Washingtonians

[Windymeadows1]

Hi napalongtails It is me Windy Meadows. I thought I would put my two cents in I am also NE. Spokane aria. I have five different breeds of Bantams and chicks on the whay. Starting early for show season. If anyone needs Bantams we can talk.

 

[herbandteas]

Quote:
I have 2 blue birchen cochen pullets
a pair of rhode island reds which we
are hoping start hatching this week.
Then I have a pair of silkies so I think
I am covered for those cuties for now.

Just love bantams but I have to have
a few full sized birds so we get big eggs too.

 

[weaveagarden]

I started with sand a couple of months ago. 5 bags from home depot. Then another 3 later. I thought it was a good way to go until I did the math At 100lbs per cu foot, that is 54 bags of sand per cu yard which equals $200 dollars plus tax per cu yard. Way too much!
I have a low yard which becomes a pond in the rainy season and is slow to drain due to clay soil. So I needed lots of sand. About 2 yards for 6" in the coop, and more to do enough of the back yard to make it possible to get to the shed and for the dog to get to higher ground.

I paid $14 per ton and a $130 delivery fee and got about 15 tons delivered for $330 with tax.

In answer to whether I like the sand. Well, I would never do anything else now that I have it in there. The trick is to not let any vegetable matter stay in there very long. I rake up old dry leaves and grass as well as other things like squash skins and corn cobs that they don't manage to eat. Raking once a week helps to get rid of this stuff and makes any extra poop easier to dispose. It brings a fresh layer of sand to the top and my boots don't become caked with poop when I walk through the coop. The girls and I are much happier. Before, I was slipping and sliding, and they were knee high in fermented veg matter and mud and poop. I also reserved about a yard of sand to use to throw down throughout the winter if it seem neccesary.

In the hen house, I use deep litter method. About 1/2 Dry shavings, 1/6 each sand, DE and Stall Dry. So far so good! Everyone seems to be happy. I will be adding a light box below the house soon and a hover above the roosts to try to keep the heat in when the coldest nights hit. I think the hover should help to keep hot moisture rising, but will hold in enough to maintain a toasty 45-50 degrees. Using a high low thermometer, I can see if that is happening, and adjust the watts of my lightbulb it needed to increase the heat.

Anybody have another method they want to share, I am open for more ideas.

 

[weaveagarden]

Brennant - Beautiful coop. I am so proud. We knew you when you just started this journey. Great job!!!!

One thing you may need to do is to increase the height if you want to keep them in, or add some aviary netting. It is amazing how high they can fly even with clipped wings.

Welcome Newbies!!!!!

You have come to the right place. Friendly, Fun and informed people here who don't mind sharing.

Washingtonians are the best!

 

[weaveagarden]

OK... I called the chamber of commerce who directed me to the fairgrounds. The Chehalis "Winter Brisk" put on by the Feather Fanciers of Chehalis is scheduled for December 12-13 8AM to 6PM in the Blue Pavilion. contact Mike Dooms at 360-736-2751 regarding showing chickens.

 

[Tailfeathers]

Quote:
There is a place about 2 minutes or less from the Getchell Station feedstore than piles sand and it's free for the public. It's right there by the quarry. There isn't any put out yet but I imagine they will be before long.

I'll be getting some for in front of my coop again. Which is a big mudhole right now.

God Bless,

 

[Greg Richardson]

I certainly understand the cost factor.
Every day check Craigslist for sand.
I obtain wood, fill dirt, sand, and gravel off Craigs every year.
People order to much and they are happy that you are relieving them of their problem.
It's a win win for both. Sometimes I get nothing for weeks then all of a sudden boom and there I am bringing home HUGE $$$ worth of materials.
God has been very good to me supplying my needs when finances just don't have those types of things like those in the budget.

 

[weaveagarden]

Free Bird Parrot size Bird Cages. Need some cleaning and painting, but might make good quarentine pens.

Craigs list - Port Orchard http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/zip/1433551489.html

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I was going to buy a few bags from wal-mart (they are $2.20 for 50#, I think?) and try it out in one run, for now. We have a sand/gravel place down the highway from us that will deliver a dump truck load for $130.00 which would be enough for all six of my runs and some leftover for my round pen.

 

[weaveagarden]

Quote:
Sounds Great! Lucky you.