EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was edited and updated on April 14, 2015. IMG_1597 IMG_1533 IMG_1539 IMG_1541 IMG_1544 IMG_1560 Story & Photos by Sterling Paris South King Media Intern BABY CHICKS ARE IN!! Scott already knows this but I just LOVE baby ducks and baby chicks – a lot! So when he told me I was going to Hayes Feed and Country Store in Olde Burien because they are now selling baby chicks – I almost screamed! I wanted to snuggle all of them. But sadly Scott told me I couldn’t, and heres why:

Chickens and ducks carry Salmonella. It’s on their beaks and feathers. You can’t really prevent it. It’s in their poop. So really you shouldn’t be kissin’ up to them (heart breaking news!) otherwise you may get Salmonella.
Symptoms include diarrhea and abdominal cramps, often accompanied by fever of 100°F to 102°F (38°C to 39°C). [4, 5] Other symptoms may include bloody diarrhea, vomiting, headache and body aches. …and we all don’t want that. Before we get too crazy with cuteness we need to go over some legal stuff about keeping these cute critters:
The City of Burien does not regulate how the domestic fowl are kept i.e. coops or enclosures. The code only addresses how many or the density that a residential use may have. BMC 19.17.1004 Young small animals including domestic fowl under 3 mos of age are not subject to the density limitations. BMC 19.17.100.4.E All residential uses in any zone are allowed any combination of 3 domestic fowl and rabbits as an accessory use, or on lots of ½ acre or more a combination of 7 domestic fowl and rabbits may be kept per ½ acre. This is in addition to other small animals. BMC 19.17.100.4.G G. Setbacks. Any covered structure used to house or contain 4 or more small animals including domestic fowl shall maintain a distance of not less than 20 feet to any property line. BMC 19.17.100.H Roosters are prohibited. Small animal is defined in BMC 19.10.026 as including domestic fowl. Domestic fowl is defined in BMC 19…10.112 as associated with farms and used for eggs or meat. It includes but not limited to chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys.
These chicks have been vaccinated against Marek’s Disease and were sexed (90% you will get a hen, 10% you possibly might get a rooster), but when they are $4.95 (for the first week, then after raises by a dollar) why not just buy them all! You should at least buy two, ducks and chickens can get lonely and need at least one other of their kind. And have you really ever seen just one chicken on their own? I didn’t think so. Hayes feed and country store is selling five different kinds of chicks.
  • The Rhode island whites (white eggs)
  • The Rhode island reds (brown eggs)
  • The Silver laced wyandottes (brown eggs)
  • The Porcelain bantams (I beleive brown eggs)
They lay about an egg per day. these aren’t really eating chickens, or meat birds. (those are special order). Their wings are not clipped, but you can if you want to, so they don’t fly away. You must be wondering, what could kill these cuties? Raccoons, Coyotes, Hawks, birds in general, large rats, cats, dogs, it all depends on where you live! So to prevent from them gettin’ got, here are some tips. TIPS:
  • Get a Coop! (Hayes feed and country store sells them)
  • Create a “run” for them (an enclosed area with chicken wire that is long so the chickens can run and stretch their legs)
  • Be with them when you let them out so no animals get them. Also they don’t climb into trees (because then you won’t get any eggs)
  • Feed them and water them regularly
**All of you may be questioning why this is so much longer than the rest of my stories…come on everyone – this is a living thing you will be taking care of here!** I’m sure the lovely people down at Hayes Feed and Country Store will be glad to help you with anything else – they’re located at 908 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien; (206) 242-8000. Oh, and be sure to tell them Sterling sent you! Until next time, Sterling Paris
EDITOR’S NOTE: “Intern’s View” is a special feature that spotlights the talents of Sterling Paris, our Intern. If you have a story idea for Sterling, you can contact her at the office from 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at (206) 248- 2565, or email [email protected].
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7 replies on “INTERN'S VIEW: Baby Chicks are in!”

  1. Sterling,
    Excellent reporting on an extremely cute topic! Very well written, presented, and researched.
    You seem to have a very good grasp of what Journalism means.
    Great job, and I look forward to your future articles.

    1. I agree with Jon– well done!
      I have four chickens in Ballard.
      The biggest problem is really rats. I don’t know if there if there are local rats that will eat chickens, but they sure like to eat the same food.
      It’s really hard to eradicate the vermin, but I do love my chickens. We got them a year ago as one week old chicks and they sure were cute!

      1. A yellow colored trouble light and a pellet gun, it`ll keep you entertained most of the night playing a game we call shoot-a-rat.
        My youngest daughter and my grand kids get/got most of her shooting experience doing that.
        I like waiting for them to stretch up and get some strategically stationed chow about 3 feet off the ground and fwaaap. Watch em fold over backwards.
        You can even take some wood pieces, build a little obstacle course and watch em try and run away while you open fire.
        Just like a shootin` gallery..*lol* Only cheaper,
        A 22LR for the racoons, (takes care of them pretty easily.) and they make cool caps for the kids.
        A fence for the coyotes. If not, shoot em.
        A soccer goal net for the birds of prey, (dang things do taste like chicken)

        1. 22lr are illegal fire off in the city but a high powered pellet rifle can do the job for raccoon’s . I prefer the Benjamin \crosman nitro piston trail xl with a good shot it will put down anything from a raccoon to a small rat with out waking your neighbors up. If you run into issues of rats hiding or running off to quick get some nutella and peanut oil . Mix about 3 big spoon fulls of nutella up with about a cup of peanut oil and stir it up tell its all liquid don’t eat it but pour it out in a line in the area were rats or pests have been about 10 minutes after the sun goes down. Then keep a eye out on the area .

          1. Some of those high powered air guns are louder and deadlier than a 22LR.
            You can take down large game (boars, antelope, deer etc) with them.

          2. Its really all in the weight of the pellets a light pellet will break sound barrier and pop similar to a 22lr or a small firearm . But a heavy pellet can be pretty quiet depending on power of the airgun and will pack more of a punch.
            Like in my Benjamin trail xl .177cal if I use any pellet under about 7.9 grains it will pop but anything over that you can’t really hear it from even 20 feet away.
            Yes with some of more powerful airguns and depending on the caliber yes you can take out bigger animals.

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