Washingtonians

[itsren]

Have you heard from your house sitter? How are the birds faring in this weather, being all cooped up?

We talked to her yesterday. She says they're OK. I'm trying really hard not to worry about them and trusting that she's doing what she needs to do to care for them. I know they don't get ice in their water or anything like that. She said she let them free-range once since we've been gone - they squawked so loudly at her she finally gave in and let them out. I told Bob that I'm having to face the reality that if something happens to them I'll just have to get over it and start over. I certainly wasn't planning on being on vacation in W. Washington's hottest weather!

I do know, if she needs help with the birds, she can ask for help from our niece who raises quite a few chickens on her farm.

We've always taken our big vacations in fall or winter, but that would have been a waste for a Yellowstone vacation since so much of the park closes down in the fall. I think next year we'll be back to taking our long vacations in the fall when our being gone will be less stressful on the birds.

 

[itsren]

Are you still at the Coeur D'alene resort? How is it?? We will have a 2 room suite with a king in one room and 2 twins in the other, full kitchen, and murphy bed in the living room. What are you guys in?

We head back to Coeur d'Alene tomorrow and will be there until Tuesday. We were & will be in the King/Twin suite - same as you. It's an AWESOME suite. I think Coeur d'Alene has had the largest Worldmark suites we've stayed in to date - and we've stayed in quite a few. The suite here in Yellowstone is pretty big, but the master bathroom can't even come close to comparing with Coeur d'Alene. When we walked in, the kids ran in, saw the master bathroom and my oldest yelled "Mommy and Daddy have the biggest bathroom we've ever seen!" It was kind of funny - then I told them they had to use their own bathroom. They all whined a bit at that revelation. LOL!

 

[FirewifeJess]

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I can't wait! This will be our VERY FIRST family vacation!

 

[Chicken Rustler]

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With a Fudge daddy? Wouldn't those be cute? You have blue bantam Ameraucanas don't you?
I was kind of thinking Black bantam fav over Lav bantam Amer.

 

[FirewifeJess]

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With a Fudge daddy? Wouldn't those be cute? You have blue bantam Ameraucanas don't you?
I was kind of thinking Black bantam fav over Lav bantam Amer.

Hmm, I'm placing my spring chick order now k? I'll be down to pick up my Favaucanas in Feb. OK CR?

 

[lovinchickypoos]

um 2 1 gal's a day actually. like today I came home to 1 completely dry and the other only had some in the "rim" although with it @ 100ish today I suspect alot went to evaporation.

Is it possible your container has a small crack in it and it's leaking??

Hmm, now I don't know what I want to do. I certainly love my girls and don't want to feed them indefinitely if they aren't laying a good amount of eggs, so perhaps I'll skip the supplemental lighting this winter and see how they do. I don't want to force them to lay all the eggs they'll lay and then have to make a tough decision of getting rid of them when they're still fairly young.

Glad to hear my birds are seemingly healthy even if they don't drink a lot of water.

It just seems right to me to let them have a rest in winter. My intial flock still layed pretty good last winter, though.

It is and you have to plan for it, like getting cultures and stuff. Which is one reason why I haven't started making hard cheese yet, I don't have a cheese press, I have to figure out how to make one. But, yea, when I made my first ice cream, which is the first time I've EVER made it, it was pretty cool! Which is the huge reason why I got dairy goats to begin with!

I would LOVE to have goats but hubby thinks I'm being too obsessed with chickens and would kill me if I got more animals at this time!!! I believe he's jealous of the time I spend with them!

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: Can anybody tell me where Redmond is and do they have bright street lights. Planning my next shoppng trip and I think it will start right here!!

 

[itsren]

intent was to put 100 drops of chlorine or vinegar per 55 gal of water. that will DEFINATELY prevent mosquitoes, and should keep slime/mildew from forming.

ChickieLady is the expert on water. She may be able to help you come up with the proper mix of chlorine for 55 gallons. She makes a solution and that gets added. I don't believe she adds straight chlorine. Find out if your city has chlorine added to the water supply, too, so you don't add too much. I believe chlorine evaporates within 24 hours so it may only be a mosquito preventative within that first 24 hours.

If you use vinegar, from what I understand, you shouldn't use any metal parts in your system. Most of ours is PVC, but the screen we used to prevent anything besides water from going into the PVC pipe is metal, the hose bibs that attach to the pipe are metal - and our nipples have metal parts, as well. Again, others on here are the experts on that and can confirm whether or not it is safe to use vinegar in your system. I can't remember the reasoning for this... for some reason, I'm thinking metal and vinegar can create a toxic reaction... again - someone else here should be able to confirm this.

 

[itsren]

I can't wait! This will be our VERY FIRST family vacation!

yYou picked a good resort for your first one (but, in reality, we have yet to stay in a bad one). You will love it! It is a peaceful resort.

 

[lovinchickypoos]

Well today is the day that we have to put our English Mastive down. He is only 2 years old, but has major issues with his knees and has been getting worse over the last few weeks. So we are off to the vet later, our apt is at 4:50 we will head up there early to miss the trafic and walk him around for his last time. He got a huge steak lastnight with his dinner.

On top of that, I have lost almost about 10 chickens to at least three different preditors in the last two weeks.

Welcome to all the newbies, you have come to the right place for friends and lost of support and information.
Hope everyone is staying cool.
My thoughts are with all those dealing with all these horrible fires.

SOOOO SORRY ABOUT YOUR PUPPY AND YOUR CHICKIES!!!

You are due for many GOOD things to come your way!!!