Washingtonians

[BerrytangleFarm]

What is wrong with me? I want a dog. Ugh. I hate dogs. this has been going on for weeks. I keep getting an inkling that since we have an indoor cat and outdoor chickens, we need a dog. eesh. I don't even like dogs. I like puppies. NOT dogs. Maybe I need to meet the right dog. I grew up with large dogs like Dobermans and Labs, Pit Bulls and Rotts, but why OH! why, suddenly, do I think I need a dog!? ew. I don't like dogs they smell and are SO high maintenance. hrmph.

I did the same thing months ago!

We went through one puppy who was the biggest nightmare. Then I was able to get an ad on Craigslist for only a few minutes (some self-appointed police seemed intent on taking it down since it wasn't a "for sale" ad ??!!) that said EXACTLY what we wanted in a dog. Amazingly, we got an answer with THE PERFECT dog. Boxer/Mastiff cross. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL brindle. And her personality is an exact match for what we want.

We love Nala.

 

[itsren]

Well, I better get back out there. There's a lot left to be done on the fortress... the dig-proof chicken run. The girls are slacking... I think they may need some help with this one.

We held the walls together last night and I went into a bit of shock. The coop and run is turning out to be beautiful, but it visually looks so much smaller than I had in my mind. We had to reduce it in size a bit to get it to fit. A 40 sq. foot run is tiny! It looked so much bigger on paper. But, what can I do, small yard, small coop/run. Sigh! I guess that's why we only have three.

 

[mikeyb]

OK! Listen up! Well I suppose that should read Read UP!

This is for only those of you who love your chickens and just might consider giving them a cooked ear of corn to play with. (you all might even like to eat corn on the cob also)
Here is an absolute easy, non messy way to cook corn on the cob. Yay.

 

[Imp]

Well, I better get back out there. There's a lot left to be done on the fortress... the dig-proof chicken run. The girls are slacking... I think they may need some help with this one.

We held the walls together last night and I went into a bit of shock. The coop and run is turning out to be beautiful, but it visually looks so much smaller than I had in my mind. We had to reduce it in size a bit to get it to fit. A 40 sq. foot run is tiny! It looked so much bigger on paper. But, what can I do, small yard, small coop/run. Sigh! I guess that's why we only have three.

Your hens and yard look beautiful.
My run currently is only 36 sf. (a 6x6x6 chainlink cube) It was fine for 8 years, since they had the run of the yard all day long. The raccoons have ended that.
Now thanks to Rainwolf, I'm up to 5 hens, and have caught a mild case of chicken math. I want to expand and enrich.

Russ-If anyone knows a cheaper place than Home Depot to get 6X6 panels, I'd be interested. My original run was only $150 for 3 panels and the gate. Now each panel is $75. A little bit of inflation math there. lol!

 

[VelvettFog]

Your hens and yard look beautiful.
My run currently is only 36 sf. (a 6x6x6 chainlink cube) It was fine for 8 years, since they had the run of the yard all day long. The raccoons have ended that.
Now thanks to Rainwolf, I'm up to 5 hens, and have caught a mild case of chicken math. I want to expand and enrich.

Russ-If anyone knows a cheaper place than Home Depot to get 6X6 panels, I'd be interested. My original run was only $150 for 3 panels and the gate. Now each panel is $75. A little bit of inflation math there. lol!

Russ -- watch Craigslist on your side of the big hill. I've seen kennels over there go for under 200 bucks - here on the dry side (At least in Yakima) the same kennel would go for over 300 bucks! (Lots more hunting dogs is my guess).

 

[Teva]

I put in the automatic door yesterday. I love that I am so self-sufficient!! Very proud of myself. Went outside this morning to see if it worked and it was open! WOOHOO, just in time for me to get down to Oregon for a few days.

 

[chickenjane82]

My chickens free range, so they arent over confined. I keep their house cleaned and rub down the perches and cover the floor with DE every time.

WELL, I just found lice eggs on a rooster!

I handle my hens all the time everyday and have never seen lice on one of them. I dont know if I should cry or rip my hair out..maybe both.


Whats the quickest best treatment plan? Do I have to clip out the lice eggs or will the fall off after hes treated?

Someone tell me they have had this problem? I thought only dirty animals got lice

Im so embarrassed, but I need help.

 

[chickenjane82]

My chickens free range, so they arent over confined. I keep their house cleaned and rub down the perches and cover the floor with DE every time.

WELL, I just found lice eggs on a rooster!

I handle my hens all the time everyday and have never seen lice on one of them. I dont know if I should cry or rip my hair out..maybe both.


Whats the quickest best treatment plan? Do I have to clip out the lice eggs or will the fall off after hes treated?

Someone tell me they have had this problem? I thought only dirty animals got lice

Im so embarrassed, but I need help.

I keep reading ivomec pour on for cattle. My parent have some of that next door for their cows.
Noone seems to agree on egg withdrawl though......

 

[Farmin Momma]

Quote: Ok well just if you are interested here is what I posted..... (yes I know my spelling is bad and my grammer sucks. I don't write well)

First I must warn you that I am not a great speller at all! With that said…
Well you did a very good job with the detal and desriptions of the horrible conditions that these chickens go through. I also try to inform as many people about this as possible.
But…. One thing that you need to understand is that not all chickens that are raised for eggs are treated this way!
Back yard chicken “farmers” do not treat their chickens this way. Most of us treat our chickens as pets that serve a purpose. We respect our flocks and keep them healthy. Some also keep them untill the day they pass on their own. I know you wont want to hear this, but not only do my hens give my family eggs to consume as well as sell, but when they do stop laying all together at an old age of between 5 and 7 years I do humainly “put them down” if you will and use them agian to feed my family. My chickens run free on 7 acres and feed on a great chicken food as well as what every they find them selfs by foraging. Yes, what ever roosters are not needed for breeding by my self or others are also prossesed for my family.
You may ask how can I eat an animal that I call a pet? Well I know how these animals were treated, I know that they were healthy and happy for many years and I know that they were humainly “put down”. Also I know that they are more healthy for my family than that of the chickens that are sold in stores and kept the way you discribed.
I know many of my other chicken raising friends burry their beloved chickens when they pass. And that is fine, that is their way of living as being vegan is yours and I have no problem with different ways of people. My purpose of posting here is to hope that you might reserch our ways and also write a blog about it explaining that if you do not wish to stop eating eggs, the best way to go would be to buy from a local person that has back yard chickens.
If you have any questions, as I know I have left out much of what I wanted to say when it came to actualy typing it out, you can ask me any questions you want on my facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/#!/CollierClocksFarm
You are welcome to come take a look at all the pictures of my happy chickens and ask any questions you want.

 

[Breshcandra]

CR so you really do have a silkiebator -

I also have Silkiebators. Its so nice to set the eggs and walk away.