their teeth sad.png And my golden retriever also a senior will not be left unattended in presence of ducks. I ordered the duckling diaper package from the mother goose website. I've read on here some people use duck diapers on their pets. Hopefully this will make imprinting cleaner smile.png I would love to just get one at a time but not sure if people have success with this. Any suggestions thoughts welcomed.