Arizona Chickens

[ChrystalGail]

HippieChickens... Funny you should mention this, because I just created a new page that has my watering system. Here it is...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2636-chicken-nipples-anyone

Let me know what you guys think!

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
I got one that looks a little like this from Sam the Yam here on BYC...

She laid her first three eggs this week... (first two on the floor of the pen) TODAY's was in the NEST BOX!... but they are tan colored. No green. Just glad she's laying and paying for her keep... now if I could just get the GC Maran and the rest of the blue and green egg layers to do SOMETHING... There are lots of feathers on the coop floor so they must be doing the molt thing.

 

[ChrystalGail]

Quote:
My thoughts exactly! Except I will be using empty soda bottle so I can just throw them back in the freezer without having to refill them. It has been working great! The water has stayed sparkling clean for about 5 days now!!! Can't beat that!

 

[LarryPQ]

Pati-I was just pulling your leg.

Chrystal- I dig the watering system! Right now I am using a big horse water dish that sits on two side-by-side cinder blocks. I have to rinse it out every day, but the chickens seem to enjoy sitting on the edge chatting with each other. Just like being at the pool! Plus when it is super-hot, they wade in it.

We FINALLY put up the "big kids" roost in the coop. I will have to take pics and enter the next coop contest. I also let the CM chicks out of the brooder today. They are only 3 weeks old, but already as large as the OEGB 7-weekers. I set up a mini-brooder in the coop so they all have somewhere to run and hide.

I went out at sunset to see if the big kids "got" the new roost, and ended up with 5 chickens on my lap. Nuggett (my BO) plopped down and zonked out. A few minutes later my super-flighty polish (who HATES me) jumped up, dove under Nuggett, and tossed her pudgy butt off my lap. Nuggett was surprised to hit the ground, but not as surprised as I was! The polish chicken let me pet her and then fell asleep! What a treat. Unfortunately, Nuggett gouged my legs when she fell, so tonight it is me, neosporin w/ pain relief, and a pair of loose pants. I suppose the days of wearing shorts in the coop are over.

Outside chicken land:--the next stage in the never-ending remodel is complete. Ish.

The new cabinets are sanded, painted, sealed, installed, dusted, and (mostly) organized/refilled. It has been a loooong week. NEXT: pouring the concrete countertops and letting them sit. Actually, before that I need the DH to clean up the backyard & get it leveled. The baby turns one year soon, and stupid me, I decided to throw a party here, at construction ground zero.

 

[ChrystalGail]

Larissa, I'm so happy that your cabinet nightmare is now over! Congratualtions!!!!!

Sorry about your leg. We've all been there! I smashed my index finger on my left hand yesterday building the quail hutch and thought it was broken. Since I'm using it to type now, I don't think it is, but it kept me up for a good part of the night last night. Then today I sliced the other index finger on the metal roofing. Go figure. It was not fun washing the dishes tonight!

Thanks for the props on the waterer! I'm pretty proud of it, althouh I can't take full credit for it's design. I saw something similar on eBay and sorta coppied the idea with my own modifications. That's usually how I do things. Other peoples ideas with my own tweak....

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying this weather as much as I am! Have a wonderful night!!!

 

[Tonopah Pati]

Good morning Arizona. I was also just kidding about my reply.

Those are the Desert toads alright. My hound dog will tip over the water bucket, she will not drink out of it after the toads have. Some times, if I don't get all the smell out of the bucket, she will tip it over again. Both of my dogs have messed with them and learned their lesson. They only bark at them now. I have some of them in my backyard close to the house. I have a kids wading pool for the dogs right there, that I think draws them. The water bucket is in that area also. The toads are as big around as a pie plate. They have red bumps on their back. The poison is emitted from the red bumps. The first time you see one, you can't believe your eyes.

I have seen some large Bull Frogs in my day. These Toads are way bigger than that.

ChrystalGail, I love your water bucket. GJ. I have a cage water bottle, it has a nipple and holds 1 quart of water. I showed my girls how to use it and they caught on, after just a couple of times putting their beak on it and pushing. What I didn't do was remove all other water so that they would have to use the nipple to get any water. At the time I set it up, we were getting 110 temps. I didn't want to chance loosing a bird.

Laree, sorry about your leg. Take it easy girl. What a treat to have your girls jump up in your lap. My Tina girl, will set next to me on a pillow, on the love seat, in the screen room and just talk and talk to me. I think she understands what I am saying. You know, I think I understand what she is saying. Am I the only one who understands chicken talk? Do I have Chicken Fever?

:yiipchick:yiipchick

 

[LarryPQ]

Good morning everyone!

Well, the baby decided he wan't teething, and his mild temperature was an actual fever. He coughed all night (he is still in our room...on the list of to-dos) so no sleep for me. I figured I take him out to the living room and put him on my chest so he could sleep sitting up. It worked for about 3 minutes, when he then did the cough-cough-barf thing. Fabulous. So, he and I spent 45 minutes in a steam-filled hot shower while daddy cleaned the couch. He felt much better after that, and with it all steam-loosened, passed out around 3:30.

My alarm goes off at 5:00. Coffee anyone?

Edited: Leg seems better today. I was a little worried the scratched would get red, but no itching or anything. :Woot!

 

[ChrystalGail]

Larissa, Sorry about the babies fever. I hope he feels better soon! Poor little guy!

I'm glad your leg is doing well. And I'm glad it isn't red, because those chickens have tons of bacteria in their nails.

I modified the waterer a little by adding a threaded cap on the end so that you can remove the cap and empty the bucket that way if needed, plus if I need to get anything out of the line I can do it that way. I'm glad you all like it! Thanks for all the compliments!

Have a great day!

 

[Tonopah Pati]

Good morning Arizona

I can't wait for daylight so that i can get started on my new pen area. It sure feels good to be able to spend the whole day outside, without passing out from the heat. Whew!

Hope the baby gets better fast.

The first thing I want to do, is set outside and have my breakfast. Then I can get started. I think I'll make one of my famous breakfast burritos. Only made better by my fresh eggs.

 

[LarryPQ]

Good morning everyone!

Nothing cool or neat to report today. Kids are still coughing, but no more fevers. I had a pear for breakfast, was out of hard-boiled eggs (they are easy to eat at my desk), so I may go heat up my broccoli left overs.

**sigh**

Can I have a breakfast burrito?