Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Sudsy Chick]

Hello, New to forum and found the WA thread. Am in Poulsbo, Kitsap, WA. Am new to chicken keeping since June when I got 4 EE chicks to go with the 3 yr old RIR hen I inherited from the last renter of our place. No more renters! I am really enjoying the whole experience. Hooked I guess.

Wow - an interesting way to get into chickens! Glad your RIR found a home with you though - they are so much fun

Just wait until chicken math strikes!

 

[Sudsy Chick]

Got a second coat of paint on the outer frame of the coop today, plus a first coat on the inside of the underneath section and a couple other areas. My son has been taking nice, long naps, and I really hope it continues! Lamont is stuck at home with the crud that's going around, so it's up to me to be productive this week and get as much of the painting and hardware cloth done as I can. My husband has been nagging about clearing out the garage so our vehicles can go back inside, so I took him out there last night and he was impressed by the progress. Still wants it all done ASAP, but I'm going as fast as I can!

The silkie chick is still hanging on. Eats, drinks and poops. She takes steps around the box, but I didn't try to put her back in the brooder today. Tomorrow I have an appointment with a vet for an exam. She's not a livestock vet, but she's a Board certified avian and reptile veterinarian, and one of my favorites. She said the only test they could do for Marek's was post mortem and very expensive, so we won't be doing that, but I'd like her opinion and advice. The amount I should learn is worth the exam fee, and if I need the silkie euthanized it's not too expensive. I'd rather not have to kill the chick myself if it needs to be done. I think I could handle killing meat birds just fine, but a 9 week old white silkie? I'd worry what my subconscious had in store next time I slept.

Jennifer

Good luck - I hope she pulls through and you learn something from the vet!

 

[CarolynF]

Hello, New to forum and found the WA thread. Am in Poulsbo, Kitsap, WA. Am new to chicken keeping since June when I got 4 EE chicks to go with the 3 yr old RIR hen I inherited from the last renter of our place. No more renters! I am really enjoying the whole experience. Hooked I guess.

Hi LaughingFeather (that's a happy sounding name)! Welcome to the chaos we call the Washington thread!!! I'm about 15 min. south of you. I'm glad you're enjoying your birds, I think they're a total hoot. I have just 3 but I'm planning to increase my flock by 30% in the spring (i.e. I'll add one).

 

[itsren]

Quote: And wasn't it your mom or mother in law that kept calling Drama "Thanksgiving dinner" each time she saw her?

Yep! It was my mom. LOL! Lil' Drama's a big girl!

 

[itsren]

Quote:
That's what we do... drop it in a bucket but don't look!

The first time I had to drown a rat, I was on the phone with my husband... in tears... "but honey, I can't drop it in the bucket, it'll drown!" LOL! He reminded me that was the idea. So I dropped it in, and watched it - more crying - "honey, it's looking at me and can't breath". He told me not to watch it and walk away. Good heavens - it kills me to kill a rat! I'm such a weenie.

 

[itsren]

Quote:
And Fudge makes beautiful babies - even if they are not a breed like Fudge is.

Speaking of that.... I'll have 3 adorable lil baby Fudge offspring cockerals that will need new homes - in a few weeks. Let me know if any of you are interested in them. I'll post pictures later. I'm not sure how soon I'll be willing to part with them. I thought I was going to take 2 to the auction this weekend, but I'm not. I just can't. They're too cute - and they're not crowing yet, they're still making chick chirps, so I'm going to keep 'em as long as I can get away with it. Plus, the two bigger boys (Cocoa and Rocha) have no problems taking on the mean ol' Rhodie. LOL!

I'm trying to figure out the best way to integrate Latte into my flock if she really does turn out to be a she (yep, 6 and a half weeks old, and I still don't have a clue if she is a she or a he because she's feathering so slowly). She's VERY tiny. She's extremely timid, too. They boys protect her big time! If I try to catch her, they come after me, so I have to catch them first to get them out of the way. The boys are about 1/2 the size of my big girls, and Latte is about 1/4 the size of my big girls. I know when I do integrate them, I'll probably have to integrate one of the boys into the coop, too - so he can protect her. I'm still not sure who will be the best protector for her. I'm still trying to decide that. I'd like to keep Blackie with her - but I wonder if Cocoa or Rocha might have the personalities that can handle likes of Rhodie. Whoever I choose, I hope he's the last to crow so I can keep him around to protect her longer.

The babies have been spending part of the day outside in the chicken tractor, with a red light, getting to know the big girls. I think they've been warm enough out there, because they don't stay under the red light. In the late afternoon before we put them away, they get to free-range with the big girls. So far - Rhodie has pecked Latte, and Caunnie has pecked Rocha, but other than that, no other other problems.

 

[SadieSue]

Quote:
That's what we do... drop it in a bucket but don't look!

The first time I had to drown a rat, I was on the phone with my husband... in tears... "but honey, I can't drop it in the bucket, it'll drown!" LOL! He reminded me that was the idea. So I dropped it in, and watched it - more crying - "honey, it's looking at me and can't breath". He told me not to watch it and walk away. Good heavens - it kills me to kill a rat! I'm such a weenie.

I am quickly losing any empathy for rats. I don't think I'd have a problem dropping one in a bucket and walking away anymore. Caught a third in the garage yesterday and a numbers 4 and 5 were found in the runs this morning. When I found droppings on top of the clean laundry on top of the dryer this morning it's put a new spin on my life in general. I keep trying to remind myself of all the things I'm grateful for, but when I wake up at 3 AM and can't sleep because I'm dreaming about rats invading my life I know I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.

I used to have pet rats and really liked them. These invaders, however, can all die in whatever way possible.

 

[SadieSue]

Quote:
And Fudge makes beautiful babies - even if they are not a breed like Fudge is.

Speaking of that.... I'll have 3 adorable lil baby Fudge offspring cockerals that will need new homes - in a few weeks. Let me know if any of you are interested in them. I'll post pictures later. I'm not sure how soon I'll be willing to part with them. I thought I was going to take 2 to the auction this weekend, but I'm not. I just can't. They're too cute - and they're not crowing yet, they're still making chick chirps, so I'm going to keep 'em as long as I can get away with it. Plus, the two bigger boys (Cocoa and Rocha) have no problems taking on the mean ol' Rhodie. LOL!

I'm trying to figure out the best way to integrate Latte into my flock if she really does turn out to be a she (yep, 6 and a half weeks old, and I still don't have a clue if she is a she or a he because she's feathering so slowly). She's VERY tiny. She's extremely timid, too. They boys protect her big time! If I try to catch her, they come after me, so I have to catch them first to get them out of the way. The boys are about 1/2 the size of my big girls, and Latte is about 1/4 the size of my big girls. I know when I do integrate them, I'll probably have to integrate one of the boys into the coop, too - so he can protect her. I'm still not sure who will be the best protector for her. I'm still trying to decide that. I'd like to keep Blackie with her - but I wonder if Cocoa or Rocha might have the personalities that can handle likes of Rhodie. Whoever I choose, I hope he's the last to crow so I can keep him around to protect her longer.

The babies have been spending part of the day outside in the chicken tractor, with a red light, getting to know the big girls. I think they've been warm enough out there, because they don't stay under the red light. In the late afternoon before we put them away, they get to free-range with the big girls. So far - Rhodie has pecked Latte, and Caunnie has pecked Rocha, but other than that, no other other problems.

I think we need updated photos of Latte! Still keeping fingers crossed for you that Latte is the little girl you're hoping for. Sounds promising so far!

 

[itsren]

Doing this from my Phone is a pain. But For some reason my internet is down.
Well we found out we did not get the House! There were 6 offers on it and ours was 2nd highest, I guess I have to keep looking. So bumbed.

I'm sorry! I hope you find the house of your dreams soon! Who knows - something better may come available.

We lost a house a few years ago when we were more able to move (our current house's value hadn't crashed yet). We were the first to put an offer in on a beautiful house with a large lot. The next day I got a call from a mortgage company asking us to fill out papers with them for the house. We told them no, we were using our Credit Union. I was ticked when I found out the house went to someone else who offered the exact same amount we did, after we did - but they agreed to use their mortgage company. The mortgage company was owned by the listing agent's spouse. Our Real Estate agent told us that was illegal and this particular couple had hundreds of fines and cases in litigation against them, but they just keep on doing what they do because they make so much money operating illegally that they can pay the fines. Every time I drive by that house I get a sick feeling in my stomach. I understand the frustration of losing a house that you really want. I had mentally moved into that thing - knew where every piece of furniture was going. I had even drawn up sketches of the room layouts for things.

 

[itsren]

I am quickly losing any empathy for rats. I don't think I'd have a problem dropping one in a bucket and walking away anymore. Caught a third in the garage yesterday and a numbers 4 and 5 were found in the runs this morning. When I found droppings on top of the clean laundry on top of the dryer this morning it's put a new spin on my life in general. I keep trying to remind myself of all the things I'm grateful for, but when I wake up at 3 AM and can't sleep because I'm dreaming about rats invading my life I know I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.

I used to have pet rats and really liked them. These invaders, however, can all die in whatever way possible.

We only caught one, so far, in the recent greenhouse episode. That one got caught in a big snap trap, which is reset, and nothing else since. I haven't seen any signs of any others either - and I KNOW that one would not be living by itself. There's gotta be more - unless they all went back over to the nesting area they had at my neighbor's house.

I have been busy clearing the lower branches from all the bushes in the backyard - that's a big part of why I haven't been around. I have so many chores to do right now - and rat hunting has been a big part of that. The girls now have bushes to run and hide under, plus I have full visibility under the bushes if rats were trying to use them as a passage. I am determined to do whatever I have to do to erradicate the rats before they become a problem here in my yard. I still have 2 sticky traps, 2 large snap traps and a bait box in the greenhouse. The bait doesn't look like it has been touched at all.

There's a huge row of bushes behind my back yard fence that I still need to trim the lower branches off of, in hopes to expose any hiding area. And, I still need to face picking up and moving that bale of hay. Just not sure what to do with it...