Arizona Chickens

[Demosthine]

Ok here it is... We also have more info in writing, way more... Next time we have a BON fire outside remind me
to make copies for ya all...
ENJOY,
http://www.earthworkshealth.com/How-Diatomaceous-Earth-Works.php

If you knew the amount of people that think I'm crazy for my "natural" health beliefs... Wait, you probably do. It's amazing how people go running and crying to their doctor for every little thing. I think I'm going to have to buy some of this.

That can be a really good price for that, but I can't justify a 50-pound bag! Maybe if five of us went in together. Shipping for that is $35.87, so it would be $63.37 total, or $1.26 per pound. I don't know if there is somewhere better in town to get it. I'll have to look in to it. I am a firm believer in the power of raw honey and raw milk. This would be an excellent addition.

*** EDIT ***
Amazon does have a 10 pound bag for $25.99 with free shipping, too. That is the only one that comes out to be less expensive than Earth Works' products, with the exception of their 50-pound bag. The breakdown is below...

Supplier Quantity Weight Price Quantity Each Shipping Sub-Total Price per Pound
Amazon 1 3 lbs. $18.99 $6.33 $0.00 $18.99 $6.33
Amazon 1 10 lbs. $25.99 $2.60 $0.00 $25.99 $2.60
Earth Works 1 2.5 lbs. $11.50 $4.60 $16.45 $27.95 $11.18
Earth Works 4 2.5 lbs. $23.00 $2.30 $18.43 $41.43 $4.14
Earth Works 1 10 lbs. $14.00 $1.40 $18.22 $32.22 $3.22
Earth Works 1 50 $27.50 $0.55 $35.87 $63.37 $1.27

 

[maryhysong]

Mary has a good suggestion with the hoop coop. They require few materials and can be achieved without great carpentry skills. Also check out posts by SherrieT and MagicChicken; they've recently built similar hoop coops. Last year I made a chicken enclosure (can't really call it a coop) for a friend of mine using stuff lying around my yard and hers. We used an old dog run for the main structure and I had two 4' X 8' trellises made from 2 x 4s and covered with welded wire that we used for the roof on the other section. We covered the sides with welded wire I had left over from my coop. The roost is under an old awning from her house and an old chest of drawers serves as her nesting box. I don't think a dime was spent on this pen. My friend is ecstatic with it; she loves the fact that she can stand up inside it. It's a bit more open that I would prefer, but she's raised chickens all her life here in AZ with a similar arrangement.

That is a really nice set up. Here in the mountains I'd probably put plastic or tarps over a lot of it in the winter. You could start some squash or bean vine a foot or so away from the base of the fence and train them up over the trellis for summer shade. Or add some shade cloth. My hoop coop is built a little different than a lot of others; I used the 6x6" concrete reinforcing mesh instead of cattle panels. A lot cheaper and sometimes you can find peices around construction sites that they will let you have. Never hurts to ask.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

That is a really nice set up. Here in the mountains I'd probably put plastic or tarps over a lot of it in the winter. You could start some squash or bean vine a foot or so away from the base of the fence and train them up over the trellis for summer shade. Or add some shade cloth. My hoop coop is built a little different than a lot of others; I used the 6x6" concrete reinforcing mesh instead of cattle panels. A lot cheaper and sometimes you can find peices around construction sites that they will let you have. Never hurts to ask.

I agree. Even here a our elevation I'd enclose part of it for Dec.-Feb. I'm not sure if there is enough sun to get anything to grow on the wire, but it sure would be nice. In that pic the viewer is looking straight south and just to the left is a very large mesquite that covers the entire area. Just to the right of the pic is another big mesquite. The west side of the enclosure is entirely covered with shade cloth and now the entire back (south side) and top are covered with shade cloth. It really made for a nice shady spot. I'm a big fan of that concrete re-mesh, much to the chagrin of my wife (we have piles of it currently not in use). My brooder tractor is made with it and covered with hardware cloth and galvanized metal for the roof. Here's a very old pic of it's early incarnation and then with the metal cover. Virtually no carpentry skills required and very little wood involved. Note the re-mesh hoop row-covers behind it used for seedlings.

 

[maryhysong]

I agree. Even here a our elevation I'd enclose part of it for Dec.-Feb. I'm not sure if there is enough sun to get anything to grow on the wire, but it sure would be nice. In that pic the viewer is looking straight south and just to the left is a very large mesquite that covers the entire area. Just to the right of the pic is another big mesquite. The west side of the enclosure is entirely covered with shade cloth and now the entire back (south side) and top are covered with shade cloth. It really made for a nice shady spot. I'm a big fan of that concrete re-mesh, much to the chagrin of my wife (we have piles of it currently not in use). My brooder tractor is made with it and covered with hardware cloth and galvanized metal for the roof. Here's a very old pic of it's early incarnation and then with the metal cover. Virtually no carpentry skills required and very little wood involved. Note the re-mesh hoop row-covers behind it used for seedlings.

I really like this one; Might have to make a couple of those. I would love to have some to put over empty garden beds and rotate chicks through but the garden is not predator proof. But this would be handy to raise chicks in, inside my big pen where they can all get used to each other.

 

[maryhysong]

OK I am STILL looking for SOP Buff Orpingtons. Doesn't anyone breed them in this state? I have a couple of hatchery girls that aren't _too_ bad, but would really like to find some really nice ones.

 

[cbnovick]

I have 3 gambel quail eggs in the incubator! Crossing fingers and hoping for a good hatch!

GOOD LUCK!! those are such adorable quail!!!

 

[cbnovick]

Photos of my morning hike up in the preserve....



Pics from my morning hike.... violet and yellow flowers...

Valley just to the east of Squaw Peak.

Squaw Peak

Downtown Phoenix in the distance... if you look carefully you can see Chase Field.

Brittle bush.... pretty yellow flowers.

Camelback Mountain in the distance...

Squaw Peak from the top of a hill to the east...

A barrel cactus.

Saguaros

Saguaros up close Why does it turn my pics?

Sorry it turns my pics... "On the trail"

Orange flowers

Cholla or "Jumping Catus"

Palo verde tree to the left, Ocotillo to the right. The Ocotillo will be blooming soon with bright red flowers. Both of these trees are known as nurses for baby Saguaros.... They can't grow as young plants unless they are in the shade initially.

Blooming creosote

Blooming violet flowers... these only last for perhaps a week and then they are gone till next year, IF it rains in February.

A very young (40 or 50 year old) saguaro, growing in the shade of a Palo verde tree.

Squaw Peak from another vantage point.

Another interesting little Cacti... don't know it's official name. Looks happy to be there.

Home of some cactus wrens....

There's a nest in there....

And there is mama... daddy had just delivered some goods and flew away.

Mama Cactus Wren, waiting for her mate to return with goodies for the chicks in the nest.

THANK YOU for the wonderful photos...always enjoy your witty tidbits too

Are you hatching soon??

 

[City farm]

So cool!  I want to go hiking this Saturday but I don't really know where to go in the East Valley.  If I was in Tucson I'd have plenty of ideas.  The Tucson desert is so pretty!

There is a great trail in usery mountain... Bird cave.. Short & beautiful..
You can go around the whole mountain..

 

[City farm]

If you knew the amount of people that think I'm crazy for my "natural" health beliefs... Wait, you probably do. It's amazing how people go running and crying to their doctor for every little thing. I think I'm going to have to buy some of this. That can be a really good price for that, but I can't justify a 50-pound bag! Maybe if five of us went in together. Shipping for that is $35.87, so it would be $63.37 total, or $1.26 per pound. I don't know if there is somewhere better in town to get it. I'll have to look in to it. I am a firm believer in the power of raw honey and raw milk. This would be an excellent addition. *** EDIT *** Amazon does have a 10 pound bag for $25.99 with free shipping, too. That is the only one that comes out to be less expensive than Earth Works' products, with the exception of their 50-pound bag. The breakdown is below...
[TR] [TH]Supplier[/TH] [TH]Quantity[/TH] [TH]Weight[/TH] [TH]Price[/TH] [TH]Quantity Each[/TH] [TH]Shipping[/TH] [TH]Sub-Total [/TH] [TH]Price per Pound[/TH] [/TR]
[TR] [TD]Amazon[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]3 lbs.[/TD] [TD]$18.99[/TD] [TD]$6.33[/TD] [TD]$0.00[/TD] [TD]$18.99[/TD] [TD]$6.33[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Amazon[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]10 lbs.[/TD] [TD]$25.99[/TD] [TD]$2.60[/TD] [TD]$0.00[/TD] [TD]$25.99[/TD] [TD]$2.60[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Earth Works[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]2.5 lbs.[/TD] [TD]$11.50[/TD] [TD]$4.60[/TD] [TD]$16.45[/TD] [TD]$27.95[/TD] [TD]$11.18[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Earth Works[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]2.5 lbs.[/TD] [TD]$23.00[/TD] [TD]$2.30[/TD] [TD]$18.43[/TD] [TD]$41.43[/TD] [TD]$4.14[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Earth Works[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]10 lbs.[/TD] [TD]$14.00[/TD] [TD]$1.40[/TD] [TD]$18.22[/TD] [TD]$32.22[/TD] [TD]$3.22[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Earth Works[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]50[/TD] [TD]$27.50[/TD] [TD]$0.55[/TD] [TD]$35.87[/TD] [TD]$63.37[/TD] [TD]$1.27[/TD] [/TR]

we got our from Tempe feed & tack.. I think it was $11.00 for 5 pounds.. Finally went threw that.. 50 pounds for like $36.00 just give your local feed store a call.. I have sent over 4-5 people to them.. They will even give you the information regarding all the benefits.. We give it to our dogs,chickens,garden & us... We really do feel better..

 

[City farm]

If you knew the amount of people that think I'm crazy for my "natural" health beliefs... Wait, you probably do. It's amazing how people go running and crying to their doctor for every little thing. I think I'm going to have to buy some of this. That can be a really good price for that, but I can't justify a 50-pound bag! Maybe if five of us went in together. Shipping for that is $35.87, so it would be $63.37 total, or $1.26 per pound. I don't know if there is somewhere better in town to get it. I'll have to look in to it. I am a firm believer in the power of raw honey and raw milk. This would be an excellent addition. *** EDIT *** Amazon does have a 10 pound bag for $25.99 with free shipping, too. That is the only one that comes out to be less expensive than Earth Works' products, with the exception of their 50-pound bag. The breakdown is below...
[TR] [TH]Supplier[/TH] [TH]Quantity[/TH] [TH]Weight[/TH] [TH]Price[/TH] [TH]Quantity Each[/TH] [TH]Shipping[/TH] [TH]Sub-Total [/TH] [TH]Price per Pound[/TH] [/TR]
[TR] [TD]Amazon[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]3 lbs.[/TD] [TD]$18.99[/TD] [TD]$6.33[/TD] [TD]$0.00[/TD] [TD]$18.99[/TD] [TD]$6.33[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Amazon[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]10 lbs.[/TD] [TD]$25.99[/TD] [TD]$2.60[/TD] [TD]$0.00[/TD] [TD]$25.99[/TD] [TD]$2.60[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Earth Works[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]2.5 lbs.[/TD] [TD]$11.50[/TD] [TD]$4.60[/TD] [TD]$16.45[/TD] [TD]$27.95[/TD] [TD]$11.18[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Earth Works[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]2.5 lbs.[/TD] [TD]$23.00[/TD] [TD]$2.30[/TD] [TD]$18.43[/TD] [TD]$41.43[/TD] [TD]$4.14[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Earth Works[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]10 lbs.[/TD] [TD]$14.00[/TD] [TD]$1.40[/TD] [TD]$18.22[/TD] [TD]$32.22[/TD] [TD]$3.22[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Earth Works[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]50[/TD] [TD]$27.50[/TD] [TD]$0.55[/TD] [TD]$35.87[/TD] [TD]$63.37[/TD] [TD]$1.27[/TD] [/TR]

Oh and this comes from New Mexico.. I think if you eat what grows in your area like bee pollin ect.. You get the benefits...