Arizona Chickens

[LadyKotaDoria]

I've been checking on my girls, the mister broke, all are doing OK, Trying to stay in the shade, panting away. Except for one, Picker, she was standing under the sprinkler. I went to get my camera/IPhone, she moved. But you can see she isn't panting, and she is wet.

chickens are constantly surprising me, they are not that dumb.

 

[Arizonachicken]

Here's a good example of one hen laying different eggs:

 

[City farm]

I think one of our New Hampshires started laying. I found a smaller egg in the nesting box yesterday that has completely different coloring than any other egg we have. What do you experts think?

Wow beautiful!! Normally you can tell what hen by her bottom & red comb/waddle.. Now I want to add that egg to my LIST! Uhhh..
We already have to many.. Legally.. Lucky for us the neighbors love the eggs & don't mind Kent crowing in the wee hours..

 

[City farm]

Yeah hubby

We have only 3 back yard chickens right now.  RIR, Black Australorp and Olive Egger.  Olive Egger is a real slacker but nice eye candy and pretty comical to watch so she's safe for now.  My DH pampers them more than me.   .  He wanted nothing to do with them.  When they started laying eggs and following him around the yard, his feelings changed dramatically.  He calls them the girls now and asks me about them daily.  I love this chapter in our lives. I would love to have more but don't want to crowd my girls.  That means building another tractor or actual coop and in 113 degree weather, I'm not even sold on that.  We'll have to see what the cooler weather brings.  Definitely going to get more meaties in the fall.  Likely going to try the red ones.  Can't remember the name right now. 

WOW, you have restraint.. ONLY ! 3!...

 

[City farm]

I've been checking on my girls, the mister broke, all are doing OK, Trying to stay in the shade, panting away. Except for one, Picker, she was standing under the sprinkler. I went to get my camera/IPhone, she moved. But you can see she isn't panting, and she is wet.

chickens are constantly surprising me, they are not that dumb.

Girl, love your photos & comments..

 

[Demosthine]

Ok, so I have a bit of a quandary. Someone on the ABF page mentioned wood ash isn't good for them to eat, but I seem to recall an article or two saying it's safe and has similar affects to DE. But now I can't find it.

I go back to my regular rules with chickens. They know more about their needs than we do. Ash contains a large amount of minerals, especially calcium carbonate. Minerals do not burn the same way the organic material does. They require higher temperatures, which is why bones and teeth remain after a body is burned.

I do want to stress, though, that we are talking about good, clean wood. Adding contaminates like newspaper and such changes things significantly!

 

[City farm]

Here's a good example of one hen laying different eggs:

I know I should not get all caught up in egg COLOR, BUT. I am.. What hen is laying your speckled one?

 

[Arizonachicken]

city: all three of those eggs were laid by my Blue Marans. She occasionally lays a speckled egg.

 

[City farm]

Ok, so I have a bit of a quandary. Someone on the ABF page mentioned wood ash isn't good for them to eat, but I seem to recall an article or two saying it's safe and has similar affects to DE. But now I can't find it.

I go back to my regular rules with chickens. They know more about their needs than we do. Ash contains a large amount of minerals, especially calcium carbonate. Minerals do not burn the same way the organic material does. They require higher temperatures, which is why bones and teeth remain after a body is burned.

I do want to stress, though, that we are talking about good, clean wood. Adding contaminates like newspaper and such changes things significantly!

I hope you find the article.. However, they could be talking about it being contaminated..

 

[Demosthine]

I hope you find the article.. However, they could be talking about it being contaminated..

That was one thing I made sure to stipulate. Good quality, clean hardwoods.

My post:
I completely disagree, Colleen. Good, high quality charcoal and ash has several benefits including the fact that it binds to toxins in the body and helps flush them out. It also contains inorganic trace minerals, especially calcium carbonate, that are not burned off.

Also remember that they sell charcoal pills for human consumption. It is burned in a chamber with special gases that effect its porous qualities in order to maximize toxin absorption.

I stress that high quality wood is required, such as the hardwoods like maple or oak. Just like providing free-choice calcium, the animals will eat only what they need. Any wood that is painted, stained or treated is NOT good for them to ingest.