Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[justbugged]

Okay I am going to have to get these nasty little dogs in bed for the night.

 

[KMHunter]

We finally started building the coop today. Finally! All the tools are moved into the detached garage and I'm running a space heater in a vain attempt to keep it comfortable. Still, it's much better than working outside! We went over the plans today and I made a last minute decision to add 4 square feet. It'll be 4X7 with 1X4 being a storage cabinet under the egg boxes, so the hens will have 4X6 living space. It's going to be pretty darned huge for a suburban backyard. The full size didn't sink in until I saw the frame going up in the garage. Hopefully I can integrate it into the yard so it doesn't dominate it, but it's going to be hard. Oh well, I've never been good at keeping a formal, static landscape. My garden changes every year, just like my life.

I read somewhere that 14"X14" is a good size for a LF egg box. Is this true? Hopefully it is, because the overall size allows for 3 egg boxes in that size. It'll have a shed roof with a gutter on the low end. I have one window but would like to get my hands on a second one.

The coop will be 2' off the ground so the run will include the space underneath. How hard is it to clean chicken poop out from under a coop which is built on cement? I'm worried that it'll become a soupy mess in the rainy season. The patio doesn't get standing water, but it doesn't stay dry either. I could spray the hose underneath, but that might just put a fine coat of poop on everything. Any suggestions? Should I put down straw, even though it will get wet?

Jennifer

Do they have access to something other than cement while in the run? Mine don't go into the coop except to lay, so having something to scratch around in while they are in the run area is always good. I used sand. They can scratch and dust bathe in it.

Straw can work, or you can get a bale of alfalfa and put that down for them to scratch in and they eat the leafy stuff and the flowers, which is really good for them.

 

[CarolynF]

YEAH ! Visistors

I have a 2 o'clock dr. appt on Tuesday, but the rest of the week is open. As you know, Yauger is just a couple miles down the road. I think Tamara came last time too, as well as Robin . . . ?

So, if anyone wants to drop in when we have a date let me know. I will make some tasty treats for winter weather!

OHHH, I would SO love to meet with you guys!!! We are in Corvallis right now, for the Oregon Swap and depending on the weather we may or may not head to the coast on Sunday. I'm going to keep my eyes open and see if this can work. One problem might be that we're pulling a pretty long trailer and DH is always cautious about where he hauls it. --- sigh --- I love our trailer but it can put a crimp in my plans sometimes. My best friend's spruce tree put a nice little crease in the side when we spent the night in her driveway once.

 

[CarolynF]

Hello all - south puget here. Interested in raising chicks at home, came here to learn a thing or two :0)

Hi There! And welcome to the group!
I see you avatar is a chinchilla, do you raise those, too? When I was a kid we had some. VERY soft, but they just refused to lay eggs!!!

 

[Hinotori]

Quote:
justbugged has a very nice setup. I loved the drawers. If you ever do get a chance to see it, take it.

 

[CarolynF]

Yes, we're pretty rural. Small town.. about 1500 people, give or take.

I have 5 hens and a rooster. I don't now the breeds. There's four brown hens and a black one who lays green eggs (my kids get a kick out of that). The black hen stopped laying in the last few weeks but the previous owner said they got her as an adult and think she's old. How old is old? I have no clue.

We're having fun with them.. but we have a LOT to learn. I also think we have a ways to go to improve their living conditions and how we will care for them. Their pen is just packed dirt, sloped, and annoying to deal with. Their coop is cute, but needs work and improvements. Little by little we're working to fix things up as $$ allows. They seem to be happy so that's good at least.

Hmmm the black hen would be called and Easter Egger since she lays a green egg. She might be a black Ameraucana. Hens will stop laying when they molt and/or when the days get short. You might choose to put a light in their coop to give them 14-16 hours of light per day. Their egg laying does diminish as they get older starting about their 2nd or 3rd year. I think it depends on their breed, too. They can live several years. Others in this group can give you more information as I'm relatively new with chickens, too. Most of my knowledge is from reading here on BYC than from first hand knowledge.

I do know though, that having sloped ground in the rainy season is an asset! You definitely want the water to run off! I ended up covering my run/pen this summer after a soggy winter and spring, yuk! I have about 3-4" of very coarse sand in their pen, too. Very easy to scoop the poop and keep it clean. Also inexpensive since I can haul a load in the pickup. I use it in their coop, too.

Enjoy!!!

 

[CarolynF]

We finally started building the coop today. Finally! All the tools are moved into the detached garage and I'm running a space heater in a vain attempt to keep it comfortable. Still, it's much better than working outside! We went over the plans today and I made a last minute decision to add 4 square feet. It'll be 4X7 with 1X4 being a storage cabinet under the egg boxes, so the hens will have 4X6 living space. It's going to be pretty darned huge for a suburban backyard. The full size didn't sink in until I saw the frame going up in the garage. Hopefully I can integrate it into the yard so it doesn't dominate it, but it's going to be hard. Oh well, I've never been good at keeping a formal, static landscape. My garden changes every year, just like my life.

I read somewhere that 14"X14" is a good size for a LF egg box. Is this true? Hopefully it is, because the overall size allows for 3 egg boxes in that size. It'll have a shed roof with a gutter on the low end. I have one window but would like to get my hands on a second one.

The coop will be 2' off the ground so the run will include the space underneath. How hard is it to clean chicken poop out from under a coop which is built on cement? I'm worried that it'll become a soupy mess in the rainy season. The patio doesn't get standing water, but it doesn't stay dry either. I could spray the hose underneath, but that might just put a fine coat of poop on everything. Any suggestions? Should I put down straw, even though it will get wet?

Jennifer

Hi Jenn,
You asked about cleaning under the coop. Mine is 3' above ground and I wouldn't want it any lower for a few reasons, including the cleaning. Also, if you have to catch a chicken that insists on hiding under there. It's also a more convenient height for cleaning the floor of the coop.

My nest box is 12" and works fine for us. I've even watched 2 of them share it occasionally, but that's pretty snug - but very entertaining!

 

[Greg Richardson]

 

[Sudsy Chick]

I was able to find a good home for Lyle. He's now living with a woman who runs a horse rescue in Everett. Mom tried looking for the ad I'd placed on Craigslist and found one for a Lavender Orpington rooster in our own neighborhood! He's a young guy (4.5 months) but he's big! He was being bullied by the hens at his old home. This morning, I tried setting him loose among the girls. He casually wandered around while Muffet and crew followed him closely and watched his every move. They wouldn't leave him alone.

They give the poor guy the Stinkeye when the five of them are eating. He'll be ignoring them completely and focusing on food, then someone will give him a look and move toward him. He skitters off a short distance and comes back to eat again. He did peck at a few of them once or twice, but he's just getting used to them and he'll establish his place at the top of the pecking order soon.

Dawn, I'm truly sorry that I had to give Lyle to someone else. He saved my Pudge from that hawk and I'm eternally grateful for that. But he did pick on the girls needlessly during his entire time here. They didn't do anything at the time to deserve it and it bothered me to death. My girls' happiness and well-being are my top priorities and they were fairly unhappy that he was bullying them. I did learn that roosters are a great thing to have around if you have predators in the area. That is why we decided to get another rooster so soon. If he picks on the girls needlessly after the pecking order struggle is all over, I will find him a new home. That is how things work around here.

Also, hi Lindsay!


Here he is! He's so handsome.

No need to apologize!!! I completely understand - I would not let allow a rooster to pick on my hens either.

Lyle is extremely lucky that he is not in our fridge with the other cockerels from this year's hatch!

Beautiful new boy - I hope he works out better!

 

[Sudsy Chick]

Greg - thank you for all the informative posts. I especially enjoyed the 'make your own feed' post.

Chickielady - congrats on your hatch! I hope your roof is getting closer to being on your house!

Welcome to all the new folks!

I also wanted to tell you all that the Seattle Farm Co-op is having a Harvest Party on November 11th.

I am hoping to bring my soap to barter, and also read that they are bringing a shipment of egg skelters to the party! I have a feeling they will sell out.

If you're in the area and not yet a member - you might want to check it out!

The prices are pretty good - and even better - they have a tool library you can borrow from including incubators, plucker, etc. (Those are the two things I've asked about and borrowed for no charge.)