Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Hinotori]

I would SO love to get an Ameraucana and Red Star pullet right now, but I have two problems. I don't have a place to quarantine them and I need to get rid of my sweet Ginger (avatar EE). That little stinker hasn't layed an egg in 5 days! She sat in the nest box off and on several times yesterday but nuttin'! I need eggs not just a pretty smile!

Oh well, window shopping will have to suffice. sigh.

Most of my EEs have quit laying to molt now. I've taken note of those who laid while molting. The best girl for that was the half silkie, half EE hen who molted end of August, slowing down a little to get it done, then resumed laying as normal.

I'm averaging about 3 blue/green eggs a day from 12 girls. I know a few of them are not laying at all. Combs are all shrunk and pale. With how naked they look, I don't blame them. Thought someone actually plucked Pinky the other day, until I caught her. All full of pinfeathers. I put her down and she shook out a quarter of the feathers she had left.

On the plus side, the silkies decided to start laying again a couple days ago. That gives us eggs to eat since I don't sell the little ones. The rocks have been doing good, as has the one brahma hen, so we've had 4-5 brown eggs a day.

 

[cmsdvm]

There is ALWAYS a risk when buying birds. See sadly there are those people who will sell ANYTHING to ANYBODY regardless of health or friendships. Trust me I (and maybe a few others) WILL speak out if you are looking at buying from these people. Then there are those who I would HIGHLY recommend. While I would say they are known for the health and quality of their birds. There is still the issue of the unseen and then things like different strings of Cocci.
As for Polish or Silkie. I know a couple people with VERY nice birds. here are a few names to look for Cynthia Merril Smith, Cheryl Butler, Jennifer Vidmar, While I am sure there are others (sorry I missed ya) . These are just a few that come to mind.

Jennifer, I am getting pretty low for winter and have few excess birds. I do have a white silkie pullet with a smallish crest and a buff-laced Polish hen that are not quite good enough for breeding quality. It would depend a lot on what other birds you have, though. Crested birds don't see well and can be ruthlessly picked on by other birds. PM me if you are interested and I might be able to bring them to the show.
I know that Sheryl Butler will be selling excellent bantam cochins- smooth and frizzle in black and white, she also has buff and white silkies, a pair of LF buff cochins and some mille fleur d'uccles and showgirls. I also think she is parting with a pair of buff geese and a pair of sebastopols. Her business is riding lessons and she has been about wiped out by the economy, so she will be selling top quality birds that she would otherwise not part with and trying to find homes for her very well-trained older school horses. I would advise anyone interested in purchasing any of these animals to contact her at Creekside Stables in Bothell. She could bring pre-purchased birds to the show. She may also be interested in giving away some of her older birds- still lovely show quality- to someone interested in giving them a good home. I have gotten many birds from Sheryl over the years and found them to be healthy and strong. I believe my oldest cochin from her is now age 7. However, you must remember that my bugs are different from your bugs and thus it goes with all poultry. If I buy a bird from ANYONE, it goes into quarantine and is treated with dewormers, antibiotics, vitamins, Frontline, and observed closely for 2-4 weeks.

 

[CarolynF]

I have some questions for those with experience adding to your flock and quarantining the newbies.
If you got 2 new pullets and had only one coop, what would you do?

-- I assuming they can be outdoors in a pen away from reg. flock, and just cooped up at night.
-- If you get both birds from the same farm can they be kept together even though said farm had them in different pens?
-- Would you put them in a cage/carrier at night? If so what is a realistic size cage to hold them both, let's say they are LF near POL?
-- Do they need a roost in the cage/carrier? A nest box, just in case? Or maybe it would be smarter to get them younger than POL?

Sorry for so many questions, but they gotta be figured out when you're a newbie like me!

Thanks!!!

 

[tomato lady]

I found the new Washington thread. I haven't posted in a couple of years, but I have been enjoying my chickens. My flock was down to 26 chickens due to some raccoons (my neighbor was proud of how many reccoons came to his outside cat dish to eat) and some just aging out. I just got 20 more chicks. They are about 5 weeks old so already feathered out. I was impressed by the bard rocks. Those little guys are so friendly. I am considering getting a few more of them. I think one is a roo because he has real attitude already. I have seen that before in my young roos. Has anyone else noticed that they get the rooster attitude before the physical traits appear?

 

[cmsdvm]

Anyone want a goose for Thanksgiving?

I have a pair of March hatch full-grown grass-fed young geese that need to be butchered and dressed. If anyone volunteers, I will trade one goose for having the other ready to cook. I am in Spanaway. My husband will butcher turkeys and chickens, but draws the line at waterfowl and there is no longer a commercial operation close to us.

 

[CarolynF]

Most of my EEs have quit laying to molt now. I've taken note of those who laid while molting. The best girl for that was the half silkie, half EE hen who molted end of August, slowing down a little to get it done, then resumed laying as normal.

I'm averaging about 3 blue/green eggs a day from 12 girls. I know a few of them are not laying at all. Combs are all shrunk and pale. With how naked they look, I don't blame them. Thought someone actually plucked Pinky the other day, until I caught her. All full of pinfeathers. I put her down and she shook out a quarter of the feathers she had left.

On the plus side, the silkies decided to start laying again a couple days ago. That gives us eggs to eat since I don't sell the little ones. The rocks have been doing good, as has the one brahma hen, so we've had 4-5 brown eggs a day.

You got me thinking about the molting issue so I went out and checked my EE. She was dropping some feathers a few weeks ago, but I didn't see any pin feathers today. I've never her seen drop very many feathers! And the wing we trimmed several months ago still looks the same.

 

[cmsdvm]

I have some questions for those with experience adding to your flock and quarantining the newbies.
If you got 2 new pullets and had only one coop, what would you do?

-- I assuming they can be outdoors in a pen away from reg. flock, and just cooped up at night.
-- If you get both birds from the same farm can they be kept together even though said farm had them in different pens?
-- Would you put them in a cage/carrier at night? If so what is a realistic size cage to hold them both, let's say they are LF near POL?
-- Do they need a roost in the cage/carrier? A nest box, just in case? Or maybe it would be smarter to get them younger than POL?

Sorry for so many questions, but they gotta be figured out when you're a newbie like me!

Thanks!!!

I put new birds in a cage for 5-7 days to cut down on aggression from the old birds. Usually it works very well for hens- not always so well for new roosters.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: So can I make it in a milk carton (1 gallon) and use it over the next few days to fill thier waterer over the next few days. Or dose it go bad and need to be freshly made every day? Also Does this need to costantly be in their water or do I do medicated water and then when it is gone for the day put in normal water? The directions on this are not very good.
Make fresh daily. I measured out meds on my gram scale and just change water at same time every day.
Ok well then I need to know how much to make for a little Quart chick waterer? Does any one know how much I should put in one of these?
OK so I don't see if you have powder or liquid ?? Also I see somebody here that could REALLY answer this. But I will try. I use liquid and add 5 cc per pint. That is what I was told. Sorry Ihave no clue of dose for powder.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: Some birds molt a few feathers at a time so it never shows. On the other hand, some birds look like they've been plucked. It's an individual thing. I've got sisters doing both.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

I found the new Washington thread. I haven't posted in a couple of years, but I have been enjoying my chickens. My flock was down to 26 chickens due to some raccoons (my neighbor was proud of how many reccoons came to his outside cat dish to eat) and some just aging out. I just got 20 more chicks. They are about 5 weeks old so already feathered out. I was impressed by the bard rocks. Those little guys are so friendly. I am considering getting a few more of them. I think one is a roo because he has real attitude already. I have seen that before in my young roos. Has anyone else noticed that they get the rooster attitude before the physical traits appear?

Hey how the heck ya been??? Nice to see ya drop in.