Arizona Chickens

[Arizona Son]

Arizona Son, how are the chicks doing? Have you been able to sex the marans or RIRs yet? From the batch you got from me, I kept one black copper marans, 2 cuckoo marans, and 1 RIR. I still can't tell if they are pullets or cockerels, though I think the black marans is a pullet. Should be clear soon enough, I guess. Have you noticed the black copper marans struggling with the heat, more so than the other chickens? Mine seems to--she's the only one I'm worried about making it through the summer.

They are doing great.

One of the cuckoo marans is literally twice the size of all the other chicks, it is growing like crazy for some reason! I really hope that one is a pullet! No, i've not been able to tell if they are pullets or cockerels yet, I need more experience in that department. I havent had any heat related problems with them or any of my birds really. I keep a sprinkler & a mister going full time in my fenced yard during daylight hours in this heat. Some the birds enjoy simply standing in the dampened edges of the sprinklers reach. Other birds actually enjoy standing in the path of the sprinkler & getting soaked - doesnt faze them at all as they search for edible tidbits in the wet ground. The Cochins & the EE's are the hardcore foragers who enjoy/tolerate being wet from the sprinklers.

 

[jbolt]

Hello, anyone interested in some juvenile chicks hatched from fertile trader joes eggs? 2 cockerels 1 pullet, about 7 weeks old. They are commercial leghorn hybrids, and will contribute huge egg laying abilities. Cockerels are 5$ each, and pullet is 8$. I'd like to sell them as a trio if possible, and will take 15 for the three. Please pm me for pics

 

[kevs-chickadees]

I've asked a few times (in other forums) about our waterer. We have the galvanized can that was given to us by the previous owners when we adopted the chickens. I'm noticing a shiny film on the water after a day or two. We were keeping the waterer on the ground like this first picture but then raised it off the ground (as part of the chicken projects we did a couple weeks ago) like it is in the second picture. I'm not noticing the film as quickly as I did when it was on the ground, but it does still show up 4-5 days later. I also am noticing quite a bit of rust in the water. Is it time to replace the waterer or is there a way to fix this problem or is it just something we as BYC owners in Az have to deal with? I figured maybe some of my Arizona BYC peeps would have a better answer for me.

Personally I'm not a fan of galvanized anything especially when mixed with water. If you were to switch to a plastic container you could add the organic ACV that would help with the slime and aid in the overall health of the chickens. Don't know if your interested in buying one or a lot of others have made them from the 5 gallon buckets you get at the big box home improvement stores.

 

[MaddBaggins]

Don't stress the thin egg. Sometimes, it just happens. From my reading recently, it appears that it occurs more often during summer, where they are all hotter. The temperatures have added enough extra stress to their poor little bodies that things just don't come out right sometimes. I've had my first two soft-shelled eggs this month as well, and my girls are all fed very well, too.

How many hens versus eggs do you have every day? The last week, I've been getting a single egg out of my two layers, except yesterday. The hen we had to break of being broody hasn't started laying again, so we're down that egg as well. It's been my lowest collection week since our girls started laying.

Right now, I'm averaging egg per day. I have 7 hens at almost 20 weeks and 1 at almost 18 weeks. There have been 2 one day then 0 the next a couple times. Now this soft one. Leads me to believe I have 3 layers at this point.

 

[MaddBaggins]

Just caught a monster sized grasshopper. Dude is huge! I have it put away until morning. The girls are in for a treat.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Hey all - was on vaca for a few days and finally caught up on the posts here.

Regarding our Olive Egger. She only lays one egg a week. Initially I thought it
was because she was just starting out. We have had her (and our other 2) since
Oct. The other two are RIR and BA. Each lay approx 5 or 6 eggs a week.

Is there anything I need to be concerned about with the Olive Egger? Her
behaviors appear normal in every way. Her shells on the eggs she does lay
are thinner than the other hens (all on the same feed). Her eggs are also odd
shaped. More long and skinny than oval. Let me know what you think please.

 

[countrygirl74]

I don't know what to say about all the egg slackers...

I know I'm not quite as hot up here as you guys down south but it's still been high 90's, almost 100 for days...

I am still getting an egg every day from every single one of my big girls. My new pullets aren't old enough to lay yet. I get 5 eggs every day, 1 each from the following breeds:
RIR - brown
2 Barred Rocks - light brown
EE - green (every once in a while, maybe 1x a week, she doesn't lay)
White Silkie - creamy white (today she gave me 2!)

I got a bunch of new pullets to help when my others might slack off during hot summers or cold winters but geesh, these girls aren't taking any breaks yet! I am overrun with eggs! Need to start selling!

 

[Arizona Son]

Just caught a monster sized grasshopper. Dude is huge! I have it put away until morning. The girls are in for a treat.

take a pic of it (if you can), next to something so we can see its size. Or maybe grab video when you release it & the chickens hunt it down?

 

[MagicChicken]

I've asked a few times (in other forums) about our waterer. We have the galvanized can that was given to us by the previous owners when we adopted the chickens. I'm noticing a shiny film on the water after a day or two. We were keeping the waterer on the ground like this first picture but then raised it off the ground (as part of the chicken projects we did a couple weeks ago) like it is in the second picture. I'm not noticing the film as quickly as I did when it was on the ground, but it does still show up 4-5 days later. I also am noticing quite a bit of rust in the water. Is it time to replace the waterer or is there a way to fix this problem or is it just something we as BYC owners in Az have to deal with? I figured maybe some of my Arizona BYC peeps would have a better answer for me.

Not sure what's up with your waterer. I've got two and have never had a problem with either one. I dump the water out of the base to swish the dirt and crud out and let it refill with clean water a couple of times a day. I haven't had rust issues, either. My birds go through most of the water in 2-3 days. Sounds like your waterer may be on the large side for the number of birds you have. Could be all you need to do is swish the waterer out more often.

It looks like your waterer is close to ground level. I elevate mine so the water level is about the same height as my birds' backs. It is sitting on a concrete block to keep it above the litter. The elevation helps keep some of the grunge out of it.

 

[cbnovick]

Hi all,

Thus far my 2 hens ( 15 months-standard bred good shepherd barred rocks) and 2 Super Blue Egg Layer pullets ( 6 months old- hybrid cross from true ameraucana and white production leghorn) are still laying almost daily...averaging 3 a day from 4. the eggs are nice sized and excellent quality...so, I suppose they are being real troopers with the heat and all...they may slow up some by late July though I figure...cumulative heat stress by then...i believe lots of fresh spinach, meal worms plus quality organic grower mash and being on a good wormer regimen 3 times yearly I think is tilting the scale in my favor. who knows? sticking with it though

what a difference the misters make and frozen 16 oz plastic water bottles in their water buckets make for their comfort in this Hell's Kitchen Heat!

New Chick report:
I hatched some english blue and some chocolate orpingtons today....adorable! a few real nice quality Buff Orps hatching Friday....Buff Rocks in 9 days...I have the new hatchlings in my garage...no brooder light from mid morning until 10pm...my garage stays around 97-100 mid late afternoons....if it gets over 100, I turn the fan on to take a few degrees off and add ventilation...wierd brooding chicks without a heat lamp...they have a 125 watt on at night...

I will try to post some pics of them tomorrow or Friday...figure everyone enjoys chick pics!!!

Hitting the proverbial sack now...Peace Out, Cindy