Arizona Chickens

[LadyKotaDoria]

Been pushing to finish my garden.

I now have 3, 30'X4' beds finished, two beds planted. Each bed has min. 2.9 Cu ft of bedding mix (50% sawdust, 35% concrete sand, and 15% vermiculite). Uneven depth, uneven ground. A lot of mixing, but it wicks water through fast. Making low hoops tomorrow and farmers market, Sunday, work on my girls home.

I left the door open a crack this morning as I was running in and out, Clare decided to take advantage, came in as you see a made herself comfortable. She thinks she is an exception to the rule. The others stayed out side the door, it was treat time.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

My family

Me too!! LOL

Me three!

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

must have posted twice....

 

[maryhysong]

My birds get LOTS of free choice Oyster shell. All my girls lay great eggs, with the exception of my FBCM.

That seems a bit odd; is it just one girl, or several? If just one might just be problem with her. I was going to respond also about oystershell and I also feed back all my egg shells. I occasionally feed yogurt or buttermilk too, good probiotics as well as protein and calcium.

My Marans are just babies but the eggs I have seen have had very thick shells, seem to be thicker than normal (i.e. other) breeds eggs. Also is she a pullet? Sometimes pullets lay soft shells or shell less eggs when they start off, then their bodies get into the cycle and they are ok after that.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote: She hatched last New Years so she is just over a year old. Didn't start laying until she was 9 months. First few months of eggs were wonderful. Small, hard shelled and VERY DARK. Then as the eggs started getting bigger, they were fewer and farther in between and now SOFT.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

My Blue Wheaten Ameraucana, "Geoffrey III". He is a real looker and a big boy, but he hasn't started crowing, nor have I seen him get jiggy with any of the hens yet. He hatched at Easter from a very blue egg.

What a looker! Is he descended from the original Geoffrey?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Gallo del Cielo has been helping me build my coop! He was over this morning working on the roof. Here are a few progress pics:

Helping, is the operative word here. I just cut the boards and screwed them together. And not all of them. Mr. TT! did the fine job of installing the wire and the siding.

 

[maryhysong]

She hatched last New Years so she is just over a year old. Didn't start laying until she was 9 months. First few months of eggs were wonderful. Small, hard shelled and VERY DARK. Then as the eggs started getting bigger, they were fewer and farther in between and now SOFT.

She just might need extra calcium and just isn't eating enough oystershell. Try adding yogurt or buttermilk, good probiotics enhances nutrient uptake. Are you feeding fermented feed or dry? FF also enhances nutrient availability.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote: He is his grandson. Son of Goeffry Junior.

 

[City farm]

We are getting a chance to start our Mealworm farm. Earlier today a neighbor had to move some wood. By the time I got to the bottom there was tons of mealworms. So I grabbed them up along with the dirt and place them in some chicken scratch.
I'm sure the guys that were helping clean up their backyard was thinking "crazy chicken person?"
Hope they make it.. :/