Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Smokerbill]

Some boys are great off the get go. Better to have a plan not use it.
Pallets can be used for a great start.

I have a bunch of pallets, good idea! And if things get too bad I'll just pull out the pressure cooker. LOL

 

[ValerieJ]

I have a bunch of pallets, good idea! And if things get too bad I'll just pull out the pressure cooker. LOL

It won't be bad permanently. They just go through a hormonal stage and can be pretty rough on the hens during that time.

There are some cute pallet coops in the coop section of this site. Go to that section and search for pallet coops.

 

[ValerieJ]

Actually, @Smokerbill, you are in Winlock, right? I have a coop I can give you. It needs to be cleaned up, it's our original coop, but you can have it if you want it. I am in Toledo, so not too far from you. Just let me know if you're interested. One can never have too many coops!!!! I have 5 now. DM me if you're interested.

 

[Smokerbill]

Big gardening day for me. I had too much mulch on two of my raised beds, so I raked it all to one side on one of the beds, and raked it to the ground next to the bed on the other one. I covered the bed I'm planting tomatoes and peppers in with greenhouse plastic, trying to raise the soil temperature.

I planted artichokes, wildflowers, turnips, beets, chard and carrots. If I can get up out of my easy chair again I might plant some more. I have zinnia and marigold plants I started from seed. Might plant the marigolds in the corners of the beds as bug repellent, and zinnias to attract pollinators. Also have basil plant I started and they're not looking too good in the starter pots. Might as well set them out too.

This is my gardening area. Four raised beds of various sizes, plus a small bed with rhubarb. And a barrel with horseradish.

The dang European paper wasps are swarming all around my property, busy trying to build their nests. Last year I tried spraying some poison, which kind of worked. Can't do that this year. Don't want the chicks eating poisoned bugs. I guess the wasps are great for gardens, preying on a lot of different types of damaging insects. This year I guess it's live and let live re the wasps.

 

[Smokerbill]

Actually, @Smokerbill, you are in Winlock, right? I have a coop I can give you. It needs to be cleaned up, it's our original coop, but you can have it if you want it. I am in Toledo, so not too far from you. Just let me know if you're interested. One can never have too many coops!!!! I have 5 now. DM me if you're interested.

Yes I am. Thanks for the offer! Let me sleep on it and I'll get back to you and let you know. What size is it? Small?

 

[ValerieJ]

The garden beds look good.

The dang European paper wasps are swarming all around my property, busy trying to build their nests. Last year I tried spraying some poison, which kind of worked. Can't do that this year. Don't want the chicks eating poisoned bugs. I guess the wasps are great for gardens, preying on a lot of different types of damaging insects. This year I guess it's live and let live re the wasps.

We had problems with the wasps too last year. I was hoping it was a one year deal.

 

[Smokerbill]

The garden beds look good.


We had problems with the wasps too last year. I was hoping it was a one year deal.

Thanks. Maybe my chickens will acquire an appetite for the little yellow striped critters.

 

[ValerieJ]

Yes I am. Thanks for the offer! Let me sleep on it and I'll get back to you and let you know. What size is it? Small?

It's a 4 x 8 raised coop with external nesting boxes. My hubby made it so it is sturdy. But 5 years in the elements and it could use a power wash and maybe some paint. The ladder needs some work as I recall, but I can get hubby to do that if need be.

 

[Smokerbill]

It's a 4 x 8 raised coop with external nesting boxes. My hubby made it so it is sturdy. But 5 years in the elements and it could use a power wash and maybe some paint. The ladder needs some work as I recall, but I can get hubby to do that if need be.

I'm going to pass on it. I just don't think I want to have another coop around just yet, but it's a great offer. Thanks again!

Shoot, my first coop is still in the construction stage. Walls, a window, and ventilation are in place, and the chicks are locked inside it for now, until I get the run area finished up. When they go to the run I can build and install the nest boxes. I'm not ready for one of them to jump out and do some renegade free ranging. Don't think I could catch one to get it back in the coop.

 

[Smokerbill]

I just realized that all the swallows buzzing around my property are probably eating those paper wasps. I certainly hope so. The things like to congregate at the front door of my house. Luckily they don't seem to be aggressive.