Washingtonians

[Stumpfarmer]

I'd probably be missing church today if a Downy Woodpecker hadn't found that a piece of Timber Bamboo leaning on the yard fence by my bedroom window wasn't Just Exactly the best thing ever for expressing his deep inner feelings; not as loud as CL's Flicker on an oil drum, but what it lacked in volume it made up in rapidity and proximity. I've got both Hairies and Downies here (the former are bigger than the suet feeder in all dimensions and the latter a bit smaller, otherwise it's hard to tell them apart), Northern Flickers, western geographic group AKA Red Shafted Flickers, like CL's steel drum afficianado, at least one Redbreasted Sapsucker (my nominee for second place Bird With the Most Embarrassing Name Ever after the Bushtit) and occassionally a Pileated Woodpecker up in the big doug firs on the hill, depending on where the Redtails are nesting at the time.

I am one of THOSE birdwatchers, you know, the ones who would probably rise from my death bed to go see a Snowy Owl or Golden Plover if one were in the neighborhood. My feelings about chickens are at the intersection of my love for birds in general, farm animals in general, and really good cooking components, in general.

 

[Chickielady]

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to all the newbies I have missed !!

And wanted to say FiL has drove on to stay with my parents & then to Spokane, so we are finally home & ready to sell chicks!!
All flavours & colors!!

AND it does look like we will get sun today

 

[pettec63]

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Atually, I found these on CL Spokane. And come to find out the person I got them from shows Silkies! She's the one that told me all about the Poultry show in Stevenson and invited me down,( can't go have prior commitment). But, as you can tell, I started out with a pair and now have three hens and a drake! I'm just learning about Muscovy's but, from what I can tell they are very nice! I'll post some pics on here in the next day or so. I'll be selling ducklings and hatching eggs as soon as I can figure out what I'm doing!

Just from my own experience. Make sure your drake knows that people are above him in the pecking order! Muscovy drakes get BIG! Ive told this story befor and I tell it again just as a reference. But my 21 pound Muscovy drake took down and flogged my husbands 150 pound Nubian doe! They can and will do damage if protecting one or all of their girls! He was the worst in spring when breeding season started, but then mellowed out. But be aware, that just like with roosters, you have to watch them, as they will attac if they feel the need to.

Other than that, if you spend alot of time with them, they are VERY friendly ducks. Oh and dont get between the mommas and the newly hatched ducklings, they can give one heck of a flogging too. I hope you enjoy your flock of Scovies as much as I did. But be prepared for stinky messes when it comes time for brooding.

Wow! thanks for the info! That's incredible! So, how do you become the top Duck? I mean, how do you establish that pecking order, especially if they haven't been handled? I do intend to work with the babies when they come and hopefully the hens I have, but, I don't know much about poultry/ duck behavior, I thought if you don't work with them as babies there's not much you can do with adults? Any suggestions? These are very pretty ducks and I hope to have some nice babies out of them. Anyway, I certainly appreciate any advice the seasoned poultry keepers here on this thread could and do give!

 

[pettec63]

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Oh my God!! he is sooo cute Great pics!! do you have a name picked out??

 

[cmsdvm]

I got the cutest metal sign from Chicken Rustler- a hen with chicks. Can't wait to put it up. He also has a frog on lily pad that I'm simply dying to get for someone- surely there's a birthday coming up somewhere??

 

[pettec63]

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So I think we should do this, there is also a place in Enumclaw.
So we need to start planning.

I am hoping to make the date for the get together May 14th. This way eenie will be in town. She is supposed to arrive back in Washington on the 10th of May. Will this work for everyone? We could plan for lunch maybe. Bonney Lake is fairly simple and central for everyone.

Hi, well it's central for everyone on the West side? Are you talking just a picnic or a camp out? If it's a picnic I can come up for the day, but, for me it's too far for the camper with the price of diesel, Enumclaw would be a little closer for me but, it's up to you guy's. I'm game to come up even just for the day if need be.

 

[smarquis86]

im from yakima Washington and new to chickens

 

[pettec63]

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hey there! welcome to the thread! I'm from Outlook! What kind of chicks do you have?
Oh and welcome to everyone else here that's new, I just went through the thread and there seems to be quite a few! So, glad your here!

 

[nivtup]

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from the wet side.

Sun is out today though

 

[Kaneke]

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from the wet side.

Sun is out today though

yeppers -- once the sun has melted the frost on the grass, I'm letting my chicks out into the run, see if they want to eat our sweet potato skins from last night ....

gotta rig up a better pop door for them, and figure out how to modify this cobbled-together chicken tractor that our neighbor gave to us; even DH, the non-aesthete, thinks it's ugly

anyone run into any great deals on wire or fencing for chicken run and chicken tractor? I haven't scored one thing on Craigslist yet; rude people don't bother to say "it's gone"