Arizona Chickens

[kukupecpec]

I'm brand spankin' new to all this self-sustaining and gardening halabaloo, and so far I love it! But I'm not much of a green thumb - my mother kills everything, so I'm certain I got it from her! ha.

I was wondering if there are any good, easy to care for (prolific tucson heat growers) vine-y plants that I could plant around a chain link run with a chain link roof that would pretty well cover it all up and give significant shade to my girls? I can line the chain link with hardware cloth if needed for the vines to better cling to. I hate the idea of ugly shade cloth on my run, and if I'm going to convince DH to let me build a bigger run, it's gotta be aesthetically pleasing or >I< will be living in it too lol.

I was also wondering, my chickens came a little sooner than expected, and my store was out of layer feed! So I bought this giant freaking bag of chicken scratch from Wamart. I think it gave them tummy aches, they all had raging yellow-y green diarrhea when that was all they were eating. I got them on some good layer feed, but they still get the scratch as a snack when they come out for free ranging. With all the rains we've been having, the left over seeds got dug up and buried and now are GROWING this funky thick grass in patches where I've fed them! Does anyone know if they will like this? They seem to have left it alone, but I'm building small raised planters lining the backyard to fill with whatever they will eat and this would be a great use of that ton of extra seed. Are the little plants even healthy for them? I'm not sure if there is a difference in the plants and the seeds, but I don't want to get anyone sick.

 

[Fuzzybird]

Need some advice. I want to put several young hens EEs and and one silky rooster in with 4 laying hens [morans and a orpinton] into the bigger coop that the morans are in now. The EEs are in a smaller coop and all would fit very well in the bigger coop, that has very nice nest boxes. I don't want fights! I read if you switched coops with the chickens than added back the bigger, older hens in a few days all would be well. Is that a good plan?

 

[Fuzzybird]

KuKu they will love the grass!

 

[Billiam]

I was out in the garden collecting cucumbers for dinner and shot these. Light is fading so the pic isn't great, but you get the idea. All of these were mere flowers just a few days ago. The longest was about 14" long. We've been getting so many, I may finally have enough to ferment. We planted three varieties-- these are Japanese vining, the Armenians are just starting to form and the third (I can't remember what it was) died. I can only imagine how many we'd have if there were more pollinators. Thankfully, the carpenter bees have been picking up some of the slack from the honey bees. I was visiting BYCer TT! today and she gave me a Queen's Wreath and I think that will very much help next year in attracting bees.

That is a cool setup Gallo. Do you have a picture of it from farther away? What kind of cucumber do you plant?

 

[Mikey D]

I'm in Phoenix/Chandler area - wondering where do you buy your organic feed?

Bulk purchase of fresh organic every two months. We get 3 - 4 pallets shipped - about $24 a bag including shipping.

http://www.phoenixpermaculture.org/...cken-feed-for-huge-savings?xg_source=activity

The October order form is out already.


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHZYcDlHTDN1bkVYYWwybUZLRWduOWc6MA#gid=0

Use Paypal and follow Scott's directions so as not to encumber a fee.

The chickens love it - I've had them compare it to 3 different store bought samples & they prefer the good stuff!

Pick up is at (Ohh gosh I hope I'm remembering correctly) Bakers Nursery

 

[Mikey D]

Quote: Higley feed and Shoppers are where I get a sack of organic if I run out.

 

[Mikey D]

I'm brand spankin' new to all this self-sustaining and gardening halabaloo, and so far I love it! But I'm not much of a green thumb - my mother kills everything, so I'm certain I got it from her! ha.

I was wondering if there are any good, easy to care for (prolific tucson heat growers) vine-y plants that I could plant around a chain link run with a chain link roof that would pretty well cover it all up and give significant shade to my girls? I can line the chain link with hardware cloth if needed for the vines to better cling to. I hate the idea of ugly shade cloth on my run, and if I'm going to convince DH to let me build a bigger run, it's gotta be aesthetically pleasing or >I< will be living in it too lol.

I was also wondering, my chickens came a little sooner than expected, and my store was out of layer feed! So I bought this giant freaking bag of chicken scratch from Wamart. I think it gave them tummy aches, they all had raging yellow-y green diarrhea when that was all they were eating. I got them on some good layer feed, but they still get the scratch as a snack when they come out for free ranging. With all the rains we've been having, the left over seeds got dug up and buried and now are GROWING this funky thick grass in patches where I've fed them! Does anyone know if they will like this? They seem to have left it alone, but I'm building small raised planters lining the backyard to fill with whatever they will eat and this would be a great use of that ton of extra seed. Are the little plants even healthy for them? I'm not sure if there is a difference in the plants and the seeds, but I don't want to get anyone sick.

Chickens will love the grass & most all plants in general.

Gallo & others do most excellent with grape vines & they do not need anything other than the chain link.

Careful with feeding just scratch though, it does not have enough protein, especially for chicks.

 

[Billiam]

That is a cool setup Gallo. Do you have a picture of it from farther away? What kind of cucumber do you plant?

Never mind Gallo. I kept reading and saw your post. Great pictures and idea! Do you ever eat the tilapia?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Never mind Gallo. I kept reading and saw your post. Great pictures and idea! Do you ever eat the tilapia?

We haven't yet, but probably in the next couple weeks or so. The biggest are about 1.5 lbs and just about the right size for eating. I have some that are exhibiting mating behavior and I'm hoping that I'll get some fry out them before I start eating them. There might actually be some smaller juveniles down in there, but I can't see the bottom very well. I'm really looking forward to it. We eat tilapia about once or twice a week and I'm hoping to grow all that we need. The chickens are going to love the scraps after filleting.

 

[Mikey D]

So's I goes out to the coop last night to lock up the girls.

1,2,3,4,,,,8,9,10

Ooops

1,2,3...8,9,10

Someone's missing.

I goes back into the human domicile & gets me a flashlight.

Go back 1...10

Who's gone?

Dot, Dash, Freaky, Fuzzy, Princess, Gretchen, Gisell, where's Meow?

1,,,10

Now the coop is only 4 x 17.

Mikey can count to eleven - been teaching them number things for quite a spell now.

Not too many places to hide.

Meow is gone.

What the heck?

Go out this AM, scream "Where's my cluckers?!?"

Meow doesn't come runn'n up.

Let the ladies out, Meow pops out.

Let me say that again...

What the heck?

Some one want to tell me where she was hiding?

Freak'n chickens!