Arizona Chickens

[pipemum]

Oh, wanted to mention something slightly odd in the coop this morning. A couple of weeks ago, maybe just last week, I posted for ideas on how to hang a calcium source? Well, that evening, I took a little plastic bowl and drilled it into the side of the coop so that my hens had access to calcium. In my case, it's been crushed egg shells. Yesterday I added a small handful to the bowl, and today the bowl was completely empty. It's barely been touched in the weeks it's been available. Did one of the hens discover it and decide to gorge on crushed egg shells? I didn't see any pieces scattered around, but it'd be hard to notice the small pieces in the sand and litter. It's also about a foot up, so I suppose they could beak it out, but they aren't about to scratch it out. All in all, I think there was about a 1/4 cup of crushed shells in the bowl. Is it normal for chickens to go through that much of a calcium supplement in such a short time?

 

[Demosthine]

Quote:
They are called Skin Suits on Target's website and they are listed for $30 there, but my local store had it as a clearance item. Men's Skin Suit Costume Green P.S. I really hate Internet Explorer these days. Nothing works right and the Editor that loads is strictly text. Ugh. Stupid Microsoft is messing all their products up so bad nowadays!

 

[pipemum]

Ah, the men's section! Thank you!!

oh em gee, my Target has them in stock! The adventure begins.

Now, I have to plan a time when I'll be home without my daughter and husband around (that's like, never). I'll get in the suit and wait for them to come home. I'll strike one of the poses of the dudes Dem posted a few pages back. I hope my husband doesn't tackle me, or hit me with a frying pan. I'll have to have cameras put somewhere to record their reaction. Or, better yet, when we all come home from work/school together, I'll go change out of my work clothes and into the bodysuit. Totally nonchalantly, water the garden, feed the chickens, start some dinner.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Ah, the men's section! Thank you!!

oh em gee, my Target has them in stock! The adventure begins.

Now, I have to plan a time when I'll be home without my daughter and husband around (that's like, never). I'll get in the suit and wait for them to come home. I'll strike one of the poses of the dudes Dem posted a few pages back. I hope my husband doesn't tackle me, or hit me with a frying pan. I'll have to have cameras put somewhere to record their reaction. Or, better yet, when we all come home from work/school together, I'll go change out of my work clothes and into the bodysuit. Totally nonchalantly, water the garden, feed the chickens, start some dinner.

I can't wait to hear how this plays out.

Although, putting myself into your husband's place, I do have a small bit of concern for you.

 

[pipemum]

I can't wait to hear how this plays out.

Although, putting myself into your husband's place, I do have a small bit of concern for you.

My husband and I work for different organizations, but we're both in the same building...I just saw him for break and I was so excited I'm almost spilled the skin suit secret.

 

[Angelray]

Ha ha I don't know but they have always been that way with treats. So many times I've thought I've been doing something so nice by cutting up something special just for them to refuse it. They don't like any greens, they don't like tomatoes except for Phillie who will only eat the perfect ones right off the plants, they only like banana if it's in solid form, they won't eat it mushed up, they wouldn't even eat tuna when I tried to give it to them it because I wanted Phil to get some extra protein when she had her limp. I'm pretty sure they know they're Snobsdale chickens, that's why they're squawky spoiled brats who think it's ok to screech any time they're not getting their way. That's why I go all Paris Hilton on their snobby butts and greet them with "Hi little b*t*hes" instead of something much nicer. 

LMBO! That's great!

 

[Ivytwilight]

That is so
that is horrible, sorry

I'm in tucson and could use it, I'm way over in marana/picture rocks though - where are you?

Heidisue, you aren't too terribly far from us. We are in the Ajo/Kinney area. If you want it, it is yours to have! I will PM you and if that doesn't work you can always email me at [email protected].

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Leaf cutter control, I'm cutting and pasting info as I find it below, various online sources:
Quote:

Other suggestions online include boric acid, DE, boiling water, orange oil. The ants in the wash, I'm going to treat with boiling water. Apparently Texas has a big problem with leaf cutters, with huge colonies--the area they excavate to for their fungi garden can be huge enough where a collapse can cause cracks in house foundations, livestock can fall in, etc. I'm going to use Amdro Block on the outside of my fence line, and with my neighbor's okay, along his wall too. Next spring when they start to emerge, I'm going to have less hand-wringing and more action right away.

Just imagine the volume of space they must excavate! I saw colonies of leaf cutters in Central and South America that had sand mounds larger than my house, no kidding. I'm going out right now to hit them with Orange Guard.

 

[FeatherPugs]

Ah, the men's section! Thank you!!

oh em gee, my Target has them in stock! The adventure begins.

Now, I have to plan a time when I'll be home without my daughter and husband around (that's like, never). I'll get in the suit and wait for them to come home. I'll strike one of the poses of the dudes Dem posted a few pages back. I hope my husband doesn't tackle me, or hit me with a frying pan. I'll have to have cameras put somewhere to record their reaction. Or, better yet, when we all come home from work/school together, I'll go change out of my work clothes and into the bodysuit. Totally nonchalantly, water the garden, feed the chickens, start some dinner.

Oh to be a fly on your wall!!!

 

[FeatherPugs]

Last Wednesday night a critter of some sort, I am assuming a coyote, jumped our 8 foot brick wall, and broke in the door to our chicken run, eating all of our small backyard flock. All that was left when I went to give them their morning treats was four piles of feathers and half a wing.

I recount this sad tale because only a few days before we had purchased a 50 pound bag of Arizona Feeds Country Store's brand of layer crumbles. I have more than half the bag left and no plans to purchase more chickens until we build a chicken fortress instead of a chicken run. That will not be for some time. I would hate to see all the feed go to waste and was wondering if anyone in the Tucson area would have any use for it, or know of anyone that might welcome some free feed. You can PM if you like and thank you in advance.

So sorry this happened. This is one of my biggest fears since we live with the coyotes too! While I thought my coop and run were wonderful my time-out pen was not and a coyote pushed the door in and got one of our turkeys - I have since shored up anything I think could be breeched! You become totally freaked out when this happens. Have fun at the holidays and here's to a fruitful new coop and run that will be critter proof!