Arizona Chickens

[Gallo del Cielo]

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Hi broody-buddy! Thanks to Smiles-N-Sunshine (Bryan) I got 12 hatching eggs yesterday!

I was so excited last night I couldn't wait to set the eggs and they went under my broody at 7:30 pm.

I'm half-way through the thread you pointed out and I read all of the info from another source that was posted within that link (It was good!). I set everything up the night before last. I used an old liter box with a cover and a nice vent in the top that my cats never liked so it sat for years in the garage (no stink). I put a board up to cover the bottom of the north end of the coop to make it dark like where the nest boxes are too. After sundown I put the hen in the box over a couple unfertilized eggs and she took to them right away. She didn't leave the nest at all yesterday. As soon as it got dark enough last night I took the unfertilized eggs away and put fertilized eggs under her. I also gave her food and water and put a wire barrier up, which is easily removed but keeps the other hens from getting into the broody box. I'll probably put a small section of hardware cloth along the bottom of the wire barrier to keep chicks from escaping. My plan is to keep her in this area for at least three days after the eggs hatch (if they do

). If anyone sees any potential problems with my arrangement, please let me know.

Here's Jim, my broody BA in her new brooding area:

 

[mahalo4]

That looks Awesome to me!!

 

[rufus]

Quote:
You have to re queen the hives frequently. Otherwise, the wild Africanized strain will dominate the hive. Sometimes you have to think if it is worth keeping bees, between the liability issue, the mite problem and foul brood. Maybe for one or two hives just as a hobby it might work out.

It seems like most of the honey sold in the grocery stores comes from China now.

So many beekeepers are going out of business now. I wonder what next year's citrus crop will be like. My trees are in bloom now, but there does not seem to be any bees working the blossoms.

My apricots just finished blooming. I should know in a month or two if we will have a crop this summer. I am afraid the answer will be "no."

Rufus

How sad! We always buy raw local honey from the farmer's market. Nothing but raw is even good for you, and who doesn't want the allergy help of local honey? It is a little pricey, but worth it.

Yes, eating the honey comb from the area where you live is an old folk remedy for asthma. It sure seems to work.

Rufus

PS For anyone interested, someone has revived the defunct Spanish language thread. It has been over six months since anyone bothered to post there.

 

[Mandymooligan]

Don't be jealous of my gorgeous silkies

They will never look worse than they do right now, gotta love the awkward age.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Thanks mahalo4, I appreciate your opinion! I forgot to add, and you can't see that, less than 12" above the top of the wire is the bottom of the elevated coop area. The other chickens can't get over the top of the wire.

Mandymooligan, that is an awesome pic! I love the color scheme.

 

[Mandymooligan]

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HAHAH I have no idea where their color is heading. They are so ugly they are cute.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Gallo, Great set-up for the broody. What hen wouldn't want to set in such a safe comfy place?
Mandy, So cute! I better not show my daughter. She's been bugging me to get some silkies.

You guys with all your chicks, broodies and incubators are making me crazy. We already got our yearly addition to our flock in the fall, though. We're at max.

I did get my mealworms set up. I got them from Petco a couple days ago and they are now on the back porch in a small aquarium.
When I went to get the mealworms I noticed that they were over a month old so they gave me a 50% discount! I bought 2 500ct for the price I expected to pay for one so I ended up with 1000. There didn't seem to be many dead ones in there.

 

[Mahonri]

When I went out to the coop today, my broody had gotten off of her nest to eat and drink and got back on the WRONG nest.

I've got to remove all golf balls or do what Gallo did and just move her else where.

 

[5pinkarrows]

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How fun!!! Pictures?

I have never even seen a Serema. Y'all almost have me convinced that I really need them, and an incubator. This is a dangerous forum.

 

[Mahonri]

Well if you are serious about Back Yard Chickens... a roo and an incubator are almost mandatory....