Arizona Chickens

[Gallo del Cielo]

Thanks for the info Bridget!

One of my elderly neighbors calls my DW "Linda". Her name isn't anything close to that! She's such an amazingly sweet woman though.

 

[tball chicky]

@ Mahonri & mahalo - Thanks for the reply.


So basically what you're telling is that I need to get one his own flock...? Which means I can buy more chicks...?

Ha Hubby is gonna love that.


6:2 ratio is not ideal right? Would I run into fights?

 

[arizonadreamer]

Quote:
ABSOLUTELY!!!! This group should be regulated!

Plus, one of my feed store hens hasn't laid more than 5 eggs in a YEAR. I am hoping (justifying) that with a few more birds, I can at least sell enough eggs to cover the feed.

RE the mealworms - Yes, they did give me the heebie jeebies, but I got over it, picked them up, even a handful at a time, no problem, put them in the bigger bin, all is well...until I went to make sure they weren't getting out of the bin. In the quiet I could hear the MUNCHING, ahhhhhuggggh! Now I am sure there are 5000 in my bathroom! I'll get over it.

lol to munching... yikes.. I have the hebbie jeebies hearing about it

 

[squeakyballs]

Quote:
You sound like a poet!
A creepy poet.

 

[arizonadreamer]

My fellow chicken lovers. I have a question.... How are you storing your eggs for hatching. I have researched a lot and found one two things in common that the point must be down as well as turning the eggs. The other thing in common was keeping the eggs cool. I tried putting them in the fridge and someone told me that's a no no, too cold. Other people suggested putting them in your basement

.. Well that's not going to work for me, I have no basement..

. So how are you all successfully storing yours?

 

[tball chicky]

Good Morning!!!

OK, I have 8 chicks & I believe 2 are roo's. I know the kids & Hubs won't let me get rid of either one. So, that would leave me with a 6:2 ratio which in my inexperienced mind will lead to fights.

Should I get more chicks?

If so, does anyone in Tucson have any that are ready to come home with me? The chicks I have now are between 2.5 & 4.5 weeks old (the littlest one is so FEISTY!)

Thanks!

 

[squeakyballs]

http://www.iol.co.za/news/back-page/man-opens-hotel-for-chickens-1.1045799

 

[arizonadreamer]

I discovered a cheap way to feed the ladies..

. You would have to understand the tiff DH and I have been having for years about the stupid cactus in our backyard. Like most mothers I wanted a safe place for the kids to play and DH wanted plenty of plants (cheepo) that would grow without any assistance. Therefore we have lots of Mexican cactus in our yard and when they grow us big paddles fall off, DH just plants them somewhere. I hate them, they are ugly and they limit the amount of room for the kids to play. I have often dug them out behind his back, only to catch him out there on a Saturday planting two or three more petals. Many a day I have Mexican's or Hispanics stop by and ask if it's okay to cut some paddles off. I say "take them all"..

This is what I have learned about them.. They were once nature's best-kept secret, scientists have uncovered a number of well-known nutrients among the thousands of phytochemicals in cactus, including carotenes and ascorbic acid, which strengthen antioxidant activity. In addition to supporting a strong immune system, studies have shown that cactus can reduce inflammation, maintain healthy cholesterol and sugar levels, and enhance the body's overall health.

Here's the good part... My ladies LOVE them.. Three days ago DH was out planting peddles and the hens attached the smaller peddles and ran off with them.. Since then I have broken off a fresh piece daily and they go at it like ants at a picnic. They don't eat the thorny covering they only eat in juicy inside. I'm thinking in the hot summer I could freeze a few and throw them out as a treat when it's hot. DH was not as excited as I am that the hens like his cactus more than I do..

 

[Bob's Henhouse]

tball, my experience is that if they grow up together you shouldn't have any fights, other than the usual 'king of the roost' stuff. I"m sure ideally you would have more hens.

 

[Bob's Henhouse]

arizonadreamer, I watched an infomercial about a suppliment (sp) made from from that type of cactus, so I read up on them some more and found out more about what you described. Also that there are so many ways to use them in food. And that doesn't even include the fruit when it's in season.