Washingtonians

[Curlita]

I have a thick layer of stray in my run. AFter the rainy patch we had a while ago, I went in and raked it around so it would dry a bit. I'm going to stick with straw for now and see what happens. I figure when it gets too mucky and soggy I'll rake it out and mulch a garden bed with it, and then start over with clean.

The area where we have our coop seems to have really good drainage, so I'm hoping it won't get too muddy, between that and the straw. We'll see.

 

[KKluckers]

I just posted another show here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=35964

 

[Selena]

My coop is a small one. My DH and I can move it together. It does not have a floor. I move it around the garden on average 2 times a month. The garden has a slight grade to it, so there's good drainage. After I move the coop, I rake over the old site to stir it up and leave it.

I have had problems with rats tunneling last year. We'd move the coop and rake and you'd have collapsing tunnels everywhere. We do have neighbor cats who spend every day in our yard. (DH wants them to go... I want them to stay and hunt rats! Hey, leave it to the neighbor to get "presents" and deal with fleas. I'll keep my cats indoors!) The cats (all 5 of them from one neighbor) never bother our birds, and only one has shown interest in them at all. She sits in the sun and watches them for hours, but keeps a good 3 feet of distance from the fence.

I've had NO rats this year. We'll see what happens in the fall though. My hens all roost in the top of the coop, and I gather the eggs routinely, so that may be why the rats never bothered the birds. They just get a few pieces and go.

This is my first year with new chicks, but I'm brooding them indoors, and my guineas had only been in the coop for a few hours after they hatched. I worried more for their safety near the adults more than for preditor losses.

 

[chookchick]

Hi Everyone, I'm new to BYC, but have been lurking here for a while, and have gotten soo much useful info to help with my new chicken hobby. I'm in Olympia, WA. Just found out I have a rooster that I will probably have to rehome (a nice quiet EE with red and black tail feathers, @ 10 weeks). My husband is going batty with all the chicken talk, so I am thrilled to find this site!

 

[MicMoo]

Quote:
We have a small tractor that is moved daily. To keep flies down, on days it doesn't rain I'll hose the previous day's location to wash the 'fertilizer' into the grass. This seems to keep the flies at bay.

 

[lexibrite]

Oh my gosh, today it rained so hard, and here I thought it was August. Hmmm....anyway I was caught unprepared with my trust blue tarp and my run got pretty muddy. I ended up putting some wood shavings on the run that I normally use for the coop.

My ladies are happy though. The are nearly 20 weeks old. When can I expect them to start laying, or will they if summer doesn't return? Thanks

 

[lexibrite]

I have 2 buff orphingtons and one americauna that is light colored with really pretty markings. I had several pics that I took to work because people kept telling me she was a rooster if she was that pretty. But I guess she is a hen after all-no crowing.

I'm really excited for them to start laying. This site is very helpful to me, first time chicken owner

:yiipchick

 

[johnmayersquare]

YES.......that rain was crazy! We had a horrible lightning/thunderstorm over here yesterday afternoon in Southworth(Port Orchard). I have 20 chickens(they vary in age from 20-24 weeks) and only 1 of my white Leghorns and 1 of my Barred Rocks is laying(those 2 have been laying for several weeks now)......My RIR's that are 24 weeks haven't laid yet. The Ameraucana's that are 24 weeks haven't laid either........ I'm just sitting and waiting for those pretty blue/green eggs!

 

[lexibrite]

This is SO cool! I got my very first egg tonight. How weird is that? It is light brown, so must be one of the buff orpingtons. I took a picture with my phone and sent it to my kids. The egg is about medium in size. I actually thought I would get some real small eggs at first.

Doesn't matter, I'm just thrilled I got an egg before some critter succeeded in invading them. We haven't had any issues since the digging incident.

 

[Lakebay Farmers]

Hi everyone...I'm in Lakebay, which is outside of Gig Harbor, which is outside of Tacoma.
New to the forum, and to chickens. We have only 5, and they're just starting to lay, which is very cool.

Best to all...