Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
Thanks! I like learning all I can about this stuff. However we can get wood in the future for burning we'll grab it! I would have been hesitant to purchase or nap this wood before now, but not anymore!

 

[FirewifeJess]

Have any of you ever tried Kirkland brand chocolate chips? Oh.Man. I can't stop eating them. I've already gained weight in the last 3 days since I bought them. NEED SELF CONTROL!!! LOL

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: Not to worry I have lots of patience and a nice warm "blind" on the overpass for just such occasions !!!

 

[WaChicks213]

That looks nice! If it were ME, I'd cover the whole roof of the run, and maybe another 2/3 of the sides, but removes the side covering during the summer time when it's hot. Great setup you have, the birds look happy!

That's what I've been thinking if I needed to cover it more. The girls are definitely not in love with the heat in the summer so removing the sides would improve circulation.

I've put a chickie cam inside the coop but am having some technical difficulties after my router or modem had to be replaced. When I get it working I'll put a link up for it. I'll probably get one for the run also. I LOVE my chickies. This is my first year for chicks and was not prepared for how they'd suck me in.

Speaking of romaine, my girls love just about any broadleaf - leaf. ALL the romaine I grew this year, and spinach also they got every bit of it. I'm still working on beet leaves for them and now I search out for dandilion greens to feed them instead of to kill. Now I'm happy they will grow back. Love my chickie chicks. 3 are laying now. Not bad for only being 5 1/2 months old.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
I got really sucked in too! I have a dozen (had 13, one just died last month

) but I love them to death. Most of mine are 7.5 months old and have been laying for 3 months, but a couple are only 5 months old and not laying yet.

 

[Greg Richardson]

Jess. Need to be careful when burning wood like that. To much and you over fire your stove.
Unless they are lying I never have met someone yet nor read about them at the Hearth Forum that hasn't over fired their stove at least once.
It's SCARY and gets your attention fast.

I love that type of wood in your picture to start a fire with you get quick heat.

If you have a chop saw look on craigs for scrap wood.
Chop saw is fast for cutting scrap and doesn't ware you out like a skill saw would.
Lot of people do projects don't have a fireplace so instead of taking it to the dump they put it on craigs and it's a win win for everyone.

I'm still burning scrap woof from this summers stash.

Longer I can stay out of my good wood the better.

You want to get couple winters ahead in your main wood supply.

If you buy wood on craigs don't pay till you stack it.

Tell them that BEFORE they deliver.

That way they can either show up with a tight stack to measure or sit on their butt and wait till you stack it.

Otherwise you will get ripped off.

About 5 years ago I sold four extra cords I had and every single person said wow this is way more than i normally get.

Had to tell them the bad news they been getting ripped off all these years as people will do a loose stack in the truck on you.

Buy your wood NOW for next year then burn as much scrap as you can next year to continue giving it time to dry.

Seasoned wood is not 6 months nor is it 9.

Buy a moisture meter if you aren't good at testing wood by hand.

Dry wood is worth the wait for the GOOD HEAT and safer to burn.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Jess. Need to be careful when burning wood like that. To much and you over fire your stove.
Unless they are lying I never have met someone yet nor read about them at the Hearth Forum that hasn't over fired their stove at least once.
It's SCARY and gets your attention fast.

I love that type of wood in your picture to start a fire with you get quick heat.

If you have a chop saw look on craigs for scrap wood.
Chop saw is fast for cutting scrap and doesn't ware you out like a skill saw would.
Lot of people do projects don't have a fireplace so instead of taking it to the dump they put it on craigs and it's a win win for everyone.

I'm still burning scrap woof from this summers stash.

Longer I can stay out of my good wood the better.

You want to get couple winters ahead in your main wood supply.

If you buy wood on craigs don't pay till you stack it.

Tell them that BEFORE they deliver.

That way they can either show up with a tight stack to measure or sit on their butt and wait till you stack it.

Otherwise you will get ripped off.

About 5 years ago I sold four extra cords I had and every single person said wow this is way more than i normally get.

Had to tell them the bad news they been getting ripped off all these years as people will do a loose stack in the truck on you.

Buy your wood NOW for next year then burn as much scrap as you can next year to continue giving it time to dry.

Seasoned wood is not 6 months nor is it 9.

Buy a moisture meter if you aren't good at testing wood by hand.

Dry wood is worth the wait for the GOOD HEAT and safer to burn.

Thanks so much for all the tips!! I'm new at this as a home owner for sure, though I grew up with a wood stove (all through my teens and early 20s) and know "how" to light a fire and burn/maintain the stove. I've never heard of over-firing a stove; what exactly happens?? Luckily ours is brand new and has a great damper to shut down any large fires fairly quickly, but I'd like to know more about over firing.

I'm very much enjoying my fire tonight and it's staying hot a lot longer than usual, so it must be the type of wood like you're all saying. Thanks for the advice!

 

[FirewifeJess]

One more question: I want to make a final switch in chicken feed to Purina Layena. I think that so many people have good experiences with it that I'd rather switch to something readily available and reliable. I have 4 more 40lb bags left of the NatureWise layer pellets and before this I was using Scratch & Peck. Does anyone see a problem with frequent switching of feed types? If so, I would rather keep using NatureWise for a few more months and then make a switch, since weve had so many small issues crop up lately. I don't want to be hurting my chickens overall health by switching feed. Thoughts?

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I would but gotta head to the overpass so I can bomb the turtle mobile !!

Nice. I laughed so hard at this. If I get out like the last 2 nights, I would be at 68 around 11:30. But we have extra routes tonight since we are closed Thanksgiving, so it will prolly be later.

Not to worry I have lots of patience and a nice warm "blind" on the overpass for just such occasions !!!

Good your gonna need it. Looks like I won't be leaving PDX until around midnight now. Computer system screwed up 5 routes that get loaded before mine do. Ugh. Long night ahead of me.

 

[Chefswifey]

One more question: I want to make a final switch in chicken feed to Purina Layena. I think that so many people have good experiences with it that I'd rather switch to something readily available and reliable. I have 4 more 40lb bags left of the NatureWise layer pellets and before this I was using Scratch & Peck. Does anyone see a problem with frequent switching of feed types? If so, I would rather keep using NatureWise for a few more months and then make a switch, since weve had so many small issues crop up lately. I don't want to be hurting my chickens overall health by switching feed. Thoughts?

Chickens have such a varied diet, in my experience, that they dont have the same issues as dogs when switching feed. As long as they're getting the proper amounts of protien, calcium, and other nutrients, they'll be fine ... fyi, you might want to look into a indoor fodder set up for them... I'm starting to get into this myself(barley seed unhulled) and think it will save me a ton on feed plus, it'll provide greens throughout the winter season!...

Interesting link: http://quartzridgeranch.wordpress.com/

Good LUCK!!

~Nicole