Arizona Chickens

[Mikey D]

Quote: I would have liked to purchase from local breeders but it would have been logistically a PITA to get all of the varieties I wanted (Greedy, greedy greedy!)

I'm still on the look out for Appaenzeller Spitzhaubens...

 

[LindaMurphy]

I have gotten very nice chicks from Stockman's feed store. I have been very disappointed with the conditions in Pratts lately. Don't think they really know what kind of chicks they have. They are all mixed in the same tub and I had some concerns about their health too so I have had to pass the last couple times I was there.
I have gotten some nice ones from Dales too when they have them. They don;t carry them all the time.

 

[Timskins]

Happy New Year 2014!

Spent part of the new year morning out with the boys and girls. Such a nice day, going out again.

Phoebe

Roberta

What type of bird is this?

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

What type of bird is this?

Roberta is a Silver Laced Wyandotte

 

[kpgoldstar]

I have gotten very nice chicks from Stockman's feed store. I have been very disappointed with the conditions in Pratts lately. Don't think they really know what kind of chicks they have. They are all mixed in the same tub and I had some concerns about their health too so I have had to pass the last couple times I was there.
I have gotten some nice ones from Dales too when they have them. They don;t carry them all the time.

I was anxious to get my chicks and did as much research as I could to even find chicks in our state. I couldn't order from hatchery because my zip requires too many. It was surprising that the internet is not very full of information on getting baby chicks in Arizona. I am a total internet research junkie on every single topic imaginable but I was stumped when it came to this one.

Pratt's was OK, Glendale location said they had BO's but it was a special order and someone bought all of them. We only had leghorns and RIRs growing up, I never dreamed there were so many varieties readily available. It would also have been nice to have completely different looks and different eggs but I love my single breed flock all the same.

I went to Western Ranchman on 32nd and the chick conditions were horrible. It was a Monday around 10 and obviously some had died since they had closed on Saturday and no one had taken the dead ones out of the brooder. Others were barely alive with broken legs. It was a disturbing sight.

We ended up at Pratt's in Surprise. It wasn't bad, not ideal. The chicks were a little pecked over and they were already 2 weeks old as they weren't taking in new ones since it was inventory time. They tried to put them in a carry out box - 4 chicks and I had a 3 hour drive home. I had brought a large box with sand to transport them. I asked about food and water for the drive and was told they would be fine. Well, they weren't. They pecked incessantly the whole way and I was in a panic that I would get home with all dead chicks. I picked them up two at a time and let them ride in my lap while the other two tried to get along in the box. Once the pecking started with those two I would trade them out for the ones on my lap. It was the most stressful trip I've ever been on.

Once I got them home and in the brooder with food and water, it was a completely different story. They were obviously starving and thirsty, therefore the pecking. I am pretty sure after all my reading that RIR's - heritage breed are pretty hard to find. Any hatchery or feed store who claims to have RIR's are not really that.

I wish I had pics of my flock in 4H. I would love to compare the RIR's that we had (40 years ago, yikes!) to the ones I have now. I did show my birds at the fair and local exhibits and remember getting ribbons but who knows if they were judging true to breed. Sadly, all of our old family pictures ended up with an evil witch of a stepmother who probably took pleasure in burning them after she drove my dad to his death.

 

[Timskins]

Roberta is a Silver Laced Wyandotte

Shes beautiful!

 

[maryhysong]

I don't remember now; was there someone here that has done caponizing? Looking for someone to help us learn! I'm brave enough to try with just the info I have found here https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/675898/graphic-pics-of-my-day-learning-to-caponize but would really rather not kill too many in the learning process.

 

[maryhysong]

Thank you Most were mine. There was one stunning blue cock that wasn't. What quality is your friend looking for? I have several that have some leakage that are available--finding a good black is often difficult.

I wondered if they were yours. Wish I could have had time to hunt you up and chat. My friend has a pair of blacks she bought at Tucson. I think the hen isn't bad but the cock doesn't have enough feathering on his feet and legs; not sure what other faults he has. We have both gotten silkies more to be 'babysitters' and brood chicks of other breeds but my friend would like to breed some and get a better bird than she has.

I sent you a message on FB the other day; check your "other" folder there. ;=)

 

[LindaMurphy]

I got some very nice Buff Orpingtons from Stockman's on Buckeye between 67th and 75th Ave.
These were my babies. The later one is what my little Orpy Anne looked like before a **** coyote got her. :'( She gave me her first egg just before Christmas. I can't believe she is gone.
The other little chick got her little head stuck in some fencing and she panicked. They were beautiful and friendly little birds. I MISS MY ORPY ANNIE :'(

​

Anyway. I will be going back for more. They have had Barred Rocks, Silver Laced Wyandot, Americana, Some kind of Red. Not sure if it is RIR or what. I was looking at the others. They all healthy, in there own rack, well fed and watered and the chicks were not picked up and dropped by half a dozen kids :-{
I believe they get their shipments in on Fridays so Saturday is a good time to go. It is busy lately but they take good care of the chicks and you know what your getting. I'm not sure if they get theirs from their own local breeders but I think they do. I just know that I have really liked what I have been seeing. It has been everything I can do to keep from buying new chicks every week cause that is where we go for our hay and I live in Surprise.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I have gotten very nice chicks from Stockman's feed store. I have been very disappointed with the conditions in Pratts lately. Don't think they really know what kind of chicks they have. They are all mixed in the same tub and I had some concerns about their health too so I have had to pass the last couple times I was there.
I have gotten some nice ones from Dales too when they have them. They don;t carry them all the time.

I to have been disappointed with the Surprise Pratt's. And the Glendale store is much better, but, sense they reinvented themselves from a farm feed store to a pet store, it will never be the same. You should have seen it in the 80's just before everything changed.