Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[justbugged]

I have a large covered run that is filled with wood chip (used to be the kids playground). I have hardware cloth that prevents rodents from getting under the coop (as it can be seen behind the blue Jersey Giant pullet in CL's 3rd photo). The cloth bends out at a right angle under the wood chip to form a skirt. My coop is 10"x12" and the run is twice that size. I scoop the poop from the coop and put it in the compost pile; I don't put it in the run. My run does not get too messy except for molted feathers because my chickens free-range all day. They were stuck in the run for 2 weeks this summer while we were in Hawaii, but therun did not get very bad. I occasionally do take a wheelbarrow in there and scoop out the worst of it, but I do this at most once a year. They do hang out there for a month or so at a time when the yard is filled with snow. I hardly had a problem with flies at all this summer. I think it is because the HS kid I hired to care for the birds while I was in Hawaii confused the permethrin dust with the DE, and had quite a heavy layer of permethrin throughout the coop and run. I also hve dust baths in the run with permethrin and DE in them. The other summer I put out Rid-Max Fly Traps. They are non-chemical, reusable traps I hang them with piece of cardboard about an inch underneath. I slide a plastic lid with some stinky food or animal poop onto the cardboard directly under the trap. Flies fly in but can't get out. The trap fills, flies die and dry out. I throw the dessicated flies into the yard and the chickens all come running over to eat them.
http://www.ridmax.com/

I would love have one of these traps. Is there any one that would like to split the shipping? The shipping is the same for one or two.

 

[justbugged]

Quote: The sand that we have is in the covered area.Still you are so right about the sand becoming a lot like cement. The area is the coop that we used for meat birds this year made a similar type of hard surface. We did manage to get that cleaned up, but the rest of the sand is still soft. When we find that we need to do a major clean on the run, we will then cover most of the area with pea gravel.
My poor DH is great with helping me with all the very heavy jobs around here. I am missing him. He has been gone for a full weeks, and he isn't going to get home before late next Friday.

 

[Hinotori]

Hey everyone, I'm a brand new chicken lover and plan on getting 8 chicks this spring, still researching what kind and reading lots and lots. I accidently found this site and already love it! I live in Sequim, WA (between Port Townsend and Port Angeles). Hope to get involved in this forum and make a bunch of peep friends. (Did I say that right?)

 

[justbugged]

Hey everyone, I'm a brand new chicken lover and plan on getting 8 chicks this spring, still researching what kind and reading lots and lots. I accidently found this site and already love it! I live in Sequim, WA (between Port Townsend and Port Angeles). Hope to get involved in this forum and make a bunch of peep friends. (Did I say that right?)

Welcome to the thread. It can be hard to keep up with, but this is a great group of friends. Feel free to join the chat. We seem to talk about almost anything that is happening in our lives. Many years ago my oldest brother lived in the Sequim area. It is a wonderful area.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: How interesting see I cooked a little (7.5lb) pork roast tonight. Tomorrow will be PORK NOODLES with the REAL Chinese egg noodles, peas, green onion and who knows what else Oh yes BUG JUICE !!! And then what is left of the pork will be strained out and made into BBQ pork samitiches for day tree!!!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
Ah bummer. I can't go. My son has State Cross Country Race that weekend down in Eugene, OR. Guess I will have to wait for the Spring Swap in Canby, OR. I am torn between ordering chicks in spring and paying outrageous shipping, or getting chicks at the swap and run risk of getting cockerels. I can have them but I don't want to have more than 2 to keep overmating down. I already have 1 with my 6 hens and have 3 pullets in the grow-out tractor. Looking to get some 2 silkies, 1 frizzle cochin, and either 2 delewares or 2 favorelles. Thanks for replying.
There should be another WWF show in about March. It will be held at the Evergreen Fair grounds. We can let you know as soon as it is announced. I think that the March show tends to be a bigger show, than the winter show in Chehalis, It is still a lot of fun to meet up with a lot of our group in person.
And if you know what you want and pre arrange pick up at the shows, people here are more than willing to transport or hold on to them until you can get them. That's what I did from the Salem show. We are big enablers here! Anything you are interested in inparticular?

You a fan of TMNT?

I have had the nickname "Turtle" since the day I was born. My Grandfather gave it to me. He said I looked like a courting turtle with my head bobbing up and down in the nursery. When TMNT came out I added the "Power" to it. Stuck ever since.
My son and I used to watch TMNT. I loved that show and the movies! Just thought I would ask. I like your screen name.

It brought back good memories.
Where in Oregon are you located? I was born there and all my family is still down there in Woodburn and Salem.

Unincorporated Oregon City. Almost 3 acres, 2 of which is forest we use to play paintball in.

 

[justbugged]

Hey I got caught up for now.

So I am going to go back to mopping the floors. I have managed to get the bedroom and living room done, now it's time for the kitchen and family room. I am so grateful for having water proof flooring in the kitchen and family room. I am having problems with have 3 nasty little puppies. They hate the rain, so they think it's okay to pee in the house. I really need to get them homes soon. They are the worst batch of puppies, because they aren't willing to keep their potty outside. I have taken to crating them for most of the day. I know that they can hold their bladders for more than 8 hours at night. So the should be able to get out the big dog door, and relieve themselves outside. I still need to clean up the sewing room up, so that I can make the nasty little puppies belly bands. I hope that will help in housebreaking them.

 

[Chickielady]

Contact said natives let em carve it out fill it with animals 2x2 and float away !!!

Sorry, I don't get it.

 

[itsren]

Oh I am so very excited, I set 31 eggs in the bator 3 weeks ago (almost) checked them and only lost two as of 3 days ago. I went in to put my 29 eggs into lock down 5 min ago and when I opened it, I heard *PEEP PEEP PEEP* one of the eggs right up front already had a pip in the shell. So I very quickly candled them as I moved them into the ready for lock down bator and I have 10 others that are internaly pipped!!!!!

Although I was really frustrated with the situation of ordering chicks from the hatcheries (didn't do it) and then cause DH and I had to put a tarp on the roof (leaking everywhere) now I am as happy as can be. Pics of lil chicks to fallow in the next day or so!

Yay!!!! I hope you get LOTS of chicks soon!

With the difference between my hatched chicks, and my hatchery ones, I'd have a difficult time buying hatchery chicks again. These babies have done extremely well and have been very healthy from day one. Not a single sign of pasty butt or anything like that. Rhodie and Drama had a very rough start.

 

[Chickielady]

My crows only like to lay in the best of weather. As soon as it cools they say NOPE not until we get more warm sun.

The remaining ones I have lay all year , but I have lights in all coops.