Arizona Chickens

[rufus]

The desert tortoises here in Arizona actually adopt people. We used to get them in our yards because we had lots of green vegetation like nasturtlums and zinnas. They love things like apple cores, peaches and apricots.

Unfortunately, they acquire human problems like microbes and viruses. I guess they get contaminated by living with us. You are not supposed to return them to the wild. I suspect the answer is to not get too personal with them. Don't be picking them up, and don't give them apple cores or any fruit that has been chewed on by humans.

I see Pratt's have those huge tortoises for sale again. I have to wonder where they get them?

My neighbor's daughter is having her quincenera tomorrow. All of the young kids in the neighborhood have been practicing for weeks for it. It is going to be quite the affair. They are slaughtering two large goats right now. Hmmm. Cabrito al pastor.

I bet they are going to have some good music for it also. It will be a real fiesta that she will remember for the rest of her life.

My chickens are giving me about eight or nine eggs a day. I have ten hens, but so far I haven't had a ten egg day. I always seem to have a slacker.

When I get too many in the fridge, I pass off a couple of dozen to my neighbor. That makes sure they don't rat me out to the city.

My son hatched out a little giant full of eggs for a friend of his. Almost all of them hatched. His friend is Chinese, and they like to butcher their own chickens and cook them in their own way.

We put out the bottle fly traps today. We probably should have done that a couple of weeks ago. No sooner were they set out than they were covered with flies. My son thinks we are drawing other people's flies to our backyard with the traps. I don't care; I will kill anyone's flies.

Those traps are purely putrid, but they do the job.

Rufus

PS. Has anyone seen the new Vietnamese Catholic church on west Northern Avenue? It is a sight to behold.

 

[redrocketrooster]

Pratts buys their animals from local breeders without asking questions. Tortises are bought just hatched or bought cheap when older and sold at a 40% higher rate. I would never buy an animal Pratts. I went there once and noticed the rabbits had ringworm, the hamsters were ripped bloody from fighting each other and the chinchillas were eating bird seeds. The animals are highly overpriced as well. Pratts is a perfect example of pet stores that should be shut down for neglect

 

[rufus]

Pratt's has a long history in the valley. They used to be a farm supply and feed operation. You could buy all sorts of equipment there. After the old folks died, things changed. They are more into the pet trade.

They resell "rescued" animals. Pratt's is where people take their animals and poultry when the city catches them running an illegal operation like I do. As a result, not all of the animals are in top shape. It isn't like they have a regular supplier that can control quality. It is a "Buyer beware" situation.

If the animal is on consignment, the original seller sets the price.

If you can cure ringworm in rabbits, it is better than putting the animal down.

Rufus

 

[redrocketrooster]

Quote:
I've heard before they used to be different and managed feed and farm more so than animals. Wish I had seen the store before it changed, I'm sure it was nice. I know some of the pets they take in are consignment however the last time I was there it seemed they were able to play with prices at will with most animals. I remember clearly they had two large tortoises in a kiddy pool and the store employee was haggling with the buyer. I always find it fun to be able haggle with prices haha.

To have an animal with RINGWORM crowded into a feed bin and not warning customers to not touch them is sickly! I confronted the "rabbit" expert in the store with my concerns and they rudely retorted "Ringworm isn't deadly and it goes away on it's own. THEY ARE FINE.". In rabbits ringworm is sometimes hard to cure and it's not uncommon that it cannot be. I dealt with ringworm for half a year on my arms, it was terrible and became expensive when I didn't respond to the usual medications.

I just find that really wrong and disturbing, like you said it is a buyer beware.

UH UH. I don't want to be a downer for this thread! Quickly now, post away my post!

 

[smjacob]

Quote:
In the desert tortoises pretty well actually as backyard pets.

My old neighbor had about two to three of them but they can live to 80. It's not an uncommon pet and once you have the water areas built for them and a hotter place for winter they thrive and tame easily. They also sell for quite a bit which pays for their "rent".

:3~

I have native desert tortoises in my backyard. They are protected. You can't sell them and you shouldn't breed them.
They are fun pets and just when you get tired of feeding them they "go away" for the winter.

I actually just got an email today from AZ Game and Fish that they are looking for homes for desert tortoises. I know the people on BYC would be a great home for a desert tortoise.

The current economic crisis hasn’t only taken a toll on people, but on wildlife too. The number of relinquished desert tortoises has grown, and now the Arizona Game and Fish Department is looking for good, approved homes for these fun family pets.

Here's a link in case you are interested...
http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/captive_tortoise_care.shtml

Would love some desert tortoises My dad has one and I love them!! I must go see what they require

Shaun

 

[gckiddhouse]

Macmamma - gorgeous pic! Look at those eyes!

About dogs - we have a labradoodle who is great with the chickens. We just taught him that they are part of our "pack" and he is fine with them. Dogs are pack animals and don't hurt those in their "pack". He is a bird dog and will chase and kill the birds in our yard and the rabbits, too, if he could catch them, but he understands that the chickens are not the same. He does find it amusing to run past them and see them flap and cackle. He used to spar with our old rooster and that was hilarious, but he can't get any of the new chickens to play with him like that.

I will have to think about a tortoise. We have the perfect yard for that. It's a big commitment, though.

Noskivees! Cute chicks!!

Laree, wish I could help you, and I even have an open incubator as of Tuesday/Wednesday-ish, but my hatch rate disqualifies me. I think it is my incubator. Another BYCer says she had terrible hatch rates in one like mine because the styrofoam isn't thick enough and it doesn't hold temps well. That would explain the hot and cold spots in there. You are welcome to it for your hatch, but you may want to wrap it or put it inside of something else to insulate it. Or you can borrow the parts. Whatever. Let me know. Too bad your broodies got chicks, they would do a great job!

We are in lockdown! Chicks dues on Monday night, Tuesday morning. We took out all the quitters last night. There are 10 in the bator that we think are good candidates. The broody is out there on her 12. She kicked 2 more out the other day. I brought them in and cracked them open. They were both clear. How does she know??????

I guess she knows when lock down is, too. She is amazing to me.

Have I mentioned how much I

broody hens!?

 

[rainnotebook]

Hi everyone! My name is Deborah, I'm not new to BYC but I am new to this thread.

I'm in Payson AZ and I thought I'd join the AZ thread. I have 12 assorted adult chickens and just got my first set of chicks. I've only had chickens for a couple months now but I'm loving it. I'm the kind of person that brings my favorites inside to hang out with us and I'm always holding someone.

 

[gckiddhouse]

So, Shaun, and anyone else who is interested. I decided not to clutter our thread with too many pics of our set up. I created a BYC page. So click on My BYC page and the page is called Chook Nook! You can see our whole magilah there.

Welcome Deborah!!!

 

[redrocketrooster]

gckiddhouse, try covering the walls and sides (outside) with aluminum foil. You have to be sure to seal it well with duct tape or so on, it works for me when my reptile cages are loosing heat.
PS: I don't know the effect of covering it on the inside, it might do nothing or it might bake them. Good luck!

My old neighbor used to warn us that one of the tortoises like eating shoe laces and would try to get them at any cost haha. One year she painted their shells (animal safe) for Valentines Day. Truly a lot of fun to live across from her haha.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

I don't know if this person is a member of the forum or not but I thought I would pass on the info.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/grd/1685874168.html