Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[VelvettFog]

I think I have a real flock problem and it makes me so sad to think what might have to happen. If y'all remember my girls had a "cold" (yes I know chickens don't get colds) a few months back but it was treated and taken care of by Denagard. I've been using the bleach solution in their water. Haven't noticed any sneezing like they were doing but I started seeing my Orpingtons combs turning slightly bluish purple in the last couple weeks. This morning my Lucy looks kinda bad in her comb. It's about half purple. I have no idea how that happened or if they have another (or the same) respiratory thing going on. I just want healthy freaking birds! I've done everything right, I clean out the poop shelf regularly and keep the run clean. How does this continue to happen to my happy backyard flock? Are they picking up crap from wild birds? If I kill all 12 of them and start over, won't they just catch the same thing? What do I do to get my birds healthy? I don't want them in respiratory distress! They are still laying eggs well; I get 6-8 per day from 10-11 confirmed layers.

Hows the ventilation in the coop? My research into 'purple combs' suggests an oxygen deficiency. This can be caused by an increase in ammonia.

Are there any other symptoms besides the purple combs?

 

[Chickielady]

Are you still collecting feed sacks for totes?

Yes and no.
If they are rare, like horses or nice pic of dogs, game feed, pheasants/ducks/turkeys.... then yes.
But Purina chicken/chick feed, no.
I have alot of them.
Thanks anyways !!!

 

[Chickielady]

Hows the ventilation in the coop? My research into 'purple combs' suggests an oxygen deficiency. This can be caused by an increase in ammonia.

Are there any other symptoms besides the purple combs?

Purple combs, or worse, blue combs, can be a sign of cyanosis...you are correct.
That said, usually if it is cyanosis , the bird is gasping for air...and most at that point can barely walk for lack of Oxygen, and are on death's doorstep at that point.

 

[SadieSue]

So I'm wondering just who is planning on attending the show in Chehalis? I've had it on my calendar since I first heard the date, there are some really cool events I want to attend. It looks like now if I do get to go at all it will just be for a couple of quick hours. I met with the director of an upcoming show last evening and he's invited me to callbacks for "The Children's Hour" (for a pretty major role) at Lakewood Playhouse and of course callbacks are this Saturday!

It's been a year since my last show so of course I'm always excited about the possibility of a new one, but come on! Why does it all have to happen on the same day? I'm just waiting for an email today that will give me a clearer picture of Saturday's callback schedule. I told DH that if I can at least go in the morning that #1 - he's going with me and #2 - we're going early so I can see everyone!

Hoping my scheduling works out...

I'm looking for my BYC t-shirt so I can be easily recognized, but just in case I can't find it, here's my latest "head shot". I'm sporting an early, early Christmas present from my BFF who says she just could NOT resist.


You guys know you're jealous...

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: The leaves smother everything they fall on except their seedlings which sprout by the tens of thousands every year. After a while, they drop branches and trunks for no apparent reason.

 

[CarolynF]

Hi All,
Back in town and getting ready for Chehalis Saturday and I'm even bringing a good friend that also has chickens... fun day all around.

Now I need to know....
1. Are we doing a food related get-together? I need to know what kind of food to bring and when/where are we meeting?
2. Are we doing name tags?
3. Does anyone want red dahlia tubers, Liatris bulbs, a thyme plant, a lavender plant, cilantro seeds? I'd rather not drag them around if no one wants them.

I'm sure looking forward to seeing y'all!


ETA: Also Crocosmia bulbs (Lucifer, the tall red one)

I would like a few Dahlia, Liatris and a little lavender PLEASE.

CR -- Great, got it.

Great questions!! Looking forward to meeting everyone!

I would love the thyme and lavender plants and some cilantro seeds!! We are planting a garden in the spring, I can't wait!!

Nikki99 -- CR claimed the lavender plant. The thyme is yours. I'll bring the cilantro seeds.
When you're looking at lavender for your garden, remember English Lavender for cooking. French for everything else.

I would LOVE a few Crocosmia bulbs !!! maybe a few Dahlias too !!!

CL -- Crocosmia & dahlias, check.

We haven't figured that out. Not really any place to actually put it on. IF it doesn't rain, I guess there might be a few picnic tables or something. So I am not sure we are doing something this time or not. I am prepared to get sandwich makings if we do. We are thinking of at least staging the food at CR's trailer. If anyone has room for card table in their vehicle, we could do it that way. I am going to see if I can swing it.

Yes my trailer is available BUT the trailer is ONLY 6'x12'. I also have a 6' folding table and a 10 x 10 pop up if we need it. I plan to try to find a close location for the trailer maybe under one of the covered areas . Look for a little white trailer with some kind of pink flags on it!!! Maybe Friday when we get the trailer set and see if I can tap a current bush SOMEBODY (hint hint) with net on phone can post a better idea of plan.

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Sounds like we have the framework of a plan here.....
-- CR has the trailer that will hold his 6 ft table. We can put the food in there. (It's a bit more discrete, too, being inside).
-- If he can park the trailer in or alongside a covered area, we can sit our chairs there (remember BYO Chairs).
-- If a covered area isn't available, how about setting the 10 x 10 pop-up at the tail end of the trailer and gathering there? With both CR & CL's pop up that would really work well! (Or whatever CR thinks best at the time.)
-- Electricity is an unknown, so don't count on it.

-- The weather is predicted to be low 50s & wet. A cozy leisurely sit-down-and-chew-the-fat gathering may turn into a shorter hunker-down-and-hand-me-a-warm-mug sort of gathering. But either way, would it work to set 12:30 as the time to gather?

-- BYO Beverages whether hot or cold. Is that okay?

-- Now... the really big question.... Meal or Snacks? My vote is to keep it simple - just snacks.

 

[Nikki99]

Quote:
OOOh, I'll take it!!! Ok fill me in....handfuls of nasties? Lol. What's this awesomeness about? Is sweet meat winter squash different then winter squash?

So I'm wondering just who is planning on attending the show in Chehalis? I've had it on my calendar since I first heard the date, there are some really cool events I want to attend. It looks like now if I do get to go at all it will just be for a couple of quick hours. I met with the director of an upcoming show last evening and he's invited me to callbacks for "The Children's Hour" (for a pretty major role) at Lakewood Playhouse and of course callbacks are this Saturday!

It's been a year since my last show so of course I'm always excited about the possibility of a new one, but come on! Why does it all have to happen on the same day? I'm just waiting for an email today that will give me a clearer picture of Saturday's callback schedule. I told DH that if I can at least go in the morning that #1 - he's going with me and #2 - we're going early so I can see everyone!

Hoping my scheduling works out...

I'm looking for my BYC t-shirt so I can be easily recognized, but just in case I can't find it, here's my latest "head shot". I'm sporting an early, early Christmas present from my BFF who says she just could NOT resist.


You guys know you're jealous...

I'm coming, I'm coming!!!!! I'm so excited!! I wanted to go to the last show but schedules wouldn't allow it but I get to come to this one w/DH, DS and DD in tow!

So, how does this work? Do we wear name tags with our names and BYC member or what? How do we know we are BYC members and not just an every day chicken show goer?

 

[Nikki99]

Quote:
This sounds great!!! Omg I'm getting so excited! Thanks for the thyme and cilantro! And thanks for all the great info as far as BYO chairs and drinks, I never woulda known and then we woulda been standing around lookin silly.

I vote snacks!! JMO

Oh, does anyone know the hours of the show for Saturday?

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote: When I pick them up, a couple seem to have a bit of trouble breathing, but nobody stumbles around, all are active all day out hunting bugs and eating grass and ranging the whole yard. All are still laying well. Ventilation in the coop might not be ideal; if you remember there are 2 small vents in the peaks on both side of the coop, there's also 2 pop door size holes always open at the floor level of the coop on opposite sides; then, Renee and I opened up the window on the door to be about 20"x30" if I had to estimate. I've always said it wasn't ideal, but people just kept telling me to wait and see before cutting more holes in the coop.

Quote: My birds don't resemble birds about to die. I don't know how else to describe them other than purpleish combs (just a couple of them) and a slight click in breathing when I handle them but not at other times.

 

[SadieSue]

Yes, I would vote to keep it simple too. Finger foods, snacks, small plates. We've had some killer pot lucks in the past, but with lack of space, etc., it seems the simpler, the better. I'll probably make peanut butter fudge again.