Arizona Chickens

[5pinkarrows]

Happy Resurrection Day everyone!! I can't believe how many jelly beans my dog has eaten this morning. That can't be good for him. He knows how the younger kids like to drop whatever they are eating, so he is on high alert. Good thing he will be outside when we go to church. He will be so hyper!

Mahonri-- I know you have been very generous to so many chicken folks, too. It's good to see you on the receiving end.

Leanna-- It is my understanding that you can put fresh chicken poo right on your plants. I struggle with gardens here in Rio Rico, mostly losing it to free range cows and javelinas. This year I planted a little garden in bales of straw. I did it because I can do it inside the big fence and the dog won't dig in it. The problem is that straw isn't very nutritious. My plants weren't doing so well. I went to the coop and gathered poop in a bucket, added water to make some good poop soup, and put it right on my plants. I could see an improvement within about 4 days.

 

[mahalo4]

Happy Easter everyone!!! We are headed to strawberry for Easter!! We have 35 chicks out so far!!
Mahonri I would be interested in buying some of Your Wheatens when You sell just PM me/ Thanks!!

 

[mclevinson]

Quote:
Exactly what i researched but tell you the truth they are so hard on all other breeds of birds I do not understand why they are protected. I saw one knock another small bird out of the air this morning. I noticed when I first moved to AZ how few birds species there are here compared to everywhere else I have lived, now I know why!

There are many, many species of birds...some of the best US birding locations are in Arizona. Just all birds do not visit all places.


Yes, I agree that birds that probably should not be protected are, but it is an international treaty that dates back over 100 years. Getting treaty changes agreed to by many nations is probably not likely to occur. There is a lot of latitude that COULD be worked with, but isn't. The basic concept has worked...many species that were in ever declining number and in danger of extinction are NOT. What would help is recognising that many of the birds that were originally protected (to prevent them becoming hat ornaments!) are no longer in any danger, and no longer need that level of protection. For mammals, it is usually allowed to kill a predator, even if it is endangered, when it is attacking one's stock. With an avian, no matter how healthy the population, this is not the case.

Are grackles protected? They're nasty and prolific.

 

[pdx2phx]

Quote:

poop soup!

We end up with *a lot* of that in our yard, in between cycling water out from the koi pond (fish poop) into the plants around the yard, the chickens mucking around in it (double poop), and of course the regular chicken poop everywhere else.....

 

[leanna1017]

Quote:
Thanks! I can alternate gardens everyday. We went big with the planting this year. We even tore out the lantana in front of the house and planted more tomatoes, peppers, zukes and cukes. They're doing much better in that spot - the lantana wasn't looking so great. I wish I though of adding veggies to the front yard years ago.

 

[leanna1017]

Quote:
We're attempting to grow potatoes in straw and mulch this year. So far I'm not impressed with the results. Maybe some poop soup will help.

 

[leanna1017]

Quote:

poop soup!

We end up with *a lot* of that in our yard, in between cycling water out from the koi pond (fish poop) into the plants around the yard, the chickens mucking around in it (double poop), and of course the regular chicken poop everywhere else.....

I like the term poop soup much better than manure tea! too funny!

 

[nurseshelly]

Quote:
Have fun in Strawberry! How many eggs are you hatching?

 

[mclevinson]

Quote:
We're attempting to grow potatoes in straw and mulch this year. So far I'm not impressed with the results. Maybe some poop soup will help.

I started my potatoes in a box in garden soil then started hilling them as they grew. They are popping through the mulch every day they are growing so fast. Alas, my tomatoes do not like their garden soil, they are weak and pathetic.

 

[nurseshelly]

Quote:
Thanks! I can alternate gardens everyday. We went big with the planting this year. We even tore out the lantana in front of the house and planted more tomatoes, peppers, zukes and cukes. They're doing much better in that spot - the lantana wasn't looking so great. I wish I though of adding veggies to the front yard years ago.

We do a lot of peppers in the front yard, they love the north facing sun/heat combo we get. The hottest part of the day they are in shade from the house, so they don't get burned from the sun. In the back yard they get burned if we don't put shade screen over them.