Washingtonians

[JennsPeeps]

I started using DE in the late summer last year. I didn't notice a big difference in the number of flies, which had gotten pretty obnoxious. I'll start using it earlier in the spring this year to see if that helps any. Otherwise I'm going to resort to fly strips (YUCK).

I, too, would appreciate any pointers on using DE.

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

Lol, the roofs are all shoveled off except for the goat barn which I might have to shovel tomorrow. Later this week its sposed to get to a high of 42! I am excited, I will probably be out in shorts because it will feel like a heat wave.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

YAY! It's almost FIFTY degrees out!! My birds were crowing, laying, & running around like CRAZY this morning when I let them out into the runs!

I even had a 'scovy get broody on me last night!

Poor things...it's not even CLOSE to spring yet...but they are obviously ready for it to be spring!

 

[JennsPeeps]

Orting Valley is being evacuated: http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/crime/2009/01/07/officials_to_evacuate_orting_valley

My brother lives there and is staying with us tonight b/c his apartment building has been evacuated.

 

[coffeelady3]

Fife is being evacuated. FIFE, of all places!!!

I work for the county Assessor/Treasurer's office. Today the head of the appraisal department comes into my office with a very serious look on his face saying he needs to reassess the value of my house. Seems one of my co-workers reported to him that I have a new indoor pool in my basement! Ha-ha. Funny joke! (I had just gotten done telling him about my flooded basement!)

 

[chookchick]

rodriguez
Okay, so we asked for it and we got it---RAIN!!!
It has been dumping here constantly since last night, I'm afraid to see what is going to be on the news tomorrow. We sit up high, and drain well, and the run is covered, so we're doing okay (well, besides the rat hole I discovered). How is everyone else faring in this weather? Are your coops weathering the storm?

 

[UrbanChickenMama]

Quote:
Yep, yep, I second that --

rodriguezgamefarm!

As for how we're fairing -- its been crazy-windy since last night and raining most of today-hard!

I'm getting a little (OK, a lot) irritated, because this is completely putting a damper on my work week. I'm off work -the 9-to-5'er- to be working on an addition to our home. My folks are in town and we've only gotten the decking completed on half of it. grrrrr! I just want it to stop for the next 4 days!

...then I'd have a roof on and I could be out of the elements but still making progress.

 

[Selena]

Just when I officially decided to turn the empty almost-was-a-greenhouse into a mini-barn, it starts to rain. I got the huge laurel hedge trimmed around it, and got the inside completely cleaned out. All I had to do was put tarps over the half that's not finished and set up the extra dog kennel as a run.

But it's flat out RAINING.

Even took the chickens by surprise. DH came home and told me that he scared a bird on the back porch, and followed it into the garage where there were 6 birds. Most of them on his quad. So, after I finish cooking dinner (and of course, eating it) I head out there. I got 2 of them, but the others made it into the rafters before I could get to them.

ETA: oh, and those guineas are a hoot. They kept up and screaming, they'd get the rest of the flock in a tizzy.... and they'd just look around like, "What?". For no reason, too!

 

[Fowl-Language]

Ugh, I take back all the bad things I said about the snow! I'd rather have snow than flooding.

About the DE: I mix a little in with the chickens' feed and fluffle some into their straw on the floor of the coop. My first 2 chickens came to me with lice, which required treatment with Frontline. I'm trying to keep my chickens (as well as the rest of my life) away from chemicals, and we've had no bug problems while using DE.
If anyone in the area wants some, I'm happy to share. I got a 50 lb bag which is lasting me forever.

 

[Tailfeathers]

I'm gonna post something here that may start a new discussion but hopefully will just start a whole lot of new action for folks who haven't heard about this.

Some time back late November or early December I got a letter from the Dept. of Ag regarding "WAC 16-91, Requested Animal Services and Holding Facilities - Fees" which said that the Dept. of Ag is trying to revise the existing law to allow the State to charge us fees for inspecting our birds in order to bring or keep the State in compliance with NPIP.

I won't take the time to go into all of it but basically the proposed fees start at $85/hr per visit. When this is combined with the requirement that all birds be tested or shown to have been tested prior to being allowed to be exhibited at a Show, one can see where this is easily going to shut down a large number of people of participating in Shows. And that doesn't even take into account organizations like FFA and 4-H!!

The State held a public hearing at the end of December but I have recently found out that perhaps only a few people like myself were notified. That means that most poultry keepers in the state probably weren't. There was the option to send the State a letter or email but the deadline for that submission was 1700, January 2nd.

Here is a BYC Post from another Washingtonian on another Topic:

Quote:
and here is a reply that I made:

Quote:
Now, even though the deadline is almost a week passed, I still would strongly encourage every poultry owner on this site that hasn't already sent the State an email to do so. Even if you don't ever plan to show your birds, please support the rest of us. Let your voice be heard in solidarity with the rest of ours. We sure would appreciate it!!

If the State gets away with this, how long before someone decides to change the laws and require EVERY poultry owner in the State to be NPIP certified or have to jump through some other money-making hoop for the State in order to have a few chickens?

So, whattaya say folks? Will you let your voice be heard?

God Bless,