Washingtonians

[Featherfoot]

Hi Anne;
I just took a look at your website. NICE!!! I think your photography of your flock is great all of the chickens are beautiful - What a colorful flock. I have some Americanias but I have never reallly seen show quality Aruacanas before. Thanks for all the info about them.

Featherfoot

 

[4F FARM]

Hi Anne. Why would you move from Maple Falls to all the traffic in Bellingham? I grew up in Bellingham and it is no longer the cute little town with one way streets. Glad to see you are back. I am looking forward to the day you have eggs available. I love your flock and would love to get some of that blood over here in Idaho.

Faye

 

[coffeemama]

Hello all! Does anyone want to help promote chickens at the Greener Homes and Gardens Expo in PDX? http://www.greenerhomesandgardens.com/about.htm I found a guy who is looking for people to volunteer in two hour chunks to chat with the general public about them. You don't have to know a lot about chickens, just be able to make your way through basic questions. I think this is a great way to spread the love of chickens! pm me for his contact info.

 

[barney]

Hi! We are from Buckley Washington. We used to live on Tapps Island. Tweleve years a go we bought a 15 acre little farm and we just love it.

We have, llamas cows geese ,chickens, dogs birds
Chris & Mark

 

[retiredsailor6]

Hello Anne

We just moved to Ferndale, a few months ago. We like it up here.
Were just North of Bellis Fair Mall off of the Guide. Have a few chicks and
the wife is getting goats for a early Mothers day (That's what she wanted)
and YES, I will post pics, it seems that's a requirement on this Board

and Welcome

to all the newbies I've only been here a little while myself, but there's lots of great information and help if you need it.

 

[quiltiste]

Hello there, I am a soon-to-be newbie farmer and have some questions--thought I'd ask the Washington people since I'll be moving to Spokane (Greenbluff area to be exact). I am moving to a small 5 acre farm and my very first order of business is going to be getting chickens!

I have been reading a ton of books about poultry and have found conflicting answers about my questions, so if anyone can help I would really appreciate it!

I want to have 10 or so Rhode Island Reds, some Call Ducks, and a couple geese (not sure what kind yet, but would love suggestions). I am going to let them free range on the property during the day and lock them up safe at night. The chickens are for eggs, ducks for my garden (slug patrol), and geese for guard animals.

Questions:

-Can I keep them all together in the barn (it's about 600 sqft)? If so, should I get all of them together as babies so they grow up together?

-How substantial does my fencing need to be? The whole property is fenced but the gaps are large enough that they could hop through. Do they run away??

-I have heard that geese are better guard animals than dogs--curious what others think of this.

Thanks so much!!

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

quiltiste, welcome to BYC, and welcome soon to eastern washington. I live just north of Spokane in Deer Park, so we will be kinda neighbors (hour apart).
You can keep them all together, but it isnt suggested. We had some roman geese kill one of our call hens last year, so we got rid of the geese. Also, in the spring the geese can be more agressive, we have seen males pick up bantams when they get in the way. The ducks will be very messy.
For the fencing, you should probably get some 1" chicken wire, about 2' high and put it along the bottom of the fence. They will stay around once they are established. We live on 10 acres and the chickens rarely go far from the coop.
It really depends on the geese. Chinese geese are said to be the best gaurd geese because they are louder and tend to be more aggressive. Geese can be more protective of the flock than a dog.
I hope I anwered all of your questions.
Michael

 

[greyfields]

Quote:
Why don't you repost your questions here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=2

You'll get a lot more responses.

 

[5peeps]

Hello all ,

I'm in Everett WA , I am new to this but I am finding this website to be a big help .

So if you are one of the one's who have helped me or will in the future I

I Thank You

The Newbie

 

[Anne]

Quote:
Thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed the website. Updates are in the near future...