Arizona Chickens

[Mikey D]

Mikey, they don't need layer until they are laying. Even then they don't really need it, but they may need the extra calcium. You can cause problems feeding younger chickens layer feed because they may not handle the calcium well. Your birds are so close to laying age that it probably won't matter much though. Congratulations on the chick order too! See what happens when you spend any time at all around this place? I see more coops in your future. How is that shed looking?

Thanks Gallo! Good news on the feed.

The sheds on the other hand are rickety at best!


That straight line from the middle to towards the right on the ground is where the fence was between the houses. You can see the last fence panel which I left up with the quite rickety awning attached.

The roofed structure is a huge shed (16x32) with covered parking (16 x 20). I'm thinking of screening off the area behind the structure (52' long by about 16 feet wide) using it as a run and using the shed on the left as a coop. (Replacing the door of course.)

The shed on the right (taller & smaller) will probably be a give/throw away.

This is all hypothetical of course.

 

[Mikey D]

Cotton's eggs are hatching! One so far but she is growling at me so I am not disturbing her any more than I have to.

Excellent! New peepers!

 

[pastrymama]

Hey, I don't even want to be like Mikey sometimes! (but thanks folks.

)

Becky - thanks - great info. Sounds like I should have switched to layer already. I guess I'll go see if Higley has organic layer instead of pouring the last of the grower / finisher in tonight.

However - Tammy told me last night she saw mouse evidence

next to the bag of feed.

I got a small oyster shell type feeder from Meg-moringaseed. If I put shells in there could I use up the last bag of 17% grower finisher & still be providing correct nutrition?

I got the Wellsummer chicks because of Pastry (She MADE me do it!) (Remember Flip Wilson?

) She raved about them and I believe her. Plus they are supposed to lay cool dark brown eggs & I only have regular brown egg layers. (That's called rationalization!)

ok ok, i made him do it. but i LOVE my wellies! their eggs are not quite as dark as the FBCMs, but they lay better and are supposedly heat tolerant. i got my two from a breeder(sorry mikey) and i was thinking of calling her up after our HOUR LONG CONVERSATION and seeing if she was going to have more this spring. yes mikey, i completely enjoyed talking to you. i need adult conversation every now and again after dealing with my 3 little lovely terrors.

anyone in the market for a weirdly bossy salmon faverolle? she is 10 months and laying, but pulling the feathers out of my yet to be laying dark brahma. hum, makes me wonder if that's why this brahma is not laying yet. everyone else is. she only picks on this brahma, very weird. no worms, no bugs, no crowding, just a strange FRENCH FAVEROLLE!

 

[Mahonri]

Gorgeous day in the valley today! Gotta love it.

I'm only working a half day tomorrow so I'll be off to the feed stores for Flock raiser and chick starter.

Just finished day 1 for my Ground Hog's Day Hatch.... 20 to go.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

can't figure out where my picture went!!????

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Mikey, they don't need layer until they are laying. Even then they don't really need it, but they may need the extra calcium. You can cause problems feeding younger chickens layer feed because they may not handle the calcium well. Your birds are so close to laying age that it probably won't matter much though. Congratulations on the chick order too! See what happens when you spend any time at all around this place? I see more coops in your future. How is that shed looking?

Beat me to it.
Yeah, don't worry about it until they are actually laying. Some feeds say to switch earlier. I think mine says to switch at 6 weeks and 16 weeks but I did 8 weeks and 18 weeks.
So my next batch of chicks I'll have to get a welsummer or two and I want to give barred rocks another try. My last one was mean but everyone keeps saying how nice they usually are.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

I give up...seems my photo of Amelia won't post when I hit submit.

 

[Arizonachicken]

Just want to update everyone about Amelia. I am saddened to let you know that she passed at 10:20. My daughter called me at work and said that she was petting her and Amelia had a seizure and died. I called my vet and my daughter Lauren brought Amelia in for a necropsy. I called DH and he says get more babies.

Thank you all for your good thoughts. Will let you know what the Dr. finds out. I would post a picture if I could figure out how.

 

[Mahonri]

Petra, I have some 13 day old Easter Eggers, some blue and some green layers.

 

[pdx2phx]

Test message.....

.

These lovelies were in Ireland. DH and I ended up taking a bunch of pictures of Irish chickens on our honeymoon Kinda funny....to go all that way and end up with MORE chicken pictures