Washingtonians

[itsren]

So... I thought I'd share a kid picture where even CR *might* find something he could relate to.

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

That's pretty dang AWSOME!!!

Thanks!!!

Yay!!!!

Last night I talked to DH about either incubating or buying 2 LF Light Brahma chicks and one other breed chick (to reach our max of 6) now. I explained my reasoning behind not waiting until Spring (Drama might outgrow her current coop over the winter and I don't want to put her into a coop big enough for Brahmas by herself). He didn't say yes, but he didn't shut down the idea, either.

If we incubate, we'll incubate 6 Light Brahma's (in hopes to get 2 pullets) and try to find one sexed chick of another breed to go in the coop with Rhodie and Caunnie. We're guessing with 6 eggs, we'd probably be pretty lucky if we got 2-3 to even hatch - and we'd keep our fingers crossed they would be pullets. I'm a little worried about 6 eggs 3/4 the way across the country though.

Any idea what type of bird will mix well with a RIR and an EE? Considering those 2 have been at a complete stand-off with each other, I'd need one that was good at calming the other two down. Yesterday, they got into the biggest fight we've ever seen. And, in the coop, Rhodie slept on one side of the roost, and Caunnie kept shoving into Drama on the other side of the roost in an attempt to get as far away from Rhodie as possible. They can act so much like children!

Ooh, good luck with hatching eggs! I am soooooooo tempted to go that route but it's just not practical for us. We don't have enough space to raise more than three chicks. And I don't want to deal with any roos. Maybe if it were an auto-sexing breed, I could do it and just cull the males when they hatch, but I certainly don't relish the idea. And since we can only have three more chickens, I want to make sure I raise all three together. Raising one by itself, joining a new flock, is just too cruel. That is the other thing I'm dealing with, too: Which breed will integrate best into the flock? Our flock currently gets along pretty well. The two Leghorns I added this summer are definitely at the bottom of the pecking order but they are doing just fine. I do, however, worry that they'd be the ones to give any newcomers a run for their money. I really need a lightweight, flighty breed, so I can't decide between Hamburgs, which I have my heart set on, or more Leghorns. I have no idea what breed to recommend for you. Hopefully someone here will have some suggestions. Good luck!

 

[FlyRobinFly]

Prior to having twins, I used to teach Cake Decorating through Wilton. At the time, their Course 3 had a clown cake for the students to make. Once I had a student absolutely freeze in class as soon as she saw that cake. At first, I thought she was kidding. Then it became very obvious she was truly terrified. The day the students made that cake, she was able to make herself come into class, but she could not make the cake, or look at anyone else cakes. I had to put her at a separate table. I brought that info back to Wilton at an instructor's meeting. Turns out they had that problem come up more than once across the country. They were talking about taking clowns out of the curriculum. I don't know if they did, though. I stopped teaching after my twins were born.

Really Renee, we need to meet. Cake decorating is one of my hobbies too!
Fortunately I don't have any phobias, but I feel for those who do.

 

[FlyRobinFly]

Someone asked me to post pics of my coop when I got done. I am not completely done, but I have gotten a lot of great suggestions from you all. I have raccoon proofed it and learned a lot of coop safety things from this site. So I thank all of you. And here is my coop so far

So that's what we have so far. The chickies enjoy running around the yard. That 90 degree weather really did a number on our grass. I will have to be watering extra to get it to green up again. And I will be putting in the rest of the raised beds for the garden this fall so we will be ready for planting in the spring. I just do what I can, when I can, because my schedule is so crazy around here. But we are loving the chickies, and the neighbors even think it's cool we have chickens! They are 8wks old tomorrow

Looking really great, Lisa!

It is very attractive, but functional.

 

[Greg Richardson]

Itsren. Don't know about the red ants. I do know DE has a wide degree of sucess for some and not others.
Here is an excellent link that is very educational. I wouldn't buy mine from there as feed stores much cheaper but lot of great info there.
As you will read for human consumption lot of different results.

http://www.earthworkshealth.com/

 

[Justahannah]

For those dealing with fleas. Here is an idea I got from FB that is supposed to work. I have not tested it so have no clue. Fleas
1 CUP OF BORAX TO 1/2 CUP OF SALT MIX TOGETHER AND SPRINKLE( I USE A SIFTER) KINDA HEAVY ON CARPET AND CLOTH FURNITURE. WORK INTO CARPET AND FURNITURE WITH BROOM. I LEAVE MINE ON FOR 24 HRS. AND IT RIDS FLEAS FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.

I've never added salt, but the few times we've had fleas I sprinkled straight borax (paying extra attention to the edges and corners where it's harder to vacuum) and it's worked great...that, a good vacuuming the next day, repeat once, and dosing the furry pets with Revolution or Frontline, and all of our infestations have ended within a few days of starting.

 

[nikki1]

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure how to do this but I'm going to try. I'm new to posting, but I came across your site here and loved all the information everyone is sharing with each other. I have so much to learn. My family moved from the city in CA to the country in Ephrata, WA last August. We love it! I want to raise some chickens. Egg laying kind that will be named and die of old age. I told my 6 year old granddaughter that my job will be to go around the front of the chicken and make faces to get the chickens attention and her job is to sneek around the back and grab the egg! (lol) Well we are not really that green but almost. I have really enjoyed reading everyone's questions and answers today. I have already learned so much. Thank you for the info. I look forward to learning so much more.

WELCOME ABOARD!! I was just like you a year ago when we bought our little house on the outskirts of town. I desperately wanted chickens, but didn't know a thing about them. I spent all fall and winter haunting the "building/maintaining your coop" part of the forum and drooling over designs on the website. I asked a million questions, and people were nice enough not to point out my ignorance, and so I learned a lot. In early winter I sketched out a plan for my coop, and my husband figured out how to frame it and build it. I was architect, hubby was engineer and contractor, and the kids and I were the interior designers (aka painters). We call it "The anti-OCD coop" because the whole thing is half a bubble off of plumb, but to me it's a work of art, and our 7 pullets haven't complained. As long as the mealworms keep coming they're pretty happy.

You are going to have so much fun with your chickens! At this point I think I'll have chickens for the rest of my life, even if they never gave another egg. They have SO much personality, and they're really a hoot to watch. And your granddaughter is going to have a blast! They're so sweet and cuddly when they're first hatched that she won't be able to tear herself away, which should socialize your pullets to the point they'll be very much her pets.

Good luck! Your post spoke to me, and I had to speak back. If you go to the coop section, I posted pictures of my work of art at the very end of May or beginning of June. It's "Coop from the Great Northwet." Keep us posted on how things go!

--Nikki

 

[FirewifeJess]

4 eggs so far today and I'm expecting 2-4 more! Wahoo!!!!! This is so exciting for me and DH doesn't even care. He just says "I'm glad you're happy about that weirdo"

 

[hallerlake]

Something Kinda cool happened today..... I was gone most of the day and late tonite. Spending time with my Mom and my Daughter .. we went shopping and to dinner. Kinda a last girls time before my daughter starts high school on Wednesday my mom was having a tough day because of some family stuff so we made a day of it. Well I got home at like 9:30 to nite way past normal chicken chore time. I find out My Husband... went out and fed ALL my chickens even my 39 little babies. He even did all the little extras I do. Like give them treats,add ACV to water and even dished up everyone the fermented feeds that I make for the different groups.. I was soooooooooooooo shocked.

See when I got the original 13 chickens a couple years ago. I did so under great protest from my hubby and daughter I had wanted chickens for a long time, But Hubby thought all chickens meant was MORE work for him. So on our 13 year anniversary I went out and got 13 little chicks.. Put them in our bathtub and tied a big red bow on the tub door with a sign that said "Happy Anniversary to Me"
I knew Id get away with it because it was our Anniversary..... But I did have to promise him that he would never have to take care of them or do any work.... Ive kept that promise for the most part.
So to nite when he did the night time ritual I was shocked. That's when he told me. That Since I got the birds I seem happier. I smile more, I giggle more, and I don't get mad at him as quick as I used to!!!! LOL. Plus he pointed out that I'm spending more time out in the barn with the other critters that everyone seems healthier. I grew up on this same farm that we live on now. Back then I worked with my Dad and my Brother to take care of all the animals and make the farm work. The 3 of us spent a lot of time doing chores and talking "stuff". Both my brother and my father have passed and I kinda just left the farm work to my hubby and others.. seemed easier that way.
Also hubby said that he figures as long as Im happy with the chickens I wont get goats LOL which is of course why he is helping me build new coops and fenced areas this fall. More chickens in exchange for no goats....LOL

I do feel more Zen when I'm watching my chickens and outside in the barn area. Truth is I ve always preferred feathered and 4 legged critters to the 2 legged

Its kinda cool to think about the fact that some little feathery fluff balls can make a person stop and think and remember.. There is a zen that comes from them.. Its cool. Now it seems to be spreading from me to hubby and to others in our little family Its a good thing....

I think I love your husband.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

So... I thought I'd share a kid picture where even CR *might* find something he could relate to.

I hope I wasn't misunderstood. It's not that I don't like kids I just have a little trouble interacting so kind of avoid ! I am pretty sure there may be somebody else here who feels similar.