Arizona Chickens

[Tracydr]

Congratulations on the quail babies.
Nurseshelly- I just have to close my eyes and scroll on by everytime you post Serama babies. They are so stinkin cute! One of these days I'm going to get weak and end up getting some but I need more chicks, especially chicks that make eggs the size of quail eggs like I need another kitten.

Mikey-Nice job on training your chicks! Mine are running all around my yard today. I have no idea how I'm going to round them up when it gets close to feral cat "cocktail hour". It's going to be a chick round-up today for sure. Seems that's been the trend this week.
Gave everyone a dunk in permethrin, dusted the coop, clipped the wings and gave a dot of dewormer. Figured I'd do a little chicken maintenance while everyone was being held captive. Let me tell you those Hamburgers and Egytptians were mad! I have the scratches to prove it.
Any hints on how to keep them from flying out of a pen that I can't cover because of all my trees? I really don't feel like spending big bucks on a 7 foot game fence. May just have to keep the wings clipped and try a 5 foot wire fence. The pen is going to be pretty large. About 75 feet by 15 feet, give or take. I haven't measured it yet.

 

[tball chicky]

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Sierra Vista is far from EVERYTHING

And, I agree, hole saw is a great option...and the only option that I can come up with to make a nice, neat hole in this box

If you are drilling all the way though, drill 1/2 way from the outside, let the pilot (small drill bit in the center) poke through the inside, stop and then drill the rest of the way from the inside. This will roll the burr away from the inside edge and give you a cleaner, less finger/chickie slashing edge.

Well, I persevered!

I managed to get the adapter wired to the fan - and it works. I also managed to get the power cord wired to the t-stat & the light and to get the t-stat wired to the light...and guess what...? I plugged it in & the dog-gone light CAME ON!!!

I had to modify the wiring some because my brain just couldn't quite make sense of all of it. I couldn't quite figure out how to get the power cord to wire to the adapter, the t-stat, nightlight...and whatever else. So I plan to plug the fan in separately from the t-stat & light, and the nightlight in separately as well. I actually don't know why I need a nightlight in the first place.

Now...I have to unwire everything & start placing it all in the fridge. Hubby came home early so now I can use the hole saw

 

[tightwad]

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I like this idea. My first thought was that they sell excelsior basket filling at Michael's but the swamp cooler pads have gotta be cheaper. Just cut them to size. I bet you could wash them out a few times before having to change them. Would they be compostable?

I'd be willing to bet they are compostable - wood fibers & all. May not mix in as easily as shavings though.

Mix? I'm a totally lazy composter.

I don't mix and it rarely gets any water unless it rains or I think about adding water to my compost bucket before it goes out. I just dig down to the bottom and scoop up whatever I can.

 

[tightwad]

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Love the verse 'cause I can never remember which numbers are OK.

 

[tightwad]

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Would regular bird netting like this work? http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 Maybe a couple of packages would cover your area and it doesn't seem too expensive. Because it drapes, maybe it would work under your tree canopies.

Boy, I'm a slacker on chicken maintenance. What do you using the permethrin for? I read about ticks, lice, and mosquitos. How often to you like to use it? As far as the dusting, I assume you use DE. And last question, I promise, how often do you deworm?

 

[Mahonri]

I deworm twice a year with Valbazen. You can buy if from Jeffers supply.

 

[tightwad]

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Thanks, I so need to get better at all this.

 

[pastrymama]

tracy
little roo roo is on his way to a cooler climate! he put up a fight when i tried to get him out of that cage and scratched the heck outta me! hope i don't get chicken scratch fever! he crowed all day and i could still hear him over all the hammering. he's got some lungs. garage door down and everything. the neighbors next door got a kick out of him.

 

[southerndesert]

This was on CL and thought it may be useful to some of you to my East...

Alfalfa is going to skyrocket this winter be ready!


Sacate Bermuda Blend Brand Pellets - Standard Breed - $13.49 when you buy 10 or more bags

Cob with Molasses - $14.49

Diatomatious Earth "Food Grade" 50# bag for $24.99

Shavings - $9.99
Nutrena CF Scratch Grains $ 13.99 or $12.99 if you buy 3 or more

4# bricks of minerals or salt - $3.99 - Buy three, get one FREE!!!
BABY CHICKS NOW AVAILABLE!!!!!!

Chandler Ace Hardware
4870 S GIlbert Rd
Chandler, AZ 85249

480-802-2100

 

[lilybug524]

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how old are your twins? i have 7 year old twin girls