Washingtonians

[hennylane]

Hi All,

Just starting with my first ever chickens in Tacoma. I have six gals that are now fully feathered, and have been with me for two weeks. All are different so I have an Australorp, a Delaware, a Cochin, an Easter Egger, a Golden Buff, and a Rhode Island Red. We are looking into organic foods and possibly starting a purchasing club if we can't find a good local source. Any ideas? Also, anyone doing something special to get the fancy "Omega 3" eggs that they sell at the store? Hope to meet some locals soon.

~Be Well

 

[weaveagarden]

Hi Hennylane,

I think the Omega3's are just eggs from chickens fed an extra amount of flax seed. You should be able to get that in large quantities at the natural food stores in the bulk section if you can't find it any place else. I seem to remember it being about $1lb for non-organic, and about $1.30lb for organic. But I may not have that right.

What is a Golden Buff?

 

[tomato lady]

Quote:
Hi Hennylane, welcome to BYC. I live south of Tacoma, just south of Graham. Some people still say "Way out there?" but it doesn't seem far to me at all. My daughter and her family live in North Tacoma up near the zoo. My son-in-law has 4 chickens.

I plan to feed my chickens a little ground flax seed when they start laying. I could have layers sometime in September. Because we live in the country there are no restrictions on the number of chickens I can have. I just remodeled my old goat barn into a large coop.

I have a very mixed flock of 31 adults and 16 chicks. Just bought some Welsummer chicks and some Americuana chcks from Tailfeathers on BYC. I also have 6 Buff Orpingtons and 2 Salmon Flaverolles. I am keeping my chicks in the smaller coop. I might introduce them to the big girls when they are all the same size.

I think so far of my big chickens I like my Light Brahmas the best for their gentle, quiet personality. I have some sweet Easter Eggers too. I don't have any of the other breeds you have.

Be nice to your neighbors. I think the legal limit in Tacoma is 4 chickens. I could be wrong, but that is what my daughter says.

Enjoy your chickens.

 

[brennant]

I live in Tacoma as well, and talked to the folks over at Gardensphere who have a class on urban chicken raising and say that there is no limit on chickens, but no roosters.

I have no chickens yet, but am thinking of getting 4 BO chicks... I have never done this before, and was wondering if I should just get adult hens? Would I be over my head?

MPC seems to have chicks for sale still, rather than the other ones listed on this site...

My thought was to keep the chicks in the house and after the proper amount of time slowly transition to the coop I am going to build. I might need to get a lamp in the coop at the beginning (it will be fall) so the transition is a little easier.

Thoughts??

 

[weaveagarden]

I love Buff Orps very much. But you could have some variety and you would still have some great eggs. I would suggest looking to see if MPC has Cuckoo Marans still available. Then you will also have a dark egg. I just got some Cuckoo Marans from them a week ago. I also got Welsummers which are about the cutest chick ever! Also dark eggs, with a bit of red for a nice dark terracotta color. All are hardy chickens, and could co-habitate very well.

Get chicks. It is so much fun seeing them grow up. But you might not get eggs until winter, maybe even next year. You are not over you head at all. Raising chicks is fairly easy, and a great way to ease into the upkeep chores that you will have. And while they are growing you will have time to learn more on here about what to do and etc.

 

[weaveagarden]

Just a thought... They also have Delaware. I believe Delaware is that chicken that Sand Hill Hatchery says is their best layer. Also a calm bird which will mix well.

All of that said... My little Blondie is my favorite pullet right now. I can't wait to see her eggs. She is patient and very nice to hold and talk to. So a group of them could be nothing but good. I just wanted to encourage you to mix it up if you want to. I don't think a variety like that would be very loud, or hard to keep.

 

[JennsPeeps]

I'm in Tacoma, not far from South 56th & Pacific: totally residential setting! If anyone wants to come see a small urban set-up with 10 chooks, send me a PM (not an email) and I'm happy to show off our girls and coop.

Gardensphere's chicks are really pricey - $5/each or so. You can learn what you need off BYC or bring me a Starbucks beverage and I'll happily be your chicken consultant forevermore. DF calls me the Chicken Evangelist.

I'd either get chicks or started pullets from a breeder in the area or wait until spring and pick up a few babies from Del's. Del's orders their chicks from a hatchery in E WA. We've had really good luck with their birds and all have been healthy. 4 of our flock are Del's girls, and are good layers: BSL, RIR, BA, and BO. The BO, btw, is GINORMOUS. We should have named her Big Burd (yes, with a "u") instead of Curry. She just started laying last week at about 5.5 months old. She's a very nice bird - friendly, sweet, and quiet.

jenn.

 

[tomato lady]

Quote:
My son-in-law will be happy to hear that. Now if he could just get rid of the urban raccoons he has climbing his cherry tree.

 

[brennant]

Quote:
I may take you up on your offer. Starbuck's is right around the corner from me

At $5 per chick is a bit more, but then there is no shipping involved either... will have to think on that one. Perhaps the pullet idea is good too. So many options!!

Huge chickens? Awesome!

Side note: We have a plum tree right now that has a lot of fruit... I think we are getting either Possum or Raccoons. They sure make a lot of racket. I bet I am going to have to fortify the run a bit when I make it.

 

[crazychickenluver]

Hi Everybody;

I am in desperate need of help!!! I finally let my new chicks out to free range. THey have been doing great for the last week and my older hens and roosters have no interest in them so I have not seen any pecking or anything. SO here is the problem...2 of them one black cochin and one of my marans has been acting a little under the weather. Puffed up and not eating well, If I bring them inside at night and give them food and water they seem to perk up a lot so I take them back out in the morning and by evening they look like they are not feeling well again, so I bring them back in and start all over. THey have fresh food and water from numerous feeders and waterers outside. THey know where it is at because all the other chicks go there and they follow. I am just not sure what is going on with them...does anyone have some advice. THey are all about 12 weeks old.

Advice is appreciated

Thanks

Michelle