Arizona Chickens

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Weeds? Really? Maybe I should stop trying to weed our backyard and just have our son weed-whack and bring the greens to the hens, when I have them! Are there weeds which are not safe?

Anne.

So far in my yard I have not found any that were not safe. Okay, I'm a nerd and I look them up online to see what they are - LOL! Happily I had looked most of them up before I had chickens because of the tortoises. I just let one area grow weeds, and pull some off for everybody without uprooting them. Between the weeds, the tortoise mix, the grapes and the hibiscus - there is always something they like growing. Before I had chickens, I let that side yard go to weeds, and my tortoises ate all "backyard" produce the whole year round. Of course the chickens are pigs and there is not a visible sprout of anything in their run ... they've killed the grass too. We'll put grass back in, but after the misters are done for the year. The misters turned one section of their grass to moss muck - ick! Or maybe move the grass to a new spot. Haven't decided. Then we also do the grass clippings from the front yard and they love them.

If you look up online pictures of the following, you should find most of the weeds in your yard, if it's similar to mine. There's one in mine I still haven't figured out though! Okay, here's the list: dandelion, cow thistle, spiny lettuce, globe mallow (both orange and miniature grow here), purselane, and wild mustard. It does depend on what your land was used for before it was yours. If it's pristine desert, it might have different weeds, since most of these have been introduced by farming. We're on ex-farm land. For the Orange globe mallow, I went to the riparian preserve and gathered seeds to plant it in my yard. The miniature version comes up as a weed in our yard.

Otherwise if you google native arizona weeds, or arizona weeds, you should find online guides with pictures of each plant and you will see some you recognize.
 
My main coop is kinda like a bus stop...it still stands. The secondary "coop" was really just an EasyUp against the wall. Installed for extra shade, only. But then the turkeys and a few of the chickens preferred to sleep outdoors--so we installed a roost on the wall under the EasyUp.

Unfortunately, the bird netting for the top of the run was on TOP of the easy up. So when the EasyUp blew away it took the cover for the whole run as well. Tomorrow I will wake up to Icelandics (excellent flyers) everywhere. Freaking awesome.



It was only a matter of time---I was just teasing my husband about it today. Whoops! Don't tempt the "I told you so" gods.
 
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Oh, that's so cool! azpenguin, you are talented!

Oh! I thought Gallo did that!
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. Nice work azpenguin!
 
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That is awesome! I can't wait until I have seeds to share so I can get in on it! That Gallo is one talented fellow!

I didn't draw it, azpenguin did! When the seed bank left my house it was in a lowly cardboard box. That tub is much more fitting.

Good work, AZ penguin!
Gallo: I still think you're talented, I've checked out your pages!
 
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I hope you find them all!!! I have to work the next 3 days (12 hour shifts), or I would come and help. If you still need help on Wednesday, I could come by.
 
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Laree...what time? I am pretty close to you I think so let me know if you need some help, and what sorts of chicken catching devices I need to bring?? I have a big fish net for catching koi
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Do you still have my phone number?
 
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