Arizona Chickens

[MagicChicken]

Gosh, it's cold up here on Mt. Fagan! Is the Tucson valley chilly as well?

The chickens seem to be enjoying the changing weather, however, since all the wild wheat and other plants are fully ripe, and there are buggies everywhere to eat. Happy chickens, not happy Tanichca. Those big black grasshoppers give me the creeps!

Congrats Demosthine! Those chicks are ADORABLE!!!

Highs are back up here in the lowlands southwest of the Tucson mountains. Flirting with 100 degrees for the next several days, after an extended period in the high 80's and low 90's. Evenings are nice - nights in the 60's at my place. I like it!

 

[beehappy4ever]

Well, my wife went off and did it. She bought two chicks today. I really didn't think she would follow through, but she has. And she caught the "crazy chicken lady" bug already. She picked up the black one and it immediately snuggled in to her hands and fell asleep. So she named it Sleepy. The second, she chose because she "was the shortest and smallest," so she would stay a chick the longest. Or so she thinks. She turned out to be very talkative the entire trip home and my wife was going to call her Loudy. She decided on Sunshine instead. I have no idea what breeds they are yet. I figured if she was willing to follow through with buying them, I'd let her get whatever she wanted to get my foot in the door. Woohoo!

So right now, they are sitting there chirping in a large Rubbermaid clothing container with the heat lamp on. We keep the house at 80*, so I know I need it. The seller thinks they are from the freshly hatched group that came in on Friday, so they are within the first week. It's mounted to a camera tripod, so I can change the height very easily. They seem good so far. I'll watch them tonight each time my daughter decides to get up and feed. She usually sleeps all night, but was up every two hours. I guess another growth spurt is coming.

So the required pictures are below. Sorry for the bad quality, but it's late and dark in the house. More to come in the next few days. Hopefully at least one with my wife holding them.

Congrats! They will grow so fast you will be shocked. I think the black looks like an australorps and the other a RIR.

 

[Billiam]

Anyone on here know anything about Chicken Scratch Ranch in Gilbert? Maybe they are on this forum and I just don't know it.

 

[desertmarcy]

HI all, got back from a 3-week vacation over a week ago and still catching up. Our caretaker did a great job tending the poultry and garden while we were gone. If you haven't seen the article the newspaper printed about my chicken farm, here is the link:

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/foo...cle_08f27064-d6b0-56ab-9c24-38f4a0b4c87d.html

I'm not sure how long that link will work. Wouldn't you know, they printed it the day after we left on vacation--what bad timing! Our phone message machine was full when we got back... Surprise, surprise, it was printed in the Arizona Republic, too. Guess they are short on news

All and all, I think it was a good story. Wish they had included that I feed all organic feed and I wish they had emphasized my breeding to sell chicks a bit more instead of processed chicken...I do sell some processed chicken, but it is not my main thrust.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

HI all, got back from a 3-week vacation over a week ago and still catching up. Our caretaker did a great job tending the poultry and garden while we were gone. If you haven't seen the article the newspaper printed about my chicken farm, here is the link:

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/foo...cle_08f27064-d6b0-56ab-9c24-38f4a0b4c87d.html

I'm not sure how long that link will work. Wouldn't you know, they printed it the day after we left on vacation--what bad timing! Our phone message machine was full when we got back... Surprise, surprise, it was printed in the Arizona Republic, too. Guess they are short on news

All and all, I think it was a good story. Wish they had included that I feed all organic feed and I wish they had emphasized my breeding to sell chicks a bit more instead of processed chicken...I do sell some processed chicken, but it is not my main thrust.

That's fantastic Marcia! All of your hard work is getting some the attention it deserves.

Congratulations on being able to escape town for three weeks too.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Well, my wife went off and did it. She bought two chicks today. I really didn't think she would follow through, but she has. And she caught the "crazy chicken lady" bug already. She picked up the black one and it immediately snuggled in to her hands and fell asleep. So she named it Sleepy. The second, she chose because she "was the shortest and smallest," so she would stay a chick the longest. Or so she thinks. She turned out to be very talkative the entire trip home and my wife was going to call her Loudy. She decided on Sunshine instead. I have no idea what breeds they are yet. I figured if she was willing to follow through with buying them, I'd let her get whatever she wanted to get my foot in the door. Woohoo!

So right now, they are sitting there chirping in a large Rubbermaid clothing container with the heat lamp on. We keep the house at 80*, so I know I need it. The seller thinks they are from the freshly hatched group that came in on Friday, so they are within the first week. It's mounted to a camera tripod, so I can change the height very easily. They seem good so far. I'll watch them tonight each time my daughter decides to get up and feed. She usually sleeps all night, but was up every two hours. I guess another growth spurt is coming.

So the required pictures are below. Sorry for the bad quality, but it's late and dark in the house. More to come in the next few days. Hopefully at least one with my wife holding them.

Welcome to the world of chickens! Are you going to get some flock mates?

 

[Fuzzybird]

Really cool Marcy! They didn't mention the turkeys!

 

[Demosthine]

Welcome to the world of chickens!  Are you going to get some flock mates?

I will eventually. The plan is to get two more every six months so that I can cycle them out to freezer camp when they stop laying. Ideally, anyway. Depending on how attached my wife gets... I've told my daughters that was the plan since day one, so they are ok with it.

 

[desertmarcy]

Really cool Marcy! They didn't mention the turkeys!

I know, too bad. I think they didn't want to "dilute" the story by including too many things.

 

[Fuzzybird]

Quote: Did you see the turkey picture of the one I have for sale? Do you think it is a Chocolate Royal Palm?