Washingtonians

[Teva]

Though some eat foxgloves like it's candy...

Yeah, I saw that discussion. So I'm thinking digitalis might not affect them? I do wonder if it transfers into the eggs, though. I guess if you're eating the eggs without a problem, then probably not!

edited for misspelling

 

[Totalcolour]

As long as my 7-year-old son son doesn't go on any more food strikes after listening to her, I guess it doesn't matter what she eats. We're still trying to get that kid to eat meat again (well, eat, period... the kid is a bean pole).

You let your 7 year old dictate what he will or will not eat?

Hmm, guess you must be part of the younger generation then. My kids ate what was put in front of them or went hungry. My daughter (who is 30) does the same with her kids now. They eat pretty much anything because she doesn't cater to "pickiness".

Now, if there is a food allergy, or a child really hates (likes, vomits) something, then that's a different matter.

Must make it a lot harder for families with picky eaters, because then you have to make different foods for different family members.

My sympathies.

 

[Breshcandra]

What would you call an EE/Silkie mix? Is it still considered an EE since they are already mixed.?

 

[Totalcolour]

Being a hot weekend, we decided to go boating. First time this year. So, we went out, put down some crab pots went out a bit, and then had some lunch. We went back a couple of times to check the pots, the third time, we lost one. A brand new one too. (It was a replacement for the last "brand new one" himself lost last time he went crabbing with a friend).

Well, we came back, and just before we got into the channel, the motor dies. EVERYTHING! All the electrics, so even the radio didn't work.

This is himself and the dog - just waiting for help!


So, we called 911, but they said harbor patrol wasn't working that day! They were going to send the coast guard to tow us in. But eventually, a nice bunch of folks showed up and towed us, so we called off the coast guard.

I'm glad we took our phones with us. That being said, they were new phones (2 days old) and I wasn't familiar with them. They are Androids, and unlike my 14 year old "flip" phone, they have all these gadgets, and it took me at least 10 minutes to figure out how to make a call, then the screen was so hard to read because of the brightness of the day, and finally, I couldn't figure out how to end the call, so finally just turned the darned thing off!


What a day!

(Totally sunburned!)

 

[FirewifeJess]

What would you call an EE/Silkie mix? Is it still considered an EE since they are already mixed.?

A Silkie Egger? An Easter Silkie? LOL I wouldn't necessarily call her anything yet, until you're sure what color eggs she'll lay; if she ends up laying green/blue/pink eggs, then I'd advertise her as an Easter Egger. If not, Silkie x EE.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Being a hot weekend, we decided to go boating. First time this year. So, we went out, put down some crab pots went out a bit, and then had some lunch. We went back a couple of times to check the pots, the third time, we lost one. A brand new one too. (It was a replacement for the last "brand new one" himself lost last time he went crabbing with a friend).

Well, we came back, and just before we got into the channel, the motor dies. EVERYTHING! All the electrics, so even the radio didn't work.

This is himself and the dog - just waiting for help!


So, we called 911, but they said harbor patrol wasn't working that day! They were going to send the coast guard to tow us in. But eventually, a nice bunch of folks showed up and towed us, so we called off the coast guard.

I'm glad we took our phones with us. That being said, they were new phones (2 days old) and I wasn't familiar with them. They are Androids, and unlike my 14 year old "flip" phone, they have all these gadgets, and it took me at least 10 minutes to figure out how to make a call, then the screen was so hard to read because of the brightness of the day, and finally, I couldn't figure out how to end the call, so finally just turned the darned thing off!


What a day!

(Totally sunburned!)

Perhaps it's time for a new hobby? Knitting is fun...and you don't need electronics of any form for it!

So sorry about the boat. What a bummer!

 

[JennS]

I have found that pea gravel is the best material for a run. We also use sand. The sand tends to track out of the run more than the pea gravel. The next time we buy material for the run, I am planning to go with all pea gravel. The poo tends to wash into the gravel during the rains. I do know from experience that wood shavings get really nasty and stinky in a run. I think that was the worst thing we have tried to use. In the coop I use what I think is wheat straw. There are many types of straw, but some are not as effective as the fluffy wheat straw. I mix the straw with DE and stall dry, and I rarely have mess around with it. Buy drying out the poop fairly quickly the smell is very manageable.

Hrm. I'm not a big fan of gravel. I've got a gravel walk in the front yard and I end up with rocks in the grass, and now my 2 year old picks them up and drops them in my plant pots! Gravel might be too much of a draw for him, and it'd have chicken poop in it. I think I will try dirt this winter (before I add chickens), and if it gets too wet I can dig out some dirt and add gravel.

Thanks!

Jennifer

 

[JennS]

In the fall, I put my raked up leaves in there. It helps keep down the mud. That was Imp's idea.

I have a ton of leaves from the neighbor's maples. Good idea, thanks!

Jennifer

 

[Zgoatlady]

showing off my babies, five of them They are 4wks old tomorrow. I'm hoping they are all hens, we will not be keeping any roosters. They really enjoy the outdoor run during the day. Then I bring them back in the house at night still. I'm working on getting the coop built still. It's coming along nicely though. I will share pics of that soon


This is Spike. My son named her. But now I think she is a boy any comments on that would be helpful.



another pic of Spike.



This is Red (upper) and Pandora (lower)



This is Chick. My daughter (she's 20) thought it would be funny if we had a chick named Chick, lol.




and this is Roxy. She seems to be the runt, lol

Saw you still have rocks in the water's for them, you can take them out now they wont get hurt they are big kids now

 

[JennS]

I plan on adding plastic roofing over my run before winter to avoid soup but currently have it lined with arborist chips for drainage. Add diatomacheous earth periodically to prevent lice. Some folks like to put strw or alfalfa down as they can munch on it as well. I used welded wire on the top part of my run and on the floor. to keep critters from digging under. Still lets the chickens scratch around though and I partly buried the wire on the floor before adding the bark over the top. Used hardware cloth though an the bottom 3-4 ft of the run to keep racoon/cat.possum/etc hands out and away from my chickens. I am in Edmonds and we can only have 3 chickens so I built my coop out of our old bathroom sink cabinet. Flipped the doors to the back, added an A-frame roof, cut out a hole for a nest box, cut out the interior dividers from 2 of the cupboard/drawer spaces, added OSB over the open side, put on the cloth and siding and paint and voila! Still have some roofing shingles, tons of roofing felt and a bit of welded wire left over. I do recommend raising the coop onto legs so you have a covered area to put your feeder and waterer though. Also if you are in Western WA buy your lumber supplies at Lowes and hardware at Home Depot! Better prices!

Jen

I would like to bury hardware cloth under the pen floor, but it'll depend on how deep I can dig and how many tree roots I encounter. I bought a mattock so I can remove a few, but I don't want to kill the tree. But we have a problem with roof rats in our neighborhood. Even though I have no food source for them, they live in my crawlspace. Last week I saw one on the back fence in broad daylight! They are probably eating the dog food in the neighbors' yards. Grrrr. I think I will put some bait under my house this winter.

Do you add DE all over the run, or just in dust bath areas? How much do you add?

Jennifer