Arizona Chickens

[Mama Hen Chris]

What do you all think about this little one. I do know it has silkie in it as it has the 5 toes and black skin. I was told the daddy is a Polish. I think it has Serama in it? It is still a little thing.








Pastrymama:

Here are the 2 silkie babies I got from you. They are 3 weeks old. They enjoyed being outside today and hung with Gretchen.
The white one is looking like a splash or paint?

 

[Demosthine]

It's not basil. I've not grown peppers in my front yard before. I think the chances are slim it's a volunteer pepper, but that would be really cool! It came up in the gravel and is apparently VERY drought tolerant.

I have no idea what it would be, but in my yard, it could be any type of volunteer! I through out seeds from anything I have from dinner. The other night was tomatoes, but last night was green and red bell pepper.


On a similar note, I received my AquaFarm about a week ago and promptly put three zebra snails and a blue veiltale betta in the tank. I added basil, a mixture of lettuce and wheatgrass to three of the five grow baskets. It's been a week and the wheatgrass is at least six inches. I never expected it to grow this fast. I've had to start rotating the basket around so the roots wrap around the basket instead of causing a flow issue for the water. The basil and lettuce has a few sprouts as well. This is really exciting so far! I keep meaning to get some pictures, but I forget. I'm thinking about picking up some mint today and adding that as well.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Beginning egg laying can produce some dramatically different results from the same girl. Once she has gotten it down pat, the uniformity will be more significant, but it is still possible to have an egg that is different every now and again.

 

[Demosthine]

After the order this month from the food co-op, I noticed my fermented feed started having a different smell to it. It wasn't a foul or bad smell to make me really worried, but it was different. It looked perfectly fine, had the regular gray film on top of it and the chickens absolutely devour it, just like their old feed. A post today in the Fermented Feed thread tipped me off. It's probably the added fishmeal that is in the organic feed. Like I said, it isn't strong or foul smelling, it just smells different.

Oh, and I'm absolutely loving the organic mash. Unlike the commercial feed, this has more of a crumbles texture to it. The commercial crumbles just turned into the consistency of severely overcooked oatmeal or rice. Think of rice pudding. It was clogging the drain holes and took significantly longer to drain. The organic mash, though, is more of a millet type consistency. You can see and identify parts of the separate grains and such that they use, too. It's definitely been a winning situation here.

 

[GreatWhiteAfro]

That's what my one new layer does.  Todays egg is small, yesterdays was much bigger, tomorrow who knows.  I found that her bigger ones are usually double-yokers (which explains the bigger size).  It is quite normal for a new layer to lay different size, color, and shaped eggs when she is just starting out laying.

Guess what? .......Chicken butt! Sorry couldn't resist....anywho, that bigger egg was a double yolker, cooked it over easy for my daughter.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

for those who have broodys I have Fertilized eggs, blue and brown PM me will give address
I'm in Peoria area near Sun City. In two days they go in frig and then my stomach.

 

[cbnovick]

Yeah! Good going! How many did you start with, 18? Anything better than 50% on shipped eggs is said to be good. Can't wait to see pics and how they grow out.

Marcia, I started with 18 and went to 12 by day 18...11 hatched out....the 12th had not turned to pip--huge chick...what a shame...but it happens.
So, 61% was my hatch percentage...I am pleased with that being all the way from VA and it being so darn hot here in AZ for the trip here and also for the incubation period.
I will try to post pics this weekend...they are almost 'fluffed out' in the brooder today. Very nice looking big chicks with big feet...lots of buff golden down on 'em too!

they'll brood in my garage where I can control temps better for at least 2-3 weeks.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

more on "de eggs" they are mixed farm yard. EE's, Barred Rocks, and mixed hens/pullets, 2 Roos 1 RIR and 1 good sized while leghorn. See picture of eggs, I have some that are dirty.

Do not know if I wash them if they will hatch. May wash them, boil & mash them and give then to my girls. They are from a Wittmann back yard chickens they looked healthy and active. We're laid after last pick up of eggs was about 5 PM (1700) Friday and this morning before 12:30 noon.

.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Cheaper then a camera is a motion detector and door alarm you can get at home depot and hardware stores. I would and plan to put battery operated motion detectors in my back yard, one bear the gate to the back yard. The others (right now I think 3 will cover everything) in my yard low, about 18" for coyotes over the The wall. And a battery operated door alarm for the chicken yard door. I think I paid a few years ago less the $15.00 each item. It is worth the peace of mind. The door alarm goes off at the door. The motion detectors go off in the house, who are what may not even know they set off an alarm. I have a camera to my home security system but it only records if I open my back/front doors and has limited viewing.

My nephew has several at his place. You know when anyone/thing is in 20' of the place, different rings for each one. Much more expensive.

 

[desertmarcy]

It's not basil. I've not grown peppers in my front yard before. I think the chances are slim it's a volunteer pepper, but that would be really cool! It came up in the gravel and is apparently VERY drought tolerant.

It sure looks like a pepper. Do any of your neighbors have the native chiltepine pepper growing in their yard? I started with one plant and now it is all over the yard. I don't eat the tiny peppers because they are too hot for me but the wild birds love them and I find it sprouting anywhere it gets a little extra water, and yes they are a native pepper and very drought tolerant. They will look awful and stressed if not enough water, but come right back. I have one that is at least 8' high, it is growing under an Arborvitae tree and using the branches of the tree for support and the top is way over my head, it is pretty cool. So maybe that is what it is.