Washingtonians

[StarryEyzz]

Awesome coop!

We bought a coop this weekend and tried to get our girls to walk up the ladder. That was a joke. At 8 weeks old, I don't think it's going to happen. They were sliding down between the rungs. My husband said the ladder must have been built for full-grown birds. I think he plans to build a new ladder that is long and L-shaped so the birds can walk up it.

Yah, ours our 9/10 weeks and look at it like its a scary monster or something. Hopefully in time.....

 

[FirewifeJess]

Maybe this will help:

http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf

It IS helpful, thanks!!

 

[VelvettFog]

Jess - you have email.

 

[StarryEyzz]

I need to pick your brains. My girls are 10.5 weeks old right now and at about 8.5 weeks we switched them from Purina Start & Grow to Scratch & Peck Grower. I *feel* (but don't really have much proof other than a few feathers) like that feed isn't good for them but I also don't want to switch again. It's supposed to be the best right?!?! I mean...it's whole grains, non-GMO, locally grown and milled, yada yada. But lately in the morning there have been a TON of feathers in the bottom of the coop, and today I found this spot on the grass!:

Those are Martha's BUM feathers!

Is she molting? She's only 10 weeks old! Is molting normal at this age? Could it be the feed? Lack of nutrition? They ALWAYS have clean water with ACV in it. They ALWAYS have ample feed available to them, even at night thusfar. They ALWAYS spend time outside each day too! What could cause such a large loss of feathers? A predator swooped down and goosed her?

What do you think? She isn't injured by the way; no limping, no sore spots, no missing feather spots that I can tell...but those are definintely her bum feathers on the grass.

My 9/10 week old gals are on Scratch and Peck from the time we got them. NO problems at all with losing feathers? (other than occasionally one or two).
Maybe molting?

 

[FirewifeJess]

My 9/10 week old gals are on Scratch and Peck from the time we got them. NO problems at all with losing feathers? (other than occasionally one or two).
Maybe molting?

Yeah I think it must be molting. I just wonder why they are molting at 10.5 weeks old...

They seem to be very healthy and active, no cannibalism, no overcrowding. I wonder if the few days last week they spent completely cooped up in the dark-ish coop would have forced them to molt? Or if it's just one of those normal, healthy, mini-molts that they sometimes do?

 

[mikeyb]

Quote:
Nah, just rolling my jeans up above the knee and still getting soaked. I can follow the grazed-down path in the field but part of what I was stomping through last night was snowberry, which is the soggiest plant in the world.


I used to have waterproof bibs, but the weight and stiffness just made me more tired at the end of the day, so now I just rotate shoes and jeans so I'm mostly dry most of the time. Why is June rain so much wetter though? And why is it that I can't find another pair of Justin Ropers size (mens) 8WW anywhere just when the waterproofing in the pair I bought three years ago has given up the ghost?
Have you tried the Western Store in the strip mall x from Safeway near the I 5 exit?
Which exit? I don't remember a Western store at 111, but then I avoid that mess out of plain vanilla social responsibility unless I'm actually going to HD or Costco or the bank. Even getting to Shipwreck is easier by an alternative route these days.
That would be one exit below #88 at the Harrison Rd exit for Centraila. You would exit ramp and at bot of ramp turn right, take the 1st road to your right and the strip mall is back in that area. You can see the store/sign from the freeway coming from the N. It is on your right.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Jess - you have email.

Got it, thanks! Cedar or fir 2x4s?

 

[SadieSue]

"Phoenix" as some of you have seen him before, sired 3 chicks, one of which is going in my breeding pen to mate with Wellsummers to improve the vibrant Crele coloration....I am excited about this project !

He is SO pretty! I love that Crele coloration. Hope the project proceeds successfully for you.

 

[Chickielady]

It IS helpful, thanks!!

Chickens have a "juvenile" moult and then usually a "big" moult when they get to be about a year old.
I have a few "started birds" at about 3-4 mo moult, but it is not a full "big" moult like they have at a year of age.

 

[Chickielady]

He is SO pretty! I love that Crele coloration. Hope the project proceeds successfully for you.

It is quite a story so far.
Phoenix was gifted to Cloverleaf's son, and he turned meaner than heck & after she was attacked a few times she had DH off his head.
Before he was be-headed, she had bred him to a few Partridge pullets & incubated the eggs for me (I begged !)
The 3 chicks that hatched were a partridge cockerel, a crele cockerel & a partridge pullet.
So I got the chicks & that is where I am now...remember, there is NO Crele Chanteclers anywhere !
So this is exciting !
I will have the Patridge Chantecler cockerel for sale if anyone is interested.
He will not be used in the breeding program nor the 2 Wellsummer cockerels.
All beautiful birds !