Arizona Chickens

[Phottoman]

@MadBaggens

I remember last year when I thought I could take a couple of the Leghorns I had in my second batch and mix them in with the first batch of chickens, they were three months and one month old at that time.

Those poor two Leghorns didn't have a chance. I was new and VERY inexperienced. It was my very first time trying to raise chickens.

I awoke the next morning to the most gawd-awful noises coming from the coop, and when I went out there, there were the two poor little Leghorns in a corner being pecked and picked on by the older birds, nine of then all taking turns.

I brought them back inside and they stayed inside for another month, as I learned more.

When I was ready to put them outside, I build a second run/coop for them, and the two runs were side by side for almost three months. I would let one group out at a time, one group one day, the other group the next. Finally I decided they would either get along or they wouldn't, I had to see what WOULD happen.

Well, to make a long story short(er), they got along fine. A little infighting, but they all started going into each others runs to eat "the other guys food" and drink out of different waterers. Then when the disastrous day that so many were killed, I pushed the two coops together and cut a wall out of one run so they had twice as much run as before.

Now they seem to stay in which-ever coop they are closest too when it gets dark, but they all share the same L-O-N-G run.

No more problem.

I'm not telling you to build another run/coop, but if you can isolate the youngest, and gradually let them all get to know each other, I think all will be OK in the end.

Skip

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

my heart is broken. I opened an egg, a beautiful little chick, with a lot of yoke sake left. I feel I should have bought an incubator for my 3 eggs. I was doing fine until I was gone all day and didn't adjust for heat. I am so sad, they should have had a chance.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Thanks CITY FARM but I have to watch my chicken math until this winter. She is just going to have to ruff it until broodiness pass. This winter the first one that goes broody will end up with some silkie eggs. And maybe few Columbian Wyandottes or Something else.

 

[cbnovick]

As of last night, it's absolutely official. CHICKEN MATH has struck!!! My wife bought two New Hampshire pullets and a New Hampshire roo. We're really hoping he grows up to be quiet and docile, because I would love to have a roo and be able to breed them. That breed is absolutely beautiful. They are about 3 1/2 weeks old at the moment. I don't have photos yet because we got home late last night and Cindy pulled the ad off Craig's List. Hopefully, my wife will post some today or I can when I get home from work.

She also bought the Birchen Maran that she had. I have no idea how old she is, but she's supposed to be laying. We probably won't see those eggs for a few days because of the stress of relocating. She is named Batman and my family opposed me re-naming her Cat Woman. So she'll be a gender confused chicken, kind of like Mama Hen's crowing hen...

​

I did break protocol and put them all in with my flock last night. I had checked them over pretty thoroughly and they were all perfectly clean and looked very healthy, so I'm not worried about them. Cindy had a nice, clean setup, too. I went with my gut this time. It was pretty comical seeing them settle in for the night. I think my two Barred Rocks, Christine and Sleepy, are afraid of her! Without any sort of a pecking order issue, Batman rose to the top. She was roosting on the top roost with Christine, which pushed Sleepy to the second roost.

It'll be interesting to see how this situation develops and what the flock dynamics become. I definitely have to build a bigger coop now. This brings us to three full adults, two teenagers and six babies! My 3'x5' coop is already too small. Oy, the things my wife gets me to do.

Scott and Amanda,
She was hatched Sept. 9th 2012 (6 months) by Greenfire Farm in Florida. She lays a nice size dark brown with spots egg almost daily...give her about a week to settle...Enjoy-she's a real gem!!
Cindy

 

[Demosthine]

Scott and Amanda,
She was hatched Sept. 9th 2012 (6 months) by Greenfire Farm in Florida. She lays a nice size dark brown with spots egg almost daily...give her about a week to settle...Enjoy-she's a real gem!! 
Cindy

Thanks for that info! I was going to message you today, but I ran out of time. We were watching them today and they're settling in fine. It's a bit touchy for the babies in the coop at first, but they all did great in the yard.

Batman really is gorgeous, especially in the sunlight. She was in the nesting box the same time as Christine was this morning, but didn't lay. I take that as a very good sign that she's taking a liking to the new home. She immediately took to the fermented feed, too. All I have to worry about are the poultry nipples, but that should be easy, too. There was a bowl of water out all day for her and the Birchens.

More to come tomorrow. Night all!

 

[Mahonri]

It's going to be a LONG week. My chairside assistant is in the hospital with congestive heart failure... anyone out there ever work in a dental office and need a job? I'm taking applications. (My receptionist/assistant is pregnant with #2 and wants to quit)

 

[MaddBaggins]

@MadBaggens

I remember last year when I thought I could take a couple of the Leghorns I had in my second batch and mix them in with the first batch of chickens, they were three months and one month old at that time.

Those poor two Leghorns didn't have a chance. I was new and VERY inexperienced. It was my very first time trying to raise chickens.

I awoke the next morning to the most gawd-awful noises coming from the coop, and when I went out there, there were the two poor little Leghorns in a corner being pecked and picked on by the older birds, nine of then all taking turns.

I brought them back inside and they stayed inside for another month, as I learned more.

When I was ready to put them outside, I build a second run/coop for them, and the two runs were side by side for almost three months. I would let one group out at a time, one group one day, the other group the next. Finally I decided they would either get along or they wouldn't, I had to see what WOULD happen.

Well, to make a long story short(er), they got along fine. A little infighting, but they all started going into each others runs to eat "the other guys food" and drink out of different waterers. Then when the disastrous day that so many were killed, I pushed the two coops together and cut a wall out of one run so they had twice as much run as before.

Now they seem to stay in which-ever coop they are closest too when it gets dark, but they all share the same L-O-N-G run.

No more problem.

I'm not telling you to build another run/coop, but if you can isolate the youngest, and gradually let them all get to know each other, I think all will be OK in the end.

Skip

@MadBaggens

I remember last year when I thought I could take a couple of the Leghorns I had in my second batch and mix them in with the first batch of chickens, they were three months and one month old at that time.

Those poor two Leghorns didn't have a chance. I was new and VERY inexperienced. It was my very first time trying to raise chickens.

I awoke the next morning to the most gawd-awful noises coming from the coop, and when I went out there, there were the two poor little Leghorns in a corner being pecked and picked on by the older birds, nine of then all taking turns.

I brought them back inside and they stayed inside for another month, as I learned more.

When I was ready to put them outside, I build a second run/coop for them, and the two runs were side by side for almost three months. I would let one group out at a time, one group one day, the other group the next. Finally I decided they would either get along or they wouldn't, I had to see what WOULD happen.

Well, to make a long story short(er), they got along fine. A little infighting, but they all started going into each others runs to eat "the other guys food" and drink out of different waterers. Then when the disastrous day that so many were killed, I pushed the two coops together and cut a wall out of one run so they had twice as much run as before.

Now they seem to stay in which-ever coop they are closest too when it gets dark, but they all share the same L-O-N-G run.

No more problem.

I'm not telling you to build another run/coop, but if you can isolate the youngest, and gradually let them all get to know each other, I think all will be OK in the end.

Skip

Thanks Skip!

I'm going to keep them separate for at least a couple weeks I think. For now the nesting box will work, but I'm going to rig up a mini coop/run within the coop/run using a dog crate and some chicken wire.

 

[Fuzzybird]

Here is a picture of the Button Quail I would love to find a home for. Going Cheep! Pair is having eggs. I just don't have a very good place to keep them. Didn't realize how special there needs are.

 

[City farm]

It's going to be a LONG week. My chairside assistant is in the hospital with congestive heart failure... anyone out there ever work in a dental office and need a job?  I'm taking applications. (My receptionist/assistant is pregnant with #2 and wants to quit)

What type of dentistry ? General or specialist.. Will you PM me with the info & I will pass on where they need to go.
I think I called you when I first started.. One of our salon clients told me to call you.. So I did.. I think..

 

[City farm]

Here is a picture of the Button Quail I would love to find a home for. Going Cheep! Pair is having eggs. I just don't have a very good place to keep them. Didn't realize how special there needs are.

What kind of needs? Do they go to with the chickens??