Arizona Chickens

[LadyKotaDoria]

LKD, nice hive!   Were the bees under the shed floor feral?

Yes, they have been there now for over a year. They have a history of gentle bees. Very healthy hive, they got me interested, talking to my nephew, who has an interest in bees. 10 months later.. . . . BEES! Only I can not get to my hive. Feed them this winter, they have been thriving. With the Africanized bees taking over I'm lucky to have European Bees. I am I'll equipped right now to safely get them out from under my shed. Besides I need a supper to put them in. I hope to be able to find people with experience to help me when the time comes. Not so easy for me. So few today are will to help others, with out being paid. I do not have a couple of hundred to pay someone, then repair the floor in the shed. I had one idea of just putting the supper in the shed over the floor, over a nice big hole, that they will just move in. In fact that is what I may try to do. Then harvest a couple of queen cells from S.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I just wanted to give a shout-out to my daughter's high school, Basis Tucson North.  It was just ranked as the number 2 high school in America by US News and World Report, which is down one spot from last year, but still an amazing achievement.  It is ranked as the number one charter school in the nation.  Basis Scottsdale did fantastically well too, scoring the fifth best high school in the nation and the third best charter school.

good news!

 

[NoSkiveez]

I absolutely agree with you, however, the fact that he stated that disease cannot be transferred by environment, leads any nominal chicken owner to believe that he is exaggerating either his non losses, or his experience. Any basic knowledge in disease management or control would negate these statements. I have not done any particular source checking on this but google has that handled. I stand by my assumption ( which may make an *** of me) that the chicks were mishandled and that caused their deaths. This assumption is only based on the facts stated by aloha chickens, and my own experience in hatching out the same eggs, so I could be wrong and am ready to correct my statement in the presence of more information.

Interesting use of "Assume". My grandfather regarded assume/assumption the same way.

On the topic of chicks, I have had loads of chicks hatch here from quail to turkey and everything in between. I've experienced so many issues that friends have cracked jokes that I was a chicken whisperer or Chicken Dr.

I find it very hard to believe that in raising birds like this that he has never experienced any disease and seems to think chicken to chicken is the only means of disease transmission. Particularly if he is buying Craigslist birds. I think some of the more bizarre things have resulted from CL than any other source I've encountered.
I have had chicks that I've had multiple types in the same brooder and all of one color/variety/breed all died. I've had bulbs burn out and knew it hadn't been out long and thought they would be ok. I've had kids accidentally turn a light off and not want to admit it. I've had a power outage kill 300+ day old chicks. Power outage ruin an incubation. I've had a pullet truly egg bound (twice). I've had the cat eat my chicks. We have had Cocci...and at the time I believed I was not at fault but looking back now and having the experience to see my mistake, I know it was my fault. In addition to what I've learned the hard way, I've noted things that others have learned the hard way too.

Even the most experienced hatchers/enthusiasts loose chicks. Sometimes you know why, often you don't know why.

Once I bought some chicks and as time went on they developed foot deformities. All of one particular breed. The other breed was fine (both from same person) they offered to replace them. Same thing with the replacements. Genetics was suggested as the problem (by me) and they agreed. I didn't keep any of those birds. Later I began hatching in a Sportman and began seeing this same deformity. I had a heater out, it caused too many fluctuations in temp and humidity. All chicks on the middle rack would be affected only.

Not knowing how the chicks were handled, that would be my first thought. I would be less inclined to think it would be a genetic factor being that the odds of the same hen being the layer of each egg and the same rooster fertilizing them would be difficult to grasp. If only one rooster was responsible for all fertilization and only lighter chicks died (or the darker) and it was contributed to genetics that would have to imply that the genetic factor would be based off a trait one color has but the other doesn't. If all of one color of chicks were defective genetically, the hatcher would have likely experienced this occurrence prior to this and would see it again in the future.


Even people who are more seasoned fumble.

 

[desertmarcy]

Yes, they have been there now for over a year. They have a history of gentle bees. Very healthy hive, they got me interested, talking to my nephew, who has an interest in bees. 10 months later.. . . . BEES! Only I can not get to my hive. Feed them this winter, they have been thriving. With the Africanized bees taking over I'm lucky to have European Bees. I am I'll equipped right now to safely get them out from under my shed. Besides I need a supper to put them in. I hope to be able to find people with experience to help me when the time comes. Not so easy for me. So few today are will to help others, with out being paid. I do not have a couple of hundred to pay someone, then repair the floor in the shed. I had one idea of just putting the supper in the shed over the floor, over a nice big hole,

that they will just move in. In fact that is what I may try to do. Then harvest a couple of queen cells from S.

Those bees are probably quite happy under the floor of your shed and are not likely to just pick up and move into a super unless you capture their queen and put her in it first, then the bees will go where she goes. Or unless they swarm and see your super as a handy new home. But if they swarm, the original bees or a part thereof are still under your shed floor. Swarming is bee hive reproduction so to speak. Just saying....

 

[flower]

Elm? Not known for seedling that I ever heard of. We've had one for years and never had a volunteer from it. THe African sumac, on the other hand....

I was doubtful with regards to type of tree but I have done research and it is indeed ELM and up here in the temperate climate of Wild Winslow they seed themselves all over as a weed. I need to remove a few from sitting just under the fence. However they are relatively easy to dig up. As far as a Mulberry being considered a water "hog" ...........After it becomes established, the roots are deep enough it become self sufficient and finds it own source of water. Certainly if water is supplied most plants will benefit and grow larger. I have an Aborvita that has not been watered for five years and it is doing fine.


"The Elm may be one of the most well-known trees on the planet, but not very many people realize that the perennial has an interesting past. Some intriguing facts about the Elm include:

• The first Elm tree sprouted up more than 20 million years ago during the Miocene period.
• The American Elm's nickname is "Lady in the Forest."
  The cooling effect of one Elm tree planted in an urban environment is equivalent to five air conditioning units.
• The Iroquois used to live off Elm trees. In addition to making canoes, ropes and utensils from the tree's wood, they would also use the bark to fuel fires and craft clothing.
• Norwegians survived on Elm bark strips during the famine of 1812. Residents would cut the bark into strips and boil them before consuming it and the tree's seeds.

People in Ancient Greece also coveted Elm wood to manufacture chariots, while the Romans used the trees to support vines in burgeoning vineyards."

 

[MaddBaggins]

A little video of Buttons feet. She stumbles and steps on her own feet. Her toes often end up curled one way or another and she doesn't shift her feet to fix it.
I think her time is coming this weekend unless she shows serious improvement.

Any ideas what this is all about?

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

A little video of Buttons feet. She stumbles and steps on her own feet. Her toes often end up curled one way or another and she doesn't shift her feet to fix it.
I think her time is coming this weekend unless she shows serious improvement.

Any ideas what this is all about?

Poor Button. I hope she gets well. I had a BSL named Millie who went to Rainbow Bridge last year.

http://poultrykeeper.com/skeletal-and-muscular-disorders/curled-toes

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/712835/does-my-pullet-have-mareks...the pullet had her poop tested for worms and cocci and it ended up to be cocci and she was treated for that.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Desertmarcy. You are correct. After I get my shed cleaned out, and I put a supper over a hole in the floor, I will have to wait. Eventually they will find the sugar water offering in the top part. I will start with on supper and 8 starter frames, when they start to move in I will add the second supper. When I find a queen has moved in or my nephews hive has queen cells, I will harvest a couple of them. By then I should know what I am doing and I will tweak my plan. It will work, if you are willing to take the time. The part I will not like is killing the original hive and removing all the comb. All of that will have to be done in one day, I think. The time of year I think is important. I will learn when it is best to remove my new hive. Right now I am guesting winter or early spring to remove an active hive to the out side. And they are very happy under my shed. I am not happy, but they are harmless and I have time.

Maddbaggens She looks like she has broken claws, she has no control. I do not think you can put a chicken foot in a cast, amputation is not a solution for just to many reasons. the dear little thing, if only I could help her.

 

[countrygirl74]

Poor Button. I hope she gets well. I had a BSL named Millie who went to Rainbow Bridge last year.

http://poultrykeeper.com/skeletal-and-muscular-disorders/curled-toes

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/712835/does-my-pullet-have-mareks...the pullet had her poop tested for worms and cocci and it ended up to be cocci and she was treated for that.

That was a great link on curled toes... that's one reason why I suggested the extra vitamins and the raw liver - the question is whether or not it's too late...

MaddBaggins - can you send me a link to that video that I can share with some experienced friends? Also, give me the background on Buttons again - have you always noticed something wrong with her feet? When did it start? Any other signs or symptoms? What have you fed her in the past, etc? What have you added to her diet that might help increase her riboflavin? (I know you said you were doing the polyvisol, just wondering if you've added anything else) Thanks!! I will get you some information that can help you make a final decision.

 

[Arizonachicken]

Hope this doesn't end up as a double post! Anyway, we welcomed our new baby girl into the world on April 25 at 0320!

And on a chicken related note...family reports 7/8 eggs have hatched under my broody and the 8th has a pip! What a week!