RAISING CHICKENS IN WEST SEATTLE

[karlsnarl]

I’ve been raising chickens for a few years. I got started when I found out from a co-worker/chicken owner that (within certain limits) it was legal to keep them in the city.

Some people may have seen the less than clean conditions that occur at “egg farms”. In order to sell eggs commercially at a low price, it’s necessary to have small quarters for the chickens, and to have a huge quantity of birds to meet demand. The big farms can’t possibly be policed constantly for cleanup, or to remove birds that have died, so it’s pretty messy.

I liked the idea of having pets that give food back to you and get to live in the process!

I live in the Puget Ridge(Delridge)area, and have multiple neighbors that also own chickens.

It is fun, easy, and the eggs are awesome. Plus, I give them organic feed with flax, and this raises the good Omega fatty acids high enough to make colesterol nearly a non-issue!

I really don’t eat more eggs as a result of having chickens, and friends or coworkers buy all of the extra eggs I can spare at $4.00/dozen. this offsets some of the feed costs, and all the eggs I eat are free! It’s been a really fun hobby.

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[Aim]

I’m jealous! As soon as we have a place with a yard, we’re definitely going to have to get chickens.

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[angelescrest]

We keep thinking about it, but

1)What about the cold winters?

2)Do you have a dog? We do…

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[Zenguy]

A work friend has chickens and sells them through work exclusively. He has his picture on the carton and calls himself Matt the chicken pimp.

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[Traci]

Just today I was substitute teaching at Bryant Elementary near (or in?) Ravenna. I looked out my window and there were two big chickens lazily eating out of the school’s garden, just wandering around.

I went outside and asked a lady if she knew where they came from, and she said “we call them the girls, they live in the blue house down the road.” Then they just wandered back home. It made my day!

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[karlsnarl]

If you have a dog, you could try a cautious introduction once the chickens are full size. A friend of mine has two dogs and has managed to train them to actually help round the chickens up when they “free range”, but she had a few close calls when the chicks were small and the dogs picked them up in their mouths! Somehow, no harm was done, but I’ll bet it was quite an experience for the chick.

If the animals don’t get along, then chicken wire is in order. or juggling who gets to be outside when.

Cold-wise, Seattle winters are OK as long as the chickens have shelter from wind and rain. Their their normal temperature is about 103 degrees. A coop should be sturdy, but by no means fancy. They could care less what scrap lumber you use.

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[angelescrest]

Thanks, Karl!

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[flipjack]

They had a workshop a few months ago at Youngstown about urban chicken coops and how to do it…

I couldn’t make it to it unfortunately.

Anyone know if that might happen again? or other resources. I’m gonna do it this fall i think.

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[flipjack]

Oh just did a search it ws Seattle Tilth that had it…

Here’s an article

http://tinyurl.com/6pg37s

I wonder if enough of us were interested if they would form a class again?

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[ellenater]

I’d be interested in a class!

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[karlsnarl]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/coopdesigns.html

I just hopped on the net and found this website with lots of coop designs and photos, plus FAQs and more detailed info about chickens in general. It looks like a great active source of information.

I’ll see if I can find more info about coop building. A very good book I used for getting started is Storey’s guide to raising chickens, by Gail Damerow. It has lots of great information about caring for “backyard” chickens.

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[timeslid]

We have been raising chickens in the Admiral area for about 6 years. Its easy and very rewarding, but there a couple of points to remember. First, make sure that your ladies are locked up at night. We lost a flock a couple of years ago to raccoons and it wasn’t a pretty sight. Second, make sure that they have a bit of dry dirt for a dust bath at all times of the year. This helps them get rid of mites and other crawly bugs. Third, feed them all your kitchen scraps except their brethren. They love a varied diet. Keep the smoked oysters away from them though as the flavor passes to the eggs.

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[flipjack]

Wow..thanks for the tips.. Smoke oyster flavored eggs.. HAHAHa oh man…that’s funny. I wonder what other flavors could be passed…might be a new thing..naturally flavored eggs!

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[karlsnarl]

When I got my chickens as babies(You can get them for around $3 each)I found a place that sold organic feed, and since the price wasn’t too much higher than regular chick feed, I went that route. I’ve never used any insecticides or other chemicals other than fish fertilizer on my tomatoes, so my chickens are basically “organically raised”. I don’t do anything commercially with my chickens or their eggs, so I’m not certified as organic, but it’s nice to know that you get to pick what the birds eat. They really will eat just about anything, like a goat! Hayes Feed in Burien was nice enough to start carrying the organic “layer mash” that I give to my chickens. [NOTE:Hayes Feed used to be called Kirk’s Feed – it’s on 154th in the the old town part of Burien, just West of Ambaum. They sell chickens and other chicken gear there too!]

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[mellaw6565]

I’ve just been told that we shouldn’t have chickens because we have a pet cockatiel and apparently our shoes, dogs, etc… may carry in chicken-related bacteria that could harm our bird. Bummer!! We so want fresh organic eggs!

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[ellenater]

Thanks for the info. Great resources!

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[Author]

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