Washingtonians

[Imp]

Quote:
I believe you can have more than 1 item listed in an ad. I can see where that would be difficult.

 

[VelvettFog]

What do you all suggest to put on the floor of the run then, if not straw. I certainly don't want to encourage bacteria growth, I want something easy to shovel out every few weeks or months (my run doesn't get very dirty, nor does the coop, because they free range all day and poop on the poop board all night. There's just poop in the run from when they're in there eating or drinking, or begging for treats.

I use straw in my nesting boxes. Never had any trouble.

I also at times put straw in my run, but my run is mostly dirt. I have also put my lawn clippings in the run. The chooks eat some, but most of it turns brown and then begins a slow compost.

 

[Imp]

good link itsren.
I guess I had not connected impacted and sour crop in my head.
I'm glad I have not had to deal with it.

firewifejess,
Just an option, but I use yard waste ie. lawn clippings, leaves etc in the run.

Russ

 

[FirewifeJess]

Thanks Dave and Russ!
Guess I need to get the lawn mowed with a bag! Half acre of grass should cover the run nicely

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Quote: LOL, ok ok, at some behind the scenes urging since the newbies don't know me, it was not meant to be rude at all. Just a very firm warning. I just like to tell it like it is and I don't p-u-s-s-y ( hyphened since that word might not be acceptable) foot around.

Firewife,

First, I sell birds of all ages and $20 for common and $25- $30 for rare breed POL pullets are the going rates so I get slightly perturbed when folks declare they "wont pay it". A lot of time and expense goes in to breeding, hatching, brooding, cleaning and raising a bird to POL. Even IF we make a few dollars ahead of expenses it goes for labor. Helps give the local farmer incentive to keep at it otherwise it would just be a hobby. My birds have to at least pay for themselves. I can't afford for it to just be a hobby.

As far as the auctions go, and I see you have wisely changed your mind, thats good, even if a bird appears healthy after 30 day quarentine it could have contracted a disease it recovered from so appears healthy but be a carrier of that disease and give it to the rest of your flock. Also, I know for a fact people will bring a 2 year old bird to the auction and label it a pullet. I think a somewhat firm warning was in order! I apologize if you saw it as rude.

This is also a fact, the Chicken Man is a 'flipper'. He buys birds at the auction and resells them. Yes, you could get a healthy bird or you might not. It's a gamble. His chicks he sells are purchased from hatcheries and resold, or he buys them at the auction and a few he breeds himself so buy at your own risk. My roo guy who buys my cockerels and roos also buys from the auction. He has two separate areas for his birds. His personal flock is one place and the auction purchases are kept separate in another place.

I am not on here lately because, one, I work 7 days a week during the summer and, two, due to stressful personal issues I tend to release that stress by being too honest or sparking very lively conversations on BYC and sometimes get spanked so until I can be good I have removed myself. I've been very good. I am over 500 pages behind. I just happened to glance at the WA thread the other day after months of not reading and your post was the first one I saw.

So my WA peeps and friends, Thank you all for being by bestest friends and supporters. Hugs to all who have lost pets or looking at losing them soon. Hugs to all who are having tough times. I totally get it and know how it is. I love you and miss you. Our paths will cross in the fall if you are not already in my phone checking on me! Hopefully life will be more positive then.

 

[Teva]

Thanks Dave and Russ!
Guess I need to get the lawn mowed with a bag! Half acre of grass should cover the run nicely

Don't lay more than an inch down in thickness. I put alot of grass clippings in my pen, and when it started to break down it got slick, and I almost busted my butt several times walking on it....

 

[Imp]

Thanks Dave and Russ!
Guess I need to get the lawn mowed with a bag! Half acre of grass should cover the run nicely

Lol! at least the weather is nice today. I just keep adding lawn clippings in the summer. As it breaks down I get lots of little earthworms in it. I stir it up occasionally. When the leaves start falling, I scoop it all out into the compost. Then start with the leaves for winter.

I have a question for any gardeners out there.

My compost is very compacted with what looks like a dense fiberous mat of roots??? Nothing green ever pops up in it. Been going on a few years. Since I don't vegetable garden anymore It doesn't really matter much, but it makes it impossible to turn.
Any idea what it is???
mushroom mycelium?
debating getting a rototiller, but since I don't need the compost, I'm also thinking about decommissioning the compost.

Russ

Heading into Seattle later to drop off more raspberries with Rainwolf. And do a little fence shopping with her. Glad the weather's nice.

 

[itsren]

I have a question for any gardeners out there.

My compost is very compacted with what looks like a dense fiberous mat of roots??? Nothing green ever pops up in it. Been going on a few years. Since I don't vegetable garden anymore It doesn't really matter much, but it makes it impossible to turn.
Any idea what it is???
mushroom mycelium?

Without seeing it, I wouldn't be able to tell you. That said, I have potatoes growing in mine. And, no, I won't eat them out of a compost bin.

Because I turn mine frequently, they don't ever get green leaves on top. They make my compost bin difficult to turn as well.

 

[newbyduckmom]

For those Washingtonians who might be interested, Seattle Tilth has announced their coop and urban farm tour (July 14th) http://seattletilth.org/special_events/chickencoopurbanfarmtour2012

 

[itsren]

Yikes! My brand new Pullet Shut Automatic Chicken door didn't work properly this morning. Thankfully, they have really good customer service, and the guy walked me through what could have gone wrong. I'm so thankful for a very quick return call - I was afraid our camping trip was going to be a bust.

Because the run isn't done, we have unplugged the leads from the battery the past 3 nights so the photo sensor wouldn't open the door before we got out there. We didn't know to unplug the solar panel from the system, too. The solar panel made the circuit think there was power, but not enough power (hope I understood that explanation correct). He asked me to unplug the solar panel completely until we are able to keep it connected to the battery full time, and just plug it into the battery and now it seems to be working fine.

I guess I'm getting an education in solar technology.

Hopefully we can get the run done today (tomorrow at the latest) so we can make sure the whole system is working properly before we leave. I don't want to have to be left at home, while the family goes camping, just so I can make sure the chickens can get into the run each morning to their food and water.