Washingtonians

[weaveagarden]

Quote:
I swore I would never do rodents with tails. But the tail on these guys is so skinny that you don't even notice it, or that it is Ugh! hairless. Hairless rodent tails give me the heeby jeebies.

 

[Tailfeathers]

Quote:
"Why should I care?" Now that is a good question. The answer is you should care if you own chickens or care about someone who does. Since you and others are on a site called, "Backyard Chickens", I would think it is safe to assume that one or both of the above applies.

As for having the time to make the effort involved, I can fully relate. And just so you know that I can relate, let me give you a small idea of what I mean. I am self-employed and just made the first placement in over a year. So, in other words, I made ZERO money last year. I was also separated for a full year and had to not only put in extra time at work to try to make some money but then take care of this place and myself all by myself. Rather than make a list, let me just put it this way. Just imagine everything that you do, and then everything that your spouse does and then picture yourself doing it all.

So, what's my point? The point is simply this. We all have the same amount of time - 24/7. It's not a matter of time, it's a matter of priorities. What Greg and I are basically saying is if you are sick and tired of the Government heaping more tax burdens on us folks to find a way to fund their frivolous projects, then make this a priority. And if you're sick and tired of the Government regulating every single thing under the sun and taking away your freedoms, then make this a priority.

If you don't want to make it a priority, that's certainly your perogative. Just don't come back and complain later about how the Government is taking over your farm.

As for trying to be a bit more educational, here is a link that covers all there is to cover: http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/petregs.aspx

Lastly, I'll just say this, last year I did make a post about public hearings that were going to take place to pass a new law regarding NPIP. NPIP stands for "National Poultry Improvement Program". Just the title alone ought to tell someone why they should care about that. Moreover however, one must be NPIP certified in order to ship birds out of the state. Well, very little input was received and the new law was passed which now requires a person to pay $80/hr for the State Vet to come out and test your birds. Ah, but you say, "That ain't so bad." Maybe, but the clock starts running from the time the Vet gets in his car at Olympia to the time he arrives to your farm, plus 30 minutes of prep beforehand, two and a half hours to test your birds, 30 minutes clean up afterwards, and then stops when he gets out of his car back at Olympia. For most of us, that just ain't going to happen.

So, we can't ship chicks out of state now. Anybody who's been on BYC for any length of time knows that prevents us from helping others who might like some of our chicks. Ah, but you say, "Well I don't ship chicks anyway. Why should I care?" Do you sell eggs? How long do you think it's going to be before some brain child in Olympia gets the bright idea that folks selling eggs need to be NPIP certified? Or in order to have a small backyard flock you have to be NPIP certified? Don't think it can happen? Maybe you should know that the State of WA gets Federal Funding for NPIP as long as it's PT free. One outbreak of PT will cause them to lose their Federal Funding. Now which do you think they care about more - your personal freedoms and right to have a backyard flock or them getting their Federal Funding?

Someone once said, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." That might be true but I'd have to add that those on the road are pushed along by apathy. There's enough political clout on this one site that if the word got out and everyone would just make three calls - one to the State, and two to a couple of their friends - this kind of stuff would come to a screeching halt.

I, for one, am sick and tired of the Government encroaching on every single aspect of my life and laying one tax after another on me to simply help them grow into more of a monstrosity than they already are. So, I've made my call and sent my email, and let my voice be heard. Hopefully there will be more that will do the same.

And that's about as educational as I can be.

God Bless,

 

[weaveagarden]

Quote:
First of all Tailfeathers, you quoted me out of context, and completely missed that I am not arguing with you at all. But since you brought up these things, I just wanted you to make it clearer to those you two were critisizing what all this means. If you point was for us to come on board rather than just trying to make us feel bad, I was just pointing out that it might help to make it clearer.

Since you have brought up person stuff, I will tell you that I am single. Everything that happens at my place is done by me or I have to hire it to be done. I am disabled and have a lot of difficulty doing what I do for my chickens and for my place. On top of that, my disability also makes it very difficult for me to learn new things, and get my head around new information of the sort you were talking about. That is to say that unless it is something that is somewhat familiar, my brain doensn't know how to process the information and make sense of it. So I was asking you to simplify it for me and for others that are not in the "poultry business".

Finally, I didn't say I didn't care. In fact I said that I did, but I didn't know why I should. I do care if your business is going to be affected. Even if it doesn't affect me, I still care. Because you are a human being trying to make a living, and mostly because I consider you a friend on this site.

Please understand that many of us are not in the business. We do this as a hobby. Or in my case and others, we do this because we simply must do this. We do not have the resources that you and others have to learn this because of all kinds of reasons. If you want us as allies in this fight, you have to help us to understand (in more basic or simple terms) why you care so much. And most importantly, you have to understand that in a persons daily life there a million causes that come along. Help us to figure this out, and we might be able to help.

 

[herbandteas]

Quote:
Awww that they are

 

[brownlikewoah]

I have a BC Marans hen who needs a new home. She is about 10 months old, and has been laying for about a month. She is not super social, will come when you call for her but doesn't like to be held. The reason I am trying to find her a new home is because she has recently started crowing in the mornings, yes she is a hen that crows. Asking $30, but I really just want to find her a good home who won't eat her. I'm willing to drive a reasonable distance to get her to her new home. If you are interested in her please send me a PM! I have tons of pictures of her too

 

[Chicken Rustler]

brownlikewoah I would love to give your girl a good home where she could crow to her hearts content. I actually want to add some dark layers to my flock of 15. There are only 2 reasons that I can't say "I will take her". The first is the distance, I am at exit 68 off I-5. And the other is the $$$ right now I am in no position to buy. If ya don't come up with a home let me know and we will see what we may be able to work out.

 

[LaSombra]

Quote:
I'm interested also but am just a bot further down the road than chicken rustler. I don't mind a crowing hen. I've got two roosters anyway

Seattle is pretty far away, though. I'd be willing to pay 30 for her, though.

 

[Eagle2026]

I'll take her!
Just let me know where and when is a good time to get her and I'll be on my way.
I hope you still take cash as my credit card is not working to good right now.
Mike
(425) 232-2116 C#
(360) 863-8045 H#
Thank you!

 

[rainplace]

I've been asking on this thread for some time for someone to give me NPIP information, but no one has. The state hasn't been informative and hasn't returned my calls. I do care, I just don't know how to get involved. However there is something I care about more than NPIP and I am trying to get involved with that as well, and that is child predation. Trying to find out how to get involved can be extremely tiring in it's own right. There are SO many freaking issues out there that need our time and people complain about them all constantly, but ask how to do something to fix it, or prevent it, or whatever needs done and no one has anything to say.

This crap happening in King County is just that...crap. No one here can say differently. I don't know what to do. Want me to show you it makes me angry... okay, it pisses me off. Want me to help do something to change these things that are forcing the smaller farms out of business, then I need someone to hold my hand and help me through the process. Who do I call? Who do I write? Where should I show up?

I found your last few posts offensive, Royce.

Respectfully,
Donna

 

[Eagle2026]

Ryan Hembree
Agriculture Coordinator


Snohomish County
(425) 388-7112

[email protected]

M/S #411
3000 Rockefeller ave.
Everett, WA. 98201

Hope this helps, and if he doesn't have the info that your looking for maybe he knows who does.
Mike