Washingtonians

[eenie114]

Don't forget that some are simply "Handford Parakeets" too. We had at least 9 of them back in 2000.

PS I am going to have to add some of those asian ground parrots to my flock. I am certain that DH will love them.

You already have an asian ground parrot. Her name is Rebeckah.

 

[DIYSeattle]

I have a heated brower brooder and a grower. Grower bolted on top of brooder. Great shape. 300 for all. I'm in mapleleaf. Pm me if you're interested.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: Well see it is natural for birds to want to roost high. With the chickens it will go just as you described. That is why I don't do leaning ladder. I put my roost on the same level so there is less reason to fight over "the best spots". It makes them all as equals.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

I know I'll get a wide range of answers to 'how many nesting boxes should I have?'... so let me just ask this: Should 1 nesting box per 2 birds be sufficient?

Short answer YES ! Now the long answer. One nest per 3-4 birds. I have 15 nests and up to 25+ layers at times. But they always seen to favor just a few nests and if one bird is in a favorite nest and taking too long. The bird wanting in will throw a riggin fit waiting rather than just go to another nest.

Yes my nest boxes are old antique metal ones but the girls seem to like them!

 

[KMHunter]

...so I'm stuck on the 'breeds' section, adding breed after breed to my 'want' list... at this rate I'm going to need a farm much sooner than I thought LOL

How many birds does one usually keep to a flock (assuming they are cooped/run not free range) - I've been reading that if the flocks get too large you may have 'pecking order' issues and it would be best to segregate the birds in to smaller, more manageable flocks. And do any of you do that (have more than one coop/run to separate your birds)? Does anyone do that to keep breeds separate so you don't end up with 'mixed' breed eggs (assuming you have roos and hatch your own chicks)?

The number of bird you can have is largely dependant on the Sq ft of your coop and run.
The average in the coop is 4 sqft per bird and out in the run it's 10. My coop only holds eight, but my run is pretty big.
So I can fudge a little and keep 9 or 10 in the coop because they only lay and sleep there.
They spend all day out in the run even during the winter. Most of mine is coverd so they stay dry.
I am currently switching my LF flock over to Faverolles, but I still have 2 EE's and a black sexlink.
I also have a Silkie coop/run because my LF girls would beat them up! (unless they are all raised together of course)And I am planning on breeding them.
I try to keep my numbers down to what I feel is manageable for me. I have only had 10 in my coop once. And boy did the amount of poop suprise me! But then I guess I did almost double it!

How many are you thinking and what is the sqft of your coop and run?

 

[Chicken Rustler]

...so I'm stuck on the 'breeds' section, adding breed after breed to my 'want' list... at this rate I'm going to need a farm much sooner than I thought LOL

How many birds does one usually keep to a flock (assuming they are cooped/run not free range) - I've been reading that if the flocks get too large you may have 'pecking order' issues and it would be best to segregate the birds in to smaller, more manageable flocks. And do any of you do that (have more than one coop/run to separate your birds)? Does anyone do that to keep breeds separate so you don't end up with 'mixed' breed eggs (assuming you have roos and hatch your own chicks)?

IMHO It is less of HOW MANY birds and all about HOW MANY birds IN TOO SMALL of area!!! I have 1 coop of LF mutts with the AWSOME Fudge that are my layers.



One cop that is currently Bantam Faverolle in black and blue. And I have one coop that isin holding waiting for my new top secret come next spring!!! HOPEFULLY !!!!!

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: How many birds do you plan to have. And are we talking B or LF? If LF that run is only big enough for 9.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

I wonder if anyone has ever actually been cited for having just a few more birds than allowed? That would be comical!

As a matter of fact there was a member here a couple years ago who got cited.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: I know "service chickens" have been to trial and failed!!!

 

[itsren]

I just finished "ordering" all our library books online for the next 4 school weeks. Now to keep them all straight as they start coming into the library.

And please, please, please, dear Toddler Child, PLEASE stop shoving them under the couch and throwing them off the deck!

How do families with small children utilize the library without paying through the nose!? We never had this problem before having 3 kids; I'm telling you, #3 is a doozey!

Sad as it may sound, but we tend to buy books, because it often works out cheaper than checking them out. We can get books pretty cheap through the school's Scholastic program. Then we just donate them to the school after our kids outgrow them. The Scholastic program helps the teachers get books for the classroom and the school appreciates it when the books get donated to the school library. We do like to go to the library, but we rarely actually check the books out.

Here's a crazy example of what it can cost to take my kid to the library... my #1 child has a photographic memory, esp. when it comes to numbers. His school teacher walked the kids down to the city library as part of a class project. The rule was, if kids had their cards, the teacher let them check out books. My son did not have his card, but the teacher didn't know he didn't have it. DS checked out a bunch of books, keying in his library card number from memory, even though he had not even seen his card in months as I had quit going due to a previous costly incident. I never knew he checked any books out until a bill went to collection for $45. I immediately went down and suspended young DS's ability to check books out on his card. And that was just one library mishap!

We have spent hundreds of dollars at the library because of book issues with our children.