Washingtonians

[mikeyb]

It's late and I'm the only one on, so good nite, it has been a long day for this old man.

 

[itsren]

Some cuteness before we go...

Beautiful girls love my asparagus bed (I just wish they'd weed it for me instead of eating the asparagus ferns). You can't see the ferns because they have trampled them flat on this side of the bed. Fortunately the other side of the bed is fairing well.



Who needs grit when you have a ramp to eat. This is Drama... my sand eater, my pine chip eater, my straw eater... and now my ramp eater. Sigh!

 

[itsren]

And a quick coop tour. My husband and I built the run this past week. I still have to paint it and we still need to roof it. Because it is so dark in the run we think we may go with clear or translucent beige corrugated roofing.

Perfect for 3 LF birds. Size-wise, probably no more than 4.

The front...



The back... the top flat area will be a flip up door so we adults can stand up straight while cleaning the run. The kids can walk in just fine.



Rhodie looking at roost number 1... Caunnie demonstrating the nipple system waterer...



The traveler's pop-door. Solar powered with a light sensor. The door opens at dawn and closes at dusk. When you travel, just ask a friend to check on them once each day.

Roost number 2... Rhodie demonstrating the dust bath (although that front corner with the dirt on the white painted wood is where they prefer to bathe)...



Well, that's it. Small. Sweet. A lot of work to build, but definitely worth it.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

To the men on here - ahem... you know who you are.

Yes, I know to check for dead batteries. The mouse was flashing low battery, I changed batts putting them in exactly like the original set was positioned. Nothing. I tried a second set of batts (expiration date 2016) still nothing. I have changed batteries for this cordless mouse many times. But I think it just gave up the ghost. The off/on switch expired also - or maybe THAT was the reason for failure. If I can't bring the mouse back to life, I will eventually get another cordless one, Free spirits aren't meant to be chained.

Yeah Mikey ya hear dat cheee beee talkin bout you! ! !

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: Mine too of course they show it too!

 

[KMHunter]

Am I just going to have to come to grips that some of my chickens are less than personable and will always hate me? LOL Some of them really flip out when I try to pet and/or hold them, and these are the ones I have had since they were day olds! Particularly my RIR, Welsummer, and GLW really despise being touched. It's weird.

I find that all my teenagers hate to be picked up and touched. Then when they start laying they become friendly. I don't know what it is, but it has happened every time! So don't worry! They will love you! Especially if you bring treats! Most chickens don't like being cuddled, but there a few exceptions, but being petted and given treats is what they do like. I have a couple that will jump on my shoulder to get the treats first. And then just hang out there.

 

[KMHunter]

Found this...would it be a good broody jail?
http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/zip/3113415583.html
I could get it tomorrow

That looks great!

 

[Flaming Chicken]

Am I just going to have to come to grips that some of my chickens are less than personable and will always hate me? LOL Some of them really flip out when I try to pet and/or hold them, and these are the ones I have had since they were day olds! Particularly my RIR, Welsummer, and GLW really despise being touched. It's weird.

I have had very different temperments in my birds. Even with in the same breed. One year I bought RIR and EE's. The RIRs were like lap dogs and the EE's not so much. So a few years later I got RIRs again and those still are the crankiest chickens! I raise them all the same so I chalk it up to breeding.

 

[RonB]

Am I just going to have to come to grips that some of my chickens are less than personable and will always hate me? LOL Some of them really flip out when I try to pet and/or hold them, and these are the ones I have had since they were day olds! Particularly my RIR, Welsummer, and GLW really despise being touched. It's weird.

I find that all my teenagers hate to be picked up and touched. Then when they start laying they become friendly. I don't know what it is, but it has happened every time! So don't worry! They will love you! Especially if you bring treats! Most chickens don't like being cuddled, but there a few exceptions, but being petted and given treats is what they do like. I have a couple that will jump on my shoulder to get the treats first. And then just hang out there.

I have had very different temperments in my birds. Even with in the same breed. One year I bought RIR and EE's. The RIRs were like lap dogs and the EE's not so much. So a few years later I got RIRs again and those still are the crankiest chickens! I raise them all the same so I chalk it up to breeding.

I would have to agree with Kim. Once my girls start laying they do become friendlier. That doesn't mean they all want to be picked up. But all my girls do coming running and stand at my feet because they know they are going to get treats. As a general rule I don't think you can say one breed is the friendliest breed. I think its safe to say that Leghorns are the least friendly they don't want you to even look at them LOL. But boy can they lay eggs!!!!!! I bought two RIR's at the same time three years ago. One is my most friendly girl the other was the crankiest of my flock. well she is long gone now and the other (Gracie) will have a home here for life! I have two Welsummers, they are both pretty friendly. my GLW has never been friendly but I got her at four months old. She has two five week old babies right now and boy is she mean. she will come after you with her feet. She will be one of the first to go next spring. I have two BR's that I also got at four months. they aren't friendly either and they will be on the same Bus as the GLW in the fall. A trip to Monroe. unless somebody wants to make soup out of them ! I have a California White, she is right behind Gracie she will have a home for life. she always wants to come in the house

 

[Chickielady]

Sulmet?

Well I see I need to clear up another myth~~~~~~~~~~

Amprolium is the medication in medicated chick feed.
It comes in feed, as a powder such as name brand Corid, and as a liquid.
Many companies have the various types of amprolium, all have different names, but the active ingedient in them is AMPROLIUM.
It is ONLY an anti-coccal, it is NOT an antibiotic.
If any birds are sick from a respiratory issue or otherwise ill, this Medication will do nothing for them, it is an anti-coccal ONLY, not an antibiotic.
Sulmet is an antibiotic and although some claim to kill cocci parasites, I have seen none do so.

Quite a few folks think if the feed bag says "medicated" that their birds are safe from airsaculitis and other respiratory disease.
Not so.
It is also fine to feed baby chicks raised by a broody hen, medicated chick feed.
The babies need it until their immunal systems build antibodies to the cocci parasites.
The medicated feed will not harm the hen.

Once babies are removed from the hen, or are "started" I feed higher protein feed (basic or Flock-raiser) which is UNMEDICATED.
These started birds need more protein to grow on.
During this time to prevent coccal attacks, I give Amprolium in their water with a product called "Corid"
The started birds get Corid in their water one week ON and then one week OFF for a few months.
By age 4 mo they should be fine and have antibodies built up against the cocci.
BUT you still need to keep an eye out for it.
I keep Corid on hand always.
CR uses Corid liquid, I use Corid powder (costs less to ship)

Hope this helps.
There is other anti-coccal products containing Amprolium besides just Corid...so read the label & use whichever you choose.