Washingtonians

[Flaming Chicken]

Here are pics of my new silkie pen.

Yes, there is grass on the left hand side. Spoiled rotten chickens! The door to the run is big enough for me to take the tractor out if and when needed. 3 of the older babies are napping in the middle, underneathe the tractor if you look closely.

These are the pair of favs I got from Cloverleaf. Romeo and Juliette.

And a whole lot of babies(silkies & favs) trying watermelon for the first time. They loved it!

Just thought I would share.

ETA- there will be a cover over the run to keep them dry. Don't need it yet.

 

[itsren]

If you know the law, your neighbor can't bully you You could also consider sexed chicks.

Why can't you freerange?

We can. Just read a comment on here that Silkies are easier prey to hawks than LF. We probably will let them free-range, if we are out there with them

I think my son and I are going to build a roofed chicken tractor next week that's solid and big enough for LF and silkies (I had originally planned to build a Silkie coop/pen next week with him). Our current one is PVC pipe and will blow over in high wind. Then, between now and spring we'll build the Silkie coop/run. That way, we can let them range on the grass without worry if we are not there. The LF and silkies can take turns using the tractor - although, the LF free-range a lot without it right now. We have time with the Silkie pen - we won't be getting them until Spring. 2nd time around - we want to have their home ready before we get them. Building after-the-fact was stressful with our LF.

Having such strict rules of 6 max creates so many issues with raising chickens. We don't have the ability to introduce 2 to the flock for every 1 that we lose, so we are going to more paranoid, shall we say, about making sure our birds are safe.

 

[itsren]

I forgot to add, listen carefully to zoning, because I called, and my zoning person had to be taught fractions over the phone. They thought that 1/2 acre was more than .8 acres.

If I have eight pieces of pie, how many chickens can I fit on that pie? Literally!

That's funny.

When I went through the hassle of getting our rocket launch for our Cub Scout Pack approved, I ran into funny stuff, too. I went to the Police Station and showed them the rockets (the engine powered kind) and asked if it was OK for our Pack to use them. They said they realized they were not fireworks, but the city has a "if it goes up, or blows up, it's illegal" law - and engine powered rockets go up 100s of feet in the air, so the Police Station wasn't sure. They sent me to City Hall. City Hall didn't know. So, City Hall sent me to the main Fire Station. They didn't know at the Fire Station, so they called the Fire Marshall, who finally approved them. It took me an entire afternoon to get approval.

 

[Sudsy Chick]

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend! Been crazy busy trying to keep up with summer chores, but thought I'd pop in and say "hi!"

I wish I could take some of the Icelandic chicks! I'd get in much trouble with my husband...as I'm not supposed to keep any more chicks in the house. I would love some hatching eggs the next time I get a broody though!

Speaking of hatching...I've had my husband request I never, ever hatch in the house again.

So - I'm selling my Brinsea mini advanced and brooder. PM me if you're interested.

 

[mikeyb]

OT; we all seem to have other pets other then our feathered ones. For a chuckle or two; http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/pepsi.html

 

[BerrytangleFarm]

Hi will you please tell me the name of the farm in port orchard. I live there and need some chicks, this sounds easier and safer than ordering chicks.

They're good people --


http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/grd/3097836656.html

 

[RonB]

Very nice Silkie run! You're a pretty nice chicken Mom to even include grass for them inside the run. The chicks are looking good. Love those Salmon Faverolles... One of my very favorite breeds. Especially if they're Cloverleaf Faverolles!

The grass is nice BUT guess who is going to have to mow ALL that grass

Not Kimmy !! Her DH will , there go's his weekends

 

[CarolynF]

Hi All,
Gee it's been quite a while since I've had the chance to look at BYC. Seems there are some new Washingtonians posting here, too. Nice to see you all here!

Last night I got a wild hare to post something on CraigsList. I have this nice Black Copper Maran with incredibly strong maternal instincts... i.e. she's gone broody on me TWICE since Feb.! And she hasn't even been laying for a year yet, hatched last spring. I love her nice big deep brown eggs -- when she's laying! And she's my best layer -- when she's laying! But I have only 3 ladies and no rooster, I really just want eggs. So... my post on CraigsList is to trade for a different hen that lays dark eggs and doesn't go broody every time a I turn around! I don't have room to add more birds, that's why the trade idea popped up.

After I posted it, I thought.... gee I should have checked with folks at BYC, first. So, anyway, are any of you interested in such a trade or know anyone that is? If so, I'd love to hear from you. I'm in Kitsap.

Carolyn

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Ideal Poultry will cut the beaks off your chicks for a small fee, GROSS! Beak off and straight to the battery.

Which leads me to my question of

If you had to, which of the major hatcheries would you choose? I have just read too many horror stories. I am looking to fulfill the chicken needs of my extended family. They always want the eggs, so I m going to set them up with chickens, so I don't have to drive to DES MOINES. I am getting at least 20 EEs.

I have 8 hens, and am always out of eggs.

I personally wouldn't order layers from a hatchery. I would buy local from a reputable breeder. Then one gets TRUE breeds not just something that resembles the breed. And you help support the local people.

 

[JNB]

Wow you guys sure go fast in this thread.. I have been offline for a few days and been reading for 30 min and I'm still back on page 7805.. LOL I love it!

My heart goes out to all of you that have had a loss or illness both of furry and non furry family members. That is never a good thing for any one. In my work I have done a lot of end of life care and I was raised on a farm so I have seen and experienced lots of losses. The human (and non human) ability to heal with time and maybe even grow a bit from the love we hold on to from our lost loved one... always amazes me.... Hugs to all of you

So this week my Husband and daughter and I are in Blanchard Idaho on vacation...quiet out of the way place.. LOL we have to drive several miles to just get cell service. For the first time in over a year I had to buy STORE EGGS (shudders) they were awful.. So it made me look for a local egg supply.. and that has led me on a great adventure.. I'm in farm country here and the people are soooooooooooooooooooooooooo friendly.. When I told the family I bought my "Pastured raised Eggs " from on Saturday, that I had my own flocks back home and was always wanting to learn. The lady gave me names of other farms I could visit... So that's what I spent the afternoon doing... Was an awesome thing seeing how people are set up and different breeds. I had a blast!! I plan to do it again.. cant say the same for the hubby and kiddo although they learned too mostly that I'm not as crazy as they thought .

So when I get home I have 2 missions...
1) to find someone (wink wink) that "processes" their own fryers/broilers. That in exchange for some help would show me how its done.. I kept seeing the term "FREEZER CAMP" on some post ?????? wasn't sure the real meaning of that I used to help my father with our chickens but that was years and years ago.

2) To find out just where the grain I feed comes from and if it has any GM ingredients... That is a huge topic over here.. everyone I met asked me what I fed and I was ashamed to say I didn't know.


BY THE WAY HAVE I TOLD YOU ALL HOW DELIGHTED I AM TO OF FOUND THIS GROUP...I REALLY AM AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW YOU ALL BETTER