Washingtonians

[Chicken Rustler]

Well ya see when we first got our chicks DH didn't want to wait several months for eggs so I snuck into the neighbors coop one night and stole 3 of her laying hens.
Bad thing is that then one day we came home and found 6 white chicks in our barn. This was my punishment for stealing her hens. I had to raise the chicks for her.

O did I ferget to mention that the neighbor knew I was going to steal her chickens. It was actually her idea.

 

[Kittymomma]

I was going to post the 14 min. in boiling water and then ice bath too. It really does work. My family is loving it, they used to have to wait until the "old egg" carton in the fridge got old enough.

Weavergarden: I'll know for sure if I'm going up next weekend by the end of this one. If I don't I will be at some point this month because 1/2 my family still lives in Snohomish county. I'm pretty sure I will be though, It's my (sort of) God daughters 21st B-day.

Why is it that my b-days don't make me feel old, but the kids' do?

 

[KellyandKatie]

interesting about the olive eggers- I have been looking for one for the last year or so, but no one ever sells them once they have em

I cut my fresh eggs with a knief to make deviled eggs, and then spoon it out-they look perfect, or I take a needle and poke a tiny hole before boiling to simulate teh airation of old eggs
I need to try the boil and bath now

 

[KMHunter]

I am sorry to report that I checked on the babies REALLY early this morning(I did go back to bed after), and "little one"" as I was calling her, had died.

I am pretty sure that it was just a failure to thrive problem. The others are bright eyed and alert and peeping loudly this morning. Cute little fuzzy butts! So Cindy, you have 4 Black Copper Marans, and 3 Barnevelders. I am almost sure at least one if not two of the Barnevelderss are pullets,

but the Marans are a little harder to tell. There may be two of them also, but I am really unsure of that call. One I am betting for sure is a cockrel, he is bigger, and has tail feathers sprouting before anyone else!

Ron, I was going to tell you that I add yogurt to the warm oatmeal for my girls. They love it! If they like the oatmeal and some weren't sure of the yogurt last night, you could try it that way. I figure they get the benefits from both, something warm in their tummies and calcium and live cultures from the yogurt. Probably not too many live cultures left once they get put in warm yogurt, but the girls still love it.

 

[Nyrial]

Yeah I put yogurt and baby food (apples and cherries!) in their mash today, cut back on the oatmeal, added more Flockraiser. They don't care, they just

warm mash. Even the chicks were eating it this morning.

I love spoiling my chickens

even if it means doing so at 4:30 in the morning.

Good Morning Washington!
Oh yeah, and TGIF! (Except Saturdays BLOW, much H8 for physics, and that's H8, with a capital H, capital 8!

)

 

[cockockookaa]

Quote:
Welcome!

How old are they? What breed(s)? What is their coop/run situation? What are you feeding them?

I believe youngest is 9 months old Barred rock, Not so sure about the oldest, maybe 3 to 4 years my best guess.
Breed, 1 barred rock, 1 red star, 2 black star, 2 buff
they got lot of room with heat lamp
red pepper in their water and layer feed
room for them to run
and they still fight

 

[rainplace]

Goodness Gracious, I missed the ferry. Now I'll be running like mad at the airport. I've only been up since 5:30. At the last minute I couldn't decide what to wear. What is up with that? Found out my bathing suit doesn't fit me anymore either. Maybe I'll buy one when I get down there. I AM SO EXCITED. You all have fun in the cold

 

[KMHunter]

Most chickens if they are older than 2 years will decrease in egg production, and may stop in the winter all together. Your youngest one should still be laying. Just keep dooing what you are doing. Sometimes being moved to a new place and what not stresses them out and they can stop. My sex link stopped when I put them in their new coop. It was in the same place as the old one, but she just stopped. Chickens are funny that way. Sounds like you are giving them everything they need. Do you have oyster shell grit for them?

 

[weaveagarden]

I have never heard of red pepper in their water. Do they actually drink enough water with that? I know I wouldn't.

So, I am back to raising chickens after 30 years not doing it.... Really just a newbie again. So here is my two cents for what it is worth. I do have chickens laying who are 5 months olds, so maybe I am doing something right....

Maybe I am just lucky.

So here goes:

I would just regulate the lighting situation so they have light at least 12 hours per day. Make sure the heat doesn't go below 45-50 or so in the coop at night but I wouldn't crank it up too much. Put them on high protein starter for a while, and see that they have at least 10-20 square feet per chicken of coop/run space combined. If they aren't using the run enough, you could put some clear plastic over part of it so that it acts like a rain sheild as well as mini greenhouse for them.... just a thought. If they are fighting it often means that they are crowded in the space that they are using.

Another thing is that any that are 3-4 years, may not be laying anymore. From what I understand they have a finite number of eggs, and if they have already been a productive layer, they may be pretty much done, or laying very infrequently. The Barred Rock should lay in the winter if conditions are right. (I have one of those too) Also the Buffs if they are Orpingtons. (Mine hasn't started yet) The Sex Links are such productive layers usually, they may be in the above mentioned category if they are older.

Good luck.

 

[Greg Richardson]

Make sure the heat doesn't go below 45-50 or so in the coop at night but I wouldn't crank it up too much.

Everyone has their own way of course but.....

My roosts are 2x4's and 1x6's in two different coops.
Have you ever placed your hand below a chicken in 30 degree weather when it's sitting down on the roost?
Try it. I think you will be amazed at the heat even after holding them a bit.​