Washingtonians

[Farmin Momma]

Ok, lets see if I can hit all the notes here....

First off the new fence is awsome, I love wood fences but our whole property is surounded with chain link that has 3 barb wire strands run on the top. Another thing your fence could use beside the metal cut outs... a hot wire on the other side, so every time those darn dogs even think about testing your fence they get a shot of "leave us the heck alone" lol. So sorry fo the news of your husband losing his job, it's even worse when they are workaholics (sp?) I hope he finds somthing to keep him busy soon! Good luck!

Then there is the crowing Leghorn, beautiful but I agree that it is a cockreal.

It sounds like everyone had a great time at the Mother Earth Fair, I really wish I could have gone. We were so busy this weekend, oh well maybe next time.

Sadly and happily I found my Black Cochin Rooster "Jax" a great home this weekend. I will really miss him and the silly way he runs around the yard. But I really wanted more color in my flock and he was only giving my black and white chicks. It didn't matter what hen they came from. But I have an up and coming cockreal, RIR. I am very excited for what will come from him and my girls.

Also this weekend the kids were out side playing and my DD, Rylaya was (for some reason) laying ontop of a truck with her head haning over the side of the door and one of our boys, Titian opened the truck door and smacked her in the mouth..... took a good sized chunck out of her front tooth. Dentist here we come. The other crappy thing about it is that her dentist is in Mount Vernon, an hour or so away from home. But I love them they are just great with the kids!

I kept checking on Big Burtha this weekend to see if any silkies hatched and didn't find anything to have happend yet, but this morning I went out and felt under her and they hatched! I have not got a final count yet, but she started off with 12 eggs, 4 were not fertal and left her with 8 but there are no eggs kick out and no unhatched eggs under her so I can only assume for right now that all 8 hatched. I will take pics today so that you guys can tell me what colors we have!

Today I finaly get to pick up my last two birds, one EE and one Araucana rumpless and all. We'll see if that is all I come home with! But then I should be done with bringing in new hens for a long while. Unless I find one that I just have to have!

I have 3 girls that have quit laying, two of them are out of my very first 5 that I was givin. They are 5 or 6 yrs old. They will be going to one of my customers that has 10 kids and the youngest was born with out one of his intestines, so he can only eat the freshest foods. I do charge them my full price on eggs and they buy me out every time, but I tend to just give her hens when she needs more food for him. The little boy needs them more than I need money so even if the hen is still laying it makes more sense to just give it to him. Also he has those cute lil eyes that just melt your heart when he comes over!

Hope I did not miss any one, but you all chat so much when I am asleep or getting the kiddos off to school. Good morning to all!

 

[SadieSue]

Quote:
Could you share more about your home made worm bin Rainwolf? I've wanted one for awhile. Yesterday they were selling the multi tiered ones with a tap for the liquid, but wanted almost $100 for them. I thought that was a bit much.

 

[Rainwolf]

Went to Mother Earth today with my daughter.  We saw Pat Foreman at a couple of different Chicken talks.  She is launching a website  www.chickensforyou.com soon.  Very interesting.  We bought too much but had a great time.  I may change my gardening plans and incorporate more of her ideas. 


My daughter saw the bobcat checking out our chickens again yesterday.   I was rounding them up to get them back in at the time. 


Does anyone know of a good place to get worms for a worm bin?  I know we have lots in our manure pile but do I have time to hunt down a pound of them?

I just make a worm bin and add in worms as I find them..... and thanks to blueduckling last year, I also have red's in my bin now

I used her suggestion to use a old cooler for the winter and it worked like a charm


So as long as you don't care what kind of earth worms just grab em when you move stuff or dig or lay out a chuck of old plywood on the ground and flip it over after a rain. you should find some under there

Could you share more about your home made worm bin Rainwolf?  I've wanted one for awhile.  Yesterday they were selling the multi tiered ones with a tap for the liquid, but wanted almost $100 for them.  I thought that was a bit much.

Well the cooler bin is just a large old cooler tipped to one side so it drains out the spigot and make sure the lid is cracked open.
I used a mid size cooler for the winter... filled with coffee grounds and some scraps and it kept them all winter safe and sound.

Now that I have more worms as it is warmer I have a large tote which I poked holes in the bottom on 1 end. then I tip the tote towards those holes.
You can have a collection of some sort for the "tea" But I just have it in my garden so let it drain into the dirt (I move it every so often)
Make sure the lid is not sealed for air intake and your all set.

I use coffee grounds from the local coffee house as my base worm bed, they seem to love it!

 

[VelvettFog]

Incubator

http://yakima.craigslist.org/grd/3030258623.html

 

[VelvettFog]

SadieSue -- http://www.amazon.com/Worms-Eat-My-Garbage-Composting/dp/0942256107

 

[Lilyrush]

Each city has it's own code. Is your city code online anywhere? We have access to the full text of our code. I've never looked into county code, but I would think, if you are in city limits, you would fall under city code - because I can't imagine the city would write code that didn't support county code (well, I CAN imagine it, but that would be rather ridiculous). If the city doesn't have code for it... maybe you automatically default to county code? I don't know!

In Auburn, it is 15 feet from the edge of our own property. I have read that some cities have set their codes as high as 90 feet - but those cities don't allow backyard chickens on smaller lots, either.

I had to wait for 3 years before getting chickens because I had to wait for the city to finally agree that backyard chickens were OK. We finally got the OK this past November.

Thank you for responding! I talked to a friend who happens to be a civil lawyer and he was able to help. I am not breaking any laws which is a huge relief! I had previously called the city and knew I was fine but when my neighbor mentioned the county code I got confused. We decided to move the coop away from our neighbors yard anyway, just to ease the tension. We never had any intentions of offending her and I'd rather not deal with her harassments anymore.

 

[Lilyrush]

I'm new to raising and owning chickens. I ordered six Ameraucana eggs and incubated them and two of them hatched yesterday!!! I'm actually really pleased considering it was my first time. I have 7 more day old chicks coming this week as well as some more Silkie eggs to hatch (I'm addicted and have to give it one more go!) Anyway here are my little Ameraucana babies. No names yet but I'm sure they will be named soon. Does anyone know if these are blue or blacks? Or is it too early to tell?



We got to watch this one actually make the final escape...fascinating!

I keep finding this one asleep on it's back all sprawled out. Hilarious!



This one will run over when I talk to it and softly chirp back. I'm in love!

 

[Chickielady]

DH and I spent a few hours at the MEN fair today. It was a beautiful relaxing day. I picked up a few samples of chicken feed, other assorted things, a chicken book that I had signed by the author who was also a very entertaining speaker! She gave a talk on "Chicken Whispering - the things you learn from your chickens", something like that. Did anyone else see her yesterday?

Landscaping, gravel and paving stone patio is being worked on in the backyard this past week, although the timing probably could have been a LOT better with DH losing his job anytime in the next month. Who's seen liquor in their neighborhood grocery store yet? That's why DH is out of a job. After 30 years as a Washington State Liquor Control Board employee where he managed liquor stores for many years, and was near to ending his career by working in the Distribution Warehouse in Seattle, he is no longer a state employee.

He is eligible for retirement and Social Security, but this is a man who likes to work, so I've been helping him fill out some applications online for the fun new alcohol oriented stores opening up near here. It's what he knows, it's what he enjoys working with. Wish us luck. This man does not like to sit still.

So - has anyone else here gotten tired of me complaining about the neighbors dogs? *I* sure have! I've gotten tired of the fence fighting, and my own voice hollering at the neighbors to come get their dogs off of my fence, arguing with my husband because our own property wasn't safe for my chickens, my dogs OR me anymore, (since the biting incident).

Since our landscaper is also a fence builder, we had a chat this past week about finding a more permanent solution to my neighbor's wild dogs. I had to convince DH this would definitely improve the quality of our lives. Challenges like the crooked tree line on the back of our property prevented DH from every building a wooden fence there himself but our young landscaper is doing what he can. It's not perfect, but I think it's going to make a difference. I can feel myself starting to relax after being on edge for the past 3 months...

Here's what we started with - is it any wonder I wasn't feeling safe any longer? It was sufficient for years but couldn't stand up to 3 big dogs jumping on it, lunging at it, digging at it. Just beyond the wire fence is a small ledge that is our property. It drops down a small rock wall into the neighbors yard. But there is nothing preventing them from jumping up onto our ledge. I'm still trying to convince them they need a fence on their property.
Facing South -


And here's what we came home to today!


Facing North last week -


Facing North today!

 

[Chickielady]

Hello all my Washington friends. A lot has happen in my neck of the woods prairie since the last time I was on. I have sold all my Chickens, sold all but one of my rabbits (she is sick), had a huge garage sale (made over $500) celebrated our youngest sons 6th brithday, celebrated our 16th year of marriage and I possible/potentially have a job out there. The job is not in Washington but close in Oregon. My brother lives in Camby and has told me that they do hire family members where he works and they always have openings. Just need to finish the RV and we will be on the Oregon trail. We still have our sights on Northeastern Washington it will be easier to find land when we were are closer.

COOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cloverleaf Farms is in Canby also !

 

[Chickielady]

YIPPEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OUR LUMBER FOR THE HOUSE WALLS, HEADERS for DOORS & WINDOWS and MAIN CENTER BEAM (holds the loft floor up) IS COMING TODAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not supposed to arrive til Thursday !!!!!!!!!!!

I AM SO EGGCITED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!