Washingtonians

[DIYSeattle]

I have a question for all of you that have Sussex. I have a 16 week old Speckled Sussex. Approx. what age did your Sussex lay? She s my oldest of the teenagers and I would like to have them integrated into the big coop before she starts laying if possible. Just curious.

My light sussex are about 6 1/2 months old and have not started laying yet. They are about the size of a small turkey and people ask me if they are really chickens or turkeys. I would think that becaue they are so big they lay later, or are later to mature. They are super friendly though, but as of yet are not laying.​

 

[chickens4gramma]

Hi to all! I am new here, and in the Lake Tapps area (that is near Puyallup, south of Seattle). We are currently remodeling our shed into a coop and hope to get a few pullets by the end of the summer. Then maybe some chicks in the spring for the little grandsons to enjoy raising. We have a little bit of experience, as we used to have a hen who free ranged under our rabbit hutches many years ago, and we once raised 20 chicks to eat, but I am really feeling overwhelmed by the huge amount of information there seems to be about raising chickens. I bought Raising Chickens for Dummies and Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, and the more I read, the more baffled I feel! Is it really that complicated? My DH thinks I am just overthinking it all (ok, I am a little obsessive-compulsive).

We have an acre of land, with wetlands and a large farm behind us. There is lots of wildlife-deer, elk, raccoons, coyotes, as well as eagles, hawks and osprey, so we know we need predator protection. Our shed is 8 x 10 and we plan to make an adjoining covered pen that will be about 10 x 10. I have been looking around to price 1/2 inch hardware cloth, and have only found 1/2 x 1 inch at Del's. Will that work? Where do you all (on this side of the mountains, anyways) get your wire for runs?
I think I need to see some set-ups in person. I wish I could go to the Tacoma Coop Tour this weekend, but we have a big BBQ at our house. I may try to do the Seattle one July 9th. Are there any local clubs any of you belong to? I need a chicken mentor, lol! Seems every time I answer one of my questions, I have five more questions!
I went garage saling today and a man gave me some free large doweling (like for clothes to hang on in the closet). Will that be okay for roosts? I also got 5 large shelves (particle board 1 x 4) for $1 and 2 white wire shelves (7 ' x 1') with hardware to hang them for $1. I am not sure what I will use them for, but couldn't pass them up. I know I'll need shelves in the coop to hold supplies, right?
Can anyone tell me how I make a signature line on here? I have enjoyed reading posts and am learning more than my old brain can handle! Glad to meetcha all!

Susie

 

[broodytood]

Quote:
Good so far. Of course being a puppy, she needed to be trained. She doesn't bite, except for chewing on me, she does jump up, but, it is a great deal less than it used to be so she is learning. She looks at the chickens in wonder, but we have not crossed the bridge of her being where she can get to them.

She has no real problem with other dogs, she has diplomas from 2 seperate classes at the PETCO.

She was bitten on the cheek/eye by a large rottweiler at class one day, and did not further the aggression, so we think she is great around other dogs.

thanks for the comments.

And again, my question is answered before I even posted it. It's hard when I don't read all the way through the current posts - but if I didn't, I would never post. It's just too hard to read dozens of entries and THEN try to go back and address them all individually.
Congrats on your pretty pup. She sounds like a good dog!

I heartily agree! Sometimes I use a note pad and jot down who I needed to post to or I get lost!

 

[SadieSue]

Quote:

Oh there is a wealth of chicken mentors here! I also felt overwhelmed when I first began my research and joined the forum nearly a year ago. But with a lot of hand holding and good advice I'm very happy to say our coop was built in April and we have 4 happy hens and 6 week old assortment of babies that seem to be thriving.

This is the right place for you to be. I'm going to defer to some of the others about your doweling. I have heard that LF (large fowl) prefer a flat surface to roost upon, but others here may offer a different opinion.

I do plan on making the rounds of the Tacoma Coop Tour tomorrow and will making a full report afterwards!

 

[Breshcandra]

Well He started crowing again.. at 5:30. I live out in the middle of nowhere between Granite falls and Lake Roseinger (sp?) But I only have a third of an acre and have neighbors all around me. Should I try and keep him? will making the light come on later in his coop make him crow later?


I posted this earlier but I don't think any one saw it.

 

[VelvettFog]

Quote:
Deny food for 24 hrs. Deny water for the last 12. Right prior to the deed -- consider feeding some grit or scratch. That will put something into the crop and make it easier to find/grab.


That's all you should need to do -- I think

 

[DIYSeattle]

You can do what is called milk finishing. Add enough milk (the marked down milk is good) to the feed to make it pasty but not runny. About a week of that and you will be good to go. As the recommendations above, hold off feed for the last day. Holding off water is up to you.

 

[RonB]

chickens4gramma

First of all welcome

SadieSue is right, you can learn alot from the people on here

. We all have different opinions and do things different. So in some things there really is NO right way. its what you perfer.

There is ONE thing we ALL agree on

DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT invite Chicken Rustler over to your house and DON'T give him your address

That is RULE number ONE !!!!!!!!

For a roost, alot of people us a 2x4 flat side up so the chickens can sit on their feet and keep them warn in the winter. I use a 2x2 for most my roosts. I do have a dowel for one roost and it works well . make sure you sand the edges so they don't get slivers in their feet.

Some use hardware cloth for fencing I think its too expensive

. I have a good size run (90ft x 105 ft) and I use 2x4" welded wire 5 ft. high. I run a string of electric fence 10" from the ground, one in the middle and one 10'' from the top

We have coyotes ,raccoons, bobcats, eagles and hawks. NOTHING has got any of my flock while they are cooped up. I have losts a couple to coyotes while they were free ranging, but thats my fault for not watching them.

One thing I JUSTED changed (after 2 1/2 years) I use to put shavings under my roosts. Now I use sand under MOST of them. easier to clean and alot Cheaper

Got the idea from Chickielady

THANKS chickielady

So you will see lots of people have GOOD idea's

Just REMEMBER RULE # 1

and you will be OK !!!!!!!!! Good luck and enjoy

 

[RonB]

Breshcandra

Roosters crow ANYTIME they feel like it

. Not only in the early morning, Mine use to crow when people would come around and I use to hear him at 3:00am in the barn crowing. So I DON'T think putting a light in there will help

Good luck

 

[Breshcandra]

Not a light on. But off. Does making their coop dark while they are in it have any affect on when the rooster crows or will he crow even when its dark.