Washingtonians

[itsren]

Speaking of that...I think I kinda shocked Debbie and Dave the first night they were at our house when I marched over to William and popped him on the behind for attempting to kick a chicken.

And then the little booger did it again the next day. I think he was just testing ME though, because there were other people around and he didn't think I would discipline him in front of them.

Mine will test us, too. Ours are older (10 and 7-year-old twins). We use a "sentence" notebook. They get the lovely privilege of practicing their handwriting quite often. We have no problem making them stop what they're doing and write sentences - even if they end up missing out on an activity. We used to be Camp Fire USA leaders, and I know a couple of times, parents were a little shocked that our own kids missed out on the activities of the meeting because they were sent to write sentences. We know that it is common for leader's kids to act up (in any kid's org), so we've had to be very proactive in making them realize that when mom and dad are leading something, they need to show us the exact same level of respect they'd show a teacher at school.

 

[SadieSue]

Here are my new babies! Below is the one Faverolle that would sit still for picture time! Lol!

Such fluffy chicks! I was surprised.


My Silkies

Gorgeous babies KMH!!!

Congrats!

 

[sodamancer]

Is there a bellingham or whatcom chicken group?

 

[Greg Richardson]

For those interested.............................

Nuts and Bolts: Mason bee workshop is Saturday

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  Home & Garden
  

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You can learn all about mason bees and how to attract these busy pollinators to your garden at a free workshop at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Willow Creek Hatchery in Edmonds.

Todd Brown, a bee hobbyist, presents the program at the Edmonds Wildlife Habitat Native Plant Demonstration Garden at Willow Creek.

Brown will talk about the bee life cycle, how to build a mason bee box and managing the bees all year long.

Educational programs such as this are offered at the Edmonds community and sponsored by the Pilchuck Audubon, the Washington Native Plant society, People for Puget Sound, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Edmonds Parks Department, Edmonds Salmon Club/Trout Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation and Just Frogs Toads Too.

For more on the bee program see www.pilchuckaudubon.org.

The community garden welcomes volunteers for maintenance and to help with educational programs. Contact [email protected] or call 425-771-8165 for more information.

Find the garden at Willow Creek Hatchery, 95 Pine St. at Highway 104 (Edmonds Way) southwest of the ferry toll booth.

 

[TheReidHomestead]

Princess seems to be doing a bit better this morning! She's no longer opening her mouth full time (though I couldn't stay out there to monitor her for very long with 3 hungry kids inside) and she jumped down from the roost and came outside with everyone else when I opened the hatch. I realized I had given all the birds too small of a dose of meds yesterday so I made sure to be exact this morning with the info I found on BYC. Their water now looks like Gatorade because of the Duramycin! LOL

Today I'm going to stay home and see if I can prep enough to paint the coop/run. Either that or I'll go pick up some sort of armoire to keep in the run which will hold all our food and supplies. I have been looking on CL and there's one that would be perfect for our needs but it's up in Kirkland Maybe I will check thrift stores today. If I'm already painting the coop and run on another day, I could paint an armoire to match as well

I'm glad Princess seems better this morning!

I doubt it's worms too. I went out yesterday and watched her hatch mates for awhile and saw no signs of illness/lethargy/mouth breathing etc.

It could be that she is hot/stressed. When overheated, birds will pant with their mouth open. Or stressed. Does she have shade? Protection from the big girls? By this I mean somewhere she can go that they cannot to escape?

I might consider keeping her and Ricky together but seperate from the rest of the flock for awhile longer, so that they develop a bond of some sort, before reintroducing them to the rest of the flock. Then they at least will stick together!

Good luck!

 

[TheReidHomestead]

Here are my new babies! Below is the one Faverolle that would sit still for picture time! Lol!

Such fluffy chicks! I was surprised.


My Silkies

Oh they are DARLING Kim!!!!! Great job hatching girlfriend!!!!

 

[FirewifeJess]

Mine will test us, too. Ours are older (10 and 7-year-old twins). We use a "sentence" notebook. They get the lovely privilege of practicing their handwriting quite often. We have no problem making them stop what they're doing and write sentences - even if they end up missing out on an activity. We used to be Camp Fire USA leaders, and I know a couple of times, parents were a little shocked that our own kids missed out on the activities of the meeting because they were sent to write sentences. We know that it is common for leader's kids to act up (in any kid's org), so we've had to be very proactive in making them realize that when mom and dad are leading something, they need to show us the exact same level of respect they'd show a teacher at school.

Yep, that's how it will be for us on a daily basis because we home school. It's hard for them to switch gears and see us as their teachers, not "just mom and dad". That's why we start training them young though, so it won't be quite so hard when they're older. I have extremely high expectations of my kids, even if those expectations mean that we end up leaving a fun activity because of unacceptable behavior. More than once we've been at a friends' house and had to leave right in the middle of a pleasant visit, basically just to prove my point that I mean what I say and if they misbehave while we're out, the fun ends. It's no fun for me either, but at least I know I'm not raising disrespectful kids who won't obey authority. We sound a lot alike Renee!

 

[FirewifeJess]

I'm glad Princess seems better this morning!

I doubt it's worms too. I went out yesterday and watched her hatch mates for awhile and saw no signs of illness/lethargy/mouth breathing etc.

It could be that she is hot/stressed. When overheated, birds will pant with their mouth open. Or stressed. Does she have shade? Protection from the big girls? By this I mean somewhere she can go that they cannot to escape?

I might consider keeping her and Ricky together but seperate from the rest of the flock for awhile longer, so that they develop a bond of some sort, before reintroducing them to the rest of the flock. Then they at least will stick together!

Good luck!

As of right now, there isn't anywhere they can go that the big girls can't, per se, but she and Ricky do spend a lot of time in the coop while the big girls are in the run. Yes, the coop and run are shaded and stayed pretty cool in the heat yesterday! This afternoon I'm going to put frozen water bottles into their waterer to keep the water cool when it gets really warm out there; 78 today I think? That's pretty warm for these Washingtonian chickens

I don't know how else to keep them separate from the rest of the flock completely because the size discrepancy isn't actually that huge (like a chick and a 6mo or something); I think the big girls would be able to squeeze into wherever Princess and Ricky were. I do keep a cat carrier in the coop under the poop board for them to hide out in, and a trash can on its' side in the run for them to run into. The existing girls don't like those at all, so I think it's helping. Thanks for keeping an eye on her flock mates too, I was wondering how they were faring this week but didn't want you to think if I asked that I thought it was anyone's fault that she is ill. I don't blame anything other than moving her into a new environment

I totally trust you take amazing care of your chickens!

 

[TheReidHomestead]

Crazy week here with all the end of school/dance recital craziness!!!

On top of that, my poor little Figgy (our Puggle puppy who is 7 1/2 months old) was not feeling well at ALL yesterday. She had diarhhea all morning, than at lunch started barfing. Called the vet and they suggested giving her Pepto Bismal, letting her rest, skipping dinner and see how she is this morning and she is soooooooo much better! Full of energy and back to herself so far. Of course she scarfed down the rice/chicken broth breakfast we gave her and are supposed to continue with that today in small amounts over the day. Scared me big time though!!!

Today is my 5th Grader's Moving Up Ceremony at 2:00. Than an afterschool party to celebrate. Then my middle daughter has her regular dance class at 5:00 tonight and a dress rehearsal tonight from 7:00-9:00 and her recital is Saturday! Can't wait until that is over and then things will calm down a bit and it will feel like summer vacation!

So I'm heading out to take advantage of this nice weather this morning since I'll be all busy this afternoon/evening. Enjoy the day!!!

 

[FirewifeJess]

Oh, I forgot to say that I have been letting the big girls out in the yard to free-range for half the days, while Ricky and Princess stay in the coop/run area. During those times they are completely protected and safe from the other girls. Seems that is when they take their dust baths