Washingtonians

[Nyrial]

Quote:
How deep is your pond? Back home they said 3 feet would be enough for the fish to winter over in. I would imagine its about the same here?

 

[KMHunter]

I went out and put vaseline on combs and wattles this evening. They weren't happy with me, because I wok them up to do it. But tomorrow mornings low is supposed to set records. I also switched out the 60 watt bulb to a 100 watt and I have it coming on at 3 am for the next day or so. Once this cold snap ends I will go back to 4:30 am and use the energy saver bulb again. I feel so bad for them! I can't believe some of the temps I have heard. Someone here said 8 degrees? OMG! A little snow would be great now though. I hope everyone is doing Ok. Have a great night!

 

[Illia]

I believe it is 3 feet.


And now, our pipes are freezing.

. . . (sarcasm) It is a record low here, but certainly not as low as the rest of WA, lol. Aaand of course it snowed in Port Angeles. . I have a feeling I should make a thread for all of us who haven't had snow yet. . . And apparently, so says the forecast, it should rain next week. Like I want any more of that after last month's goose chase.

Has anyone here heard of a Washingtonian game fowl breeder or owner? My sister's friend's husband was given two hens, described as "black, really really skinny and tall, and supposedly from japan" and, well, the lady allowed them to crossbreed with her current RIR rooster. The hens eventually died rather early (I told her possibly cold intolerance if they really are actually orientals) and the chicks grew to pullets and cockerels - Well, they're fighting constantly, and the lady is worried. I told my sister I would LOVE to see these guys, because. . I LOVE oriental game fowl, and plan to buy some this spring, but she said her husband got them from a guy who imported them directly. Now, what I am wondering is - Is he local? Is there really a local game fowl breeder or owner? (and not just of game banties)

Either way, I've never actually seen them, so I'm hopefully going to visit the couple soon, and see their chickens and ID them. If the situation really is bad, I certainly will do anything to take a cockerel or hen, and try and purify their genes. I don't think these birds, if actually oriental (and not just game banties) should be in the hands of a lady who knows little about chickens. She feeds them dogfood, for one thing.

 

[RonB]

Kim
You made me feel guilty, so I went out and covered Barney my roo and my too leghorns and my calif. white, cause their combs are so big. Barney don't like to be touch. Keri had to hold him down . LOL Three days in a row now I 've had Three white eggs!!! I think my little girl is back on track.

.. At 7m my coop was 26 degrees. I put in a red heat lamp last night but at 10:00pm they were in their regular places on the roost above the lamp.
I checked on the other club house. They wanted $700.00 NO WAY !!!! its only worth about half of that
I did a search on here last night about cold weather and heat lamps. Several said they don't use them at all. so I'm hoping I'll be all right.

 

[ReiMiraa]

well the high today was 20

and my car said 8 at 6oclock.

i gave them some oatmeal.... the stuff i gave them lastnight froze faster than they could eat it. so i piled the hot on the frozen hoping it would thaw......
they squeak because it is hot.... atleast it slows down how fast they eat.
since october i have had 2 heat lamps on 24/7 and they are red 250W.
most of them seem happy.

the one that is either molting or dying stayed on the roost when i went in..... and so did my other green egg layer.... maybe my green egg layers are weird (one is over a year old and the other is 7 months)....

thinking if tomorrow is warmer(over 15) i might get around to cleaning their water and some of the coop....

oh and 7/9 eggs today

 

[Chicken Rustler]

I showed 3* overnight . As of 9:00 pm it is 15. Had to go to town today and people was all bundled up like Eskimo's like it was cold er something.
I only have heat on for Bugs and Woody my 2 young OEGB's. The rest of the chickens seem to be doing fine. I made a mix of Oatmeal, instant mashed tators and instant milk for all our chooks and for the neighbors flock too. I let it cool till just barely warm and they loved it.
Yesterday the water froze at the stables across the road so I got it thawed but last night the hired hand didn't understand how to properly drain the pipes and it froze and exploded 50 of pipe. So now I get to replace 50 feet of pipe in the next day or so. Fun times. I just hope we don't get a repeat of the 30" of snow we had last year. We had to shovel the entire roof 120 x 120.

ETA We have gone from 7-8/15 to 10/15 since I added a 90w light that comes on at 3am and goes off at 7am.

 

[justbugged]

Quote:
This method is how we are keeping the hummingbird feeder from totally freezing solid. It's seems to work best above 15 degrees. And I can caught the hummingbird warming his hiney too.

 

[weaveagarden]

I am shopping for a water heater tomorrow for the chicken coop. Probably nothing in town, but I can hope.

Breakfast of instant Kashi Oatmeal, eggs, layer mash and yogurt this morning. I ran out of grains.

Red hen is still trying to go broody out in the back area. But otherwise, it looks like everybody understands the concept of a nesting box.... Too bad I still only have one very large wooden box in there for them. 5/12 today. 3 green 2 brown It seems like everyone except red hen is on an e/o day pattern.

I have a 100 watt ceramic heater bulb coming this week in the mail. I hope it lasts longer than the incandescents have been. Then I will also be able to control the light usage better on a seperate line. I am going to extend the night time rather than the morning, since I am trying to keep a roo quiet during sleep times. Lights all day to help with heat in the coop also. On at 7AM, off at 9PM I think. They make a plug in thermostat that comes on at 35 degrees and shuts off at 45. I think I will pick that up soon to add to the heater set-up.

Has everyone been keeping up with the post about the effects of synthetic lighting on poultry. It is interesting, albeit petty squabling at times. Here is the link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=273525&p=1
I think based on what I have read, I am happy to give my girls a little bit extra lighting, but am also happy to have the heater coming so they don't have to have constant light on in the coop.

Who knew keeping a few chickens would turn out to be so challenging sometimes. I really do love it!

 

[uplate]

Quote:
Although I would love the party to be at the Maltby club since that is so close, if the price is too high here are a couple suggestions.
-- We just attended a party at the Red Cross Building in Everett on Lombard. I don't know the price but don't think it was that high. It is a nice big space. You might want to check into that http://www.snohomishcounty.redcross.org/
-- Has anyone checked to see what the local Grange Halls rent for?
* Horseshoe Grange #965 16428 Broadway, Snohomish, Wa. Rental contact - Janelle - 425-745-2180
* Garden City #280 801 2nd St., Snohomish, Wa. Rental contact - Bob - 360-862-8822
* Tri-Way #1093 3509 Seattle Hill Rd., Snohomish, Wa. Rental contact - Pamela - 425-337-3040 (although I think I heard recently they won't rent for parties any longer)
* Sammamish Valley #286 14654 148th Ave. NE, Woodinville, Wa. Rental contact - Ron - 425-806-8044

 

[KMHunter]

Uplate, thanks for the tips, I will check them out, we also may have a line on a place in Enumclaw. I hope to have it locked down by this next week.

Just wanted to know if everyone recieved the email I sent out last weekend. I have gotten a few replies, but I am looking for a yes, no, or maybe for now. If you haven't recieved an email, PM me. I got 7 replies out of about 22 emails I sent out. I just need a tentative head count. And those of you who are new to the thread, can PM me with your emails and I will send you details.

Thanks!