Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Nikki99]

Oh yum!! You're making my mouth water and it's only Wednesday!! Stop it!!

 

[hallerlake]

I realized one of my Brabanter pullets had a bloody rear end this morning. When I got a close look, there was an entire egg hanging out her rear end completely covered with skin. The vent hadn't stretched at all. I cut a slit, removed the egg. Washed her rear with warm water, and sprayed it with Blu-kote. She's in a crate in the laundry room. I've given her grower feed since I have it and it's a little higher in protein. I hope she recovers. Is there something else I should do?

 

[Stumpfarmer]

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)

Carolyn, I'd love some Crocosmia! I'm not bringing plants to trade due to being on 100% overload, but also am the easiest side trip ever off I-5, honest. (again: lilacs, a couple kinds of roses, Carolina Alspice and Hamamellis mollis on offer).

 

[Hinotori]

Quote:
I love nasties. They are nice an peppery and very pretty.

I have a gardening question. The soil is fairly rocky here but the biggest issue is the water if it rains to much. I'm thinking of putting strawbales out in the garden, two side by side, and scooping out the center area to about halfway down and filling that with compost and soil up to the top. Would squash grow ok in that?

I know the acorn squash that came up volunteer this year loved the pile of composting chicken litter. The ones that came up in the regular soil didn't do so well, but the ones in the pile were great.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

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?

My Hamburgs' combs are purplish when they're out of lay; they go red as their egg-laying hormones rise. It freaked me out last October.

Mr. Baum suggests increasing iron levels during molt (he says put rusty nails in their water, but the book was written in 1886. I put EZ Iron in their rice). If your chickens are on soil in Western Washington they should be getting sufficient iron from that, though.

 

[Hinotori]

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 going. I have birds to get, and hopefully I can catch one of the lectures.

 

[Chickielady]

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 love it !!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chickielady]

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.

This would be an issue on this acerage ?
I want something deciduous, with color, and especially fall color, that will let sun in in winter, shade in summer....mowing underneath to keep seedlings at bay....I already planted a Crimson King (Queen ?) red/purple leaves...beautiful tree.

 

[VelvettFog]

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...

DW and I will be there.

 

[Chickielady]

CR -- Great, got it.

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.

CL -- Crocosmia & dahlias, check.

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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.

My vote as well...lunch meats, cheeses, vegie trays, fruit trays, "finger foods" ice chest of pop & water....paper plates, breads (assorted & GF)
Mustard, mayo, etc, pickles/relish tray ? Maybe Tater & macaroni salad ?

assorted chips, dips ???
and desserts, doughnuts, fudge & cookies ??????????