Arizona Chickens

[Chickeneggineer]

RockNSuccess, where did you order you Lav Orp eggs from? My daughter is begging for some to add to the flock.

 

[Demosthine]

Quote:
Interestingly enough, most anyone here more than a month knows about this because we discuss it fairly regularly... (Sorry, Internet Explorer doesn't let me do those fancy smileys...) Yeah, that sounded too harsh. Sorry about that!
There are quite a few of us, both here in Phoenix and Tucson that order every time. They deliver every two months and you'll get the EMail with the order form about the three to four weeks before the delivery. Make sure you keep track of what you ordered, because you won't get a confirmation back. There is supposedly a copy of the order sheet at the delivery site, but I didn't find one last time I went. Also, get with people in your area. There are three of us in my area that share the duties and alternate picking up the loads. I'm in the Northwest Valley, so hit me up you want in on it. This coming cycle is not mine, but we'll get you in on the group if you want.
Yes, the feed is absolutely great and it's amazing that it can be cheaper than the junk at the local pet store even. I ferment ours as well and the flock absolutely devours it. Heck, even the rabbits are getting in to the fermented feed rather than their pellets. Do NOT use the order form that LadyKotaDoria posted, however. He sends a new order form out ever cycle. If you notice the information on the form she linked you too, it references the old due date in November and the December delivery period. That'll give you a great idea of what is available and what the prices are, though. As you scroll down, you'll notice all the human-consumable products also.
If you want to get in on the fermenting, pop over to the Fermented Feed for Meat Birds thread. It's the same exact thing used for laying hens, turkeys, etc, so don't worry about the title. To be quite honest, it's more of a discussion on absolutely everything, much like this Arizona thread. I can't keep up anymore, but the information is great. Alternately, you can check out Natural Chicken Keeping's blog about it as well. Hers has more information compressed in to a small three-part series. After doing it this last year, I can never, ever go back to the dry feed. It's just that much of a difference.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I wonder about grit. I talked a couple months or so ago about whether they need commercial grit and someone answered that they were a sucker, bought it and it is basically sand you can dig out of your nearby wash. My coop and small run are bed with construction sand, super course and the type you lay for putting down flagstone. I have a huge pile on my back lot left over from a patio project. I have never had crop problems with my young flock. I feed fermented and it seems that they peck at the sand in the coop. Plus whenever they get a treat (rare) apples or squash, it also gets covered in the coop sand so they eat it. When they are out and forage through my grass, weeds, rocks and dirt (desert landscape) I have come to the conclusion that they get enough sand, rocks, dirt to digest the crop. I got slammed on another thread that I didn't offer commercial grit as chickens NEED it, grit is their teeth! I understand the concept but what are all your thoughts about my chicks finding and getting all the grit they need from their bedding and the yard vs. buying commercial and having it readily available?

Your conclusion is correct. The thing is, some people have a hard time understanding (or remembering) that not everyone raises chickens in the conditions they experience in their own back yards. There are places and rearing conditions out there where it would be critical to bring in grit (e.g. if you lived in a Mississippi basin floodplain), but AZ is usually not one of those places. Plenty of grit we got. If you raised birds for many years in the same run, with hard compacted soil and no free-range access, it might be necessary to add grit.

 

[RockNSuccess]

RockNSuccess, where did you order you Lav Orp eggs from? My daughter is begging for some to add to the flock.

Chickneggineer~I got mine from chickenscratchpoultry. However, and no disrespect intended, I wasn't crazy about the way they were packaged. I am a little bit surprised any of them made it to the stage they have. I know there is a lady on BYC who is shipping right now. I don't recall her moniker, but if you go to the For Sale page and search for Lavender Orpingtons, you should be able to find her. I also have an order with papaspoultry at papaspoultry.com. He has a lot of the fancy colored Orps that I want to add to my flock. He has a great selection overall and seems to be a responsible breeder. Any opinions on that are welcome since I don't yet have any personal experience.

 

[RockNSuccess]

Chickneggineer~I got mine from chickenscratchpoultry. However, and no disrespect intended, I wasn't crazy about the way they were packaged. I am a little bit surprised any of them made it to the stage they have. I know there is a lady on BYC who is shipping right now. I don't recall her moniker, but if you go to the For Sale page and search for Lavender Orpingtons, you should be able to find her. I also have an order with papaspoultry at papaspoultry.com. He has a lot of the fancy colored Orps that I want to add to my flock. He has a great selection overall and seems to be a responsible breeder. Any opinions on that are welcome since I don't yet have any personal experience.

Chickneggineer~the ad on the sale page is under Bargain. It is The Garry Farm. You should be able to get some from her pretty quickly.

 

[RockNSuccess]

Quote:
Interestingly enough, most anyone here more than a month knows about this because we discuss it fairly regularly... (Sorry, Internet Explorer doesn't let me do those fancy smileys...) Yeah, that sounded too harsh. Sorry about that!
There are quite a few of us, both here in Phoenix and Tucson that order every time. They deliver every two months and you'll get the EMail with the order form about the three to four weeks before the delivery. Make sure you keep track of what you ordered, because you won't get a confirmation back. There is supposedly a copy of the order sheet at the delivery site, but I didn't find one last time I went. Also, get with people in your area. There are three of us in my area that share the duties and alternate picking up the loads. I'm in the Northwest Valley, so hit me up you want in on it. This coming cycle is not mine, but we'll get you in on the group if you want.
Yes, the feed is absolutely great and it's amazing that it can be cheaper than the junk at the local pet store even. I ferment ours as well and the flock absolutely devours it. Heck, even the rabbits are getting in to the fermented feed rather than their pellets. Do NOT use the order form that LadyKotaDoria posted, however. He sends a new order form out ever cycle. If you notice the information on the form she linked you too, it references the old due date in November and the December delivery period. That'll give you a great idea of what is available and what the prices are, though. As you scroll down, you'll notice all the human-consumable products also.
If you want to get in on the fermenting, pop over to the Fermented Feed for Meat Birds thread. It's the same exact thing used for laying hens, turkeys, etc, so don't worry about the title. To be quite honest, it's more of a discussion on absolutely everything, much like this Arizona thread. I can't keep up anymore, but the information is great. Alternately, you can check out Natural Chicken Keeping's blog about it as well. Hers has more information compressed in to a small three-part series. After doing it this last year, I can never, ever go back to the dry feed. It's just that much of a difference.

NP. I am new to the site because I just got back into chickens after 10yr hiatus. I wasn't even aware of GMO until I read about it on BYC. It seems like a lot of people (in different states) have a hard time finding feed that is non-GMO. I was just pleasantly surprised to find such an easy source of it here. I have been reading up on the fermenting too and think I am going to give it a whirl since so many people have such success with it. I love this site because of all the knowledege that you all are willing to share. Thank you!

 

[Timskins]

Also the Stock Shop at 67th ave and Thunderbird will be carrying organic non gmo feed as of the first of the year. They couldn't give me prices on it the last time I was there but it will be a great backup for miscalculations (which I always seem to do).

 

[maryhysong]

Also the Stock Shop at 67th ave and Thunderbird will be carrying organic non gmo feed as of the first of the year. They couldn't give me prices on it the last time I was there but it will be a great backup for miscalculations (which I always seem to do).

knock on wood, it has only happened to me once. Whenever I open a bag of feed I write it on the calender. That way I can see how many I'm going through in a month and have a good idea of how much to order. Of course if I have a large number of birds coming in or out during the next two months I will take that in to account when I place my order. I have also discovered that even if I"m planning to process that pen of birds by X day I better go ahead and order feed to carry over the whole two months, because LIFE happens!

 

[kpgoldstar]

Thanks everyone for your opinions on grit. I am sure my chickens are getting enough with what is available in my yard and run. Rockn I have been feeding fermented since my young girls were about 3 weeks old when I got them. I would never go back to dry even though FF is a little more time consuming. I am usually on the Fermented Feeds, Anyone Using them? thread. Lots of action on there and again, many conversations about raising chickens in general along with great tips about using the FF.
I sure wish I could hook up with you all on your orders of Organic Non-GMO feed, but I am rarely in the Valley and wouldn't want anyone to store it for me until I can come get it. Maybe when my girls are older and eating more it will be worth it for me.

 

[City farm]

Also, speaking of food. I have been reading a lot about non-GMO feed. I don't think the local place carries it, so I Googled (Google is my friend ) "non GMO chicken feed, Arizona. I came up with the following and I am psyched! http://www.phoenixorganicfeed.com/ Who knew there was such a convenient way to get organic feed at such a reasonable price? Not me! Interestingly enough, at least to me, the Phoenix pickup location is at Baker's Nursery 40th St between Thomas Rd and Indian School. I grew up in that neighborhood and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Baker's Nursery! If you are interested in non-GMO feed, or looking for another place to get it, check out the website. I will be placing my order as soon as they send me my order form.

You will love it.. We do the fermented feed with it... It is like flower. Powder.. With F.F. There is so much less waisted..