Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[FlyRobinFly]

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Thanks but I think that would be overkill in our small house.

 

[Slinglings]

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

My coop is on wheels and I have been parking it on the patio since its been raining. It isn't hard at all to clean the poop off the patio ..a hard spray from the hose, then rinse it all into the grass. I'm sure there is poop everywhere, but as long as I can't see it, it doesn't bother me
They only hang out in there when it is raining, so when it is dry there is hardly any poop in the run to clean up.

I think straw would be a real pain to clean up. My coop is about two feet above the run and it is hard to get under there to do anything.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

LOL, am I the only one who gets this or did the "other" replies get deleted? Check out the username and the "grass" in parentheses. Plus the original post was edited. LOL, looks like he's in the "club" already.

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[Slinglings]

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.)

Do you need to be a member to attend the party?

 

[FlyRobinFly]

Quote:

That was my thought too!

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Being both a chicken owner, and a chicken myself, I am going one picture per post on the elder siblings of the Hamburgs CL just hatched.


Hatching day (one of these chicks got stepped on. Note the three Australorp eggs Malvina layed while setting!)

 

[itsren]

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You have no idea how many times I've wondered that myself!

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Week old:

(I should note that getting one of these rocket powered chickies in the picture, in focus, was always a challenge, so there are few pics of all six of them)

 

[KMHunter]

LOL, am I the only one who gets this or did the "other" replies get deleted? Check out the username and the "grass" in parentheses. Plus the original post was edited. LOL, looks like he's in the "club" already.

Ha!  You guys are great greeters!

Has anyone fed "grass" clippings to their chickens? j/w....

I usually let my chickens cut the grass for me.  LOL.

Confirm this with the long-time chicken owners... but, my thoughts are, if you do feed grass clippings, don't put in much at a time.  Grass molds very fast and I don't believe chickens should be consuming mold.

I think it was being avoided. I know I was. I don't know if I would get slapped for it but didn't want to go there. Pretty funny though. I wonder what would happen to the chickens? Lol!

 

[itsren]

I read somewhere that 14"X14" is a good size for a LF egg box. Is this true?

Yes - that's a good size if you want the option to get larger breeds. I believe mine is ether 14x14 or 15x15 and my Light Brahma is comfortable in it.