Washingtonians

[Illia]

Wow.

Someone mentions the want not to have a political and religious debate, and look here. . . Religion and Politics being shoved down the audience's throats. . .


Well, today has been pretty good in weather. Gave me some time to finish our "tarp-based shed" - It basically looks like a white fair tent, hoisted up by 4x4 wood posts. Hopefully it will withstand the winter and keep our Yak and chickens safe and dry.

 

[cheryl98117]

Quote:
Depends on where from Cal,

Just need a warm coop thats predator proof, most common predator is raccoon and opossum and hawks/eagles in the north Seattle area.
But depending on where you live you might have coyotes, bears, fishers, etc.

Don't forget Cougar and neighbor dogs... Oh and neighbors, and kids... lol sorry I have had issues with people going in my coop, letting the girls out, taking eggs.....

 

[Illia]

pips&peeps :

Illia:

Processed through Sort Facility, November 04, 2010, 7:41 am, TACOMA, WA 98413
Left you a message yesterday afternoon...

Thanks. I'm expecting them to arrive tomorrow morning then. So excited!

 

[ReiMiraa]

in response to the post about Coccidiosis in Chickens

If one has a large variety of breeds. shouldn't there in theory be some chickens that are resistant to cocci?

I mean, we cant always keep treating that with disease (i'm not organic btw) otherwise we are selecting for resistance and soon it will evolve to become resistant...

as devastating a thought it is, couldn't we let the disease pass through, and let the fittest survive? (i mean i would be devastated, but what if the outcome was a handful that are resistant?)

i'm in biology class, and finished evolution last month. and i just thought, couldn't this be like the spanish flu for chickens (or is there some other disease for chickens that is more devistating?)?


Oh and also in response to overpopulation. The 4 horseman will keep everything in check. although technically humans could be considered the 5th...
agriculture is super efficient. we have to be because environmentalists keep cutting our water. soon a new generation will take over family farms, most are educated with the latest cultural practices. Integrated Pest Management is the best method for keeping quality, quantity and the environment in mind. I guess my only other complaint is alot of ppl from the west side come over here buy prime ag land at a high price and then build ridiculously huge homes, and they are just vacation homes... and because of them, last year property taxes here were assessed with a 200% increase. many locals are having to move because homes they have been in all their life, they suddenly cant afford the taxes (and these are small, modest homes).

oh and one last complaint. I get many customers from bellevue area who believe that organic means: it is never sprayed, it is left there, that it is safer. False, False, False. organic sprays have to be applied more often to remain effective, the fruit would be crap if no one attended to all the plants needs, some pesticide sprays are safer, for the environment, but more deadly for humans.

oh also, fruit does not magically come from the back of wal mart. they come from trees.

sorry since everyone is venting i figured i shall give my few cents. and a few years of constantly correcting people... sometimes i wish to have a food education convention in the city to inform city ppl on where their food come from.

i miss my chickens..... i need to hug a chicken. -sigh-

 

[DIYSeattle]

There are more than 8 billion chickens on earth. If they ever were to rise up against us it is possible they could overtake it. With legal representation and or a democratic voting system they will elect the new president of the US.

Anyone going to the Chehalis show in December?

How long does it take to go to Chehalis from Seattle? Will it or is it likely that it will be snowing there?

 

[Tailfeathers]

I will be going to the Chehalis show in December. At least I plan to at this point. It is the second weekend in December. And yes, for the last two years we have gotten a big snowstorm that weekend. I think it takes about 3-4 hours for me to get to Chehalis and I'm about 40-45 minutes north of Seattle.

And for the record, as for "Religion and Politics being shoved down the audience's throats", I am NOT doing that and I don't think anyone else is either. Nobody is shoving anything down anyone's throat. If you don't want to read the post, then don't. There's a lot of stuff that I read on here that I don't necessarily want to see and it has NOTHING to do with poultry. The last time I looked we had Freedom of Speech in this country and I, for one, would rather not have the Thought Police or Speech Police deciding what gets to be said or not said on here. That is I guess unless I get to be that police. Anybody up for that? Didn't think so.

My responses lately have been directly related to comments that were intended for the greater general audience which stated that we somehow needed to have a brain that thought in a certain way and that we (mankind in general) have no right to do this or that. When someone chooses to speak for the majority of all people, then they have to realize they open the door to those who do not hold the same belief. When someone tells me that I have no right to do or not do something, then I have every right to openly disagree with them and a responsibility to state exactly where that disagreement lies.

God Bless,

 

[Tailfeathers]

Quote:
From what I've read and experienced on Coccidiosis the answer is both yes and no. It is my understanding that Cocci is present in all chicks at birth as it is passed vertically from the mother to offspring. And it is ever-present in all chickens. The problem occurs when living conditions become such that the birds ingest more cocci than their natural resistance can handle.

Now here's the catch. I had a real problem with Coccidiosis this year. I mean it became ridiculous. So I finally made time to do some serious research on it and here's one of the things I learned. Evidently there is like 14 different strains of chicken cocci. (Btw, dogs, cats, goats, cows, pigs, etc. all have cocci too but their type is not transferrable to chickens and vice versa) Well, one can have a flock of birds and in a fairly short period of time that flock will develop a natural resistance to that particular strain of cocci. Perhaps you can see where this is going by now. Suppose you decide to add another breed to your flock and get birds from someone else. Now that second bunch of birds has a different strain of cocci that your original flock is not resistant too. Now you have a situtation where your original flock gets Coccidiosis from the strain brought in by the second bunch of birds and the second bunch of birds gets Coccidiosis from the strain that your original birds have.

Now you can see how a situation could quickly get out of hand. Having said that, breeding birds and selecting to keep only the strongest, healthiest, and disease-resistant ones I think is a much better course of action that continually trying to medicate birds. Maintaining a "survival of the fittest" attitude does have some merit in the breeders repertoire. Obviously, I'm talking about micro-evolution here and not macro. I still am hoping to have a completely drug-free, self-sustaining flock but this past year set me back. Had I not decided to medicate my birds, I may very well have lost my entire flock this year. So I do also think there is a place for medications. Since I frankly do not have the time or space to keep my brooders and chickhouses in a state of constant sanitation to the point where there is no chance of my birds getting Coccidiosis, I choose to feed my chicks a regular diet of Medicated Chick-Starter.

Quote:
Good Points. Just another example of the ever-changing world we live in.

God Bless,

 

[cheryl98117]

Quote:
Very well said Tailfeathers.

As for me, I chose to stay out of the conversation, that was my choice. I however, do not mind reading everyone elses insites and oppinions on the subject. Its amazing the things you can pick up/ learn just by watching, reading, and listening.

I see no actual problem with the discussion at hand, as it is a debate, and not an argument. We all have the right to say, think, and believe what each one of us feels is correct. And just because it is correct for ourselves, does not mean that it is correct for everyone else. And I see nothing wrong with anyone voicing their beliefs and or feelings as long as it is said apropriately for the situation.

Again this is just my personal feelings on the debate at hand.

 

[Tailfeathers]

Quote:
I think you just said what I was trying to but in a much better way. Well done!

God Bless,

 

[TheReidHomestead]

Just a heads up for all those Garage Sale enthusiasts!

The Snohomish County 4-H Poultry Program is holding another garage sale fundraiser this Saturday, 11/6, at the Woodinville Lions Club located at 19008 168th Ave NE in Woodinville (across the street from Leota Junior High). From 9:00 to 4:00. And it is indoors!

ALSO, if anybody has anything of value (must be in good shape, not junk), and want's to donate it to the sale, you can drop off any donations at the Lions Club on Friday afternoon (tomorrow!!!) after 2:00.

We will be there on Sat. afternoon helping out, so hope to see some of you there!!