Arizona Chickens

[maryhysong]

My first attempt at hatching was a complete failure. The eggs I got from Aloha didn't hatch at all. Only three made it do a late stage of development, but they are three days late and there's no sign of success. I'm not sure what happened, but I'll have to try again. She did warn me that the eggs were a bit older and may not have a high hatch rate, but I expected at least a few... My humidity and temperature did not stay as stable as I expected, though, either. It's all a learning experience, but I'm sure glad I didn't make the attempt on expensive, specialty breed eggs!

So what do you all do with the eggs that don't hatch? They've been sitting in a high-humidity, high temperature incubator for nearly a month. Are they still ok to cook up for the flock or do they just need to go to the compost?

If they are clears I scramble for the birds, if partly developed I put them in the worm bin or compost pile.

 

[Stynch]

I only have 3 hens. One is a complete free loader. She's an EE that has only ever layed 6 eggs. She is almost a year and a half old. Our RIR is hanging in there and laying almost daily. The black australorp who also lays almost daily is now molting terribly, so no eggs from her. I feel like I'm going to go into withdrawals if I run out of my girls eggs before the molt is over. They are being rationed at this time.

. Boy the australorp is a mess and so is our back yard and their run. I can't imagine multiple hens molting at the same time.

We also have an EE who is a total free-loader! She's going on 10 months old, and has never laid an egg

I'm all for sending her to freezer camp, but my DH wants to give her until the weather turns warm and see if she kicks in. Their eggs might be pretty, but not if they are non-existant! I'm done with EEs - give me a BO or Leghorn anyday!! They give us breakfast!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Some pics of my lettuce garden.




This pic doesn't do the harvest justice. I have a mix of red leaf, green leaf, romaine and a butter-type. I used about 1/10 of this for my salad tonight.

Wonderful! Do you remember the name of that super dark red (purplish) lettuce? I'd like to get something of that shade of color.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
I hope both or your EEs start laying soon as the days get longer. I've had two EEs and they were good layers. One was killed by a coyote and the other recently returned to laying after a molt and giving me four eggs/week and she's 4+ years old. There's something special about a blue/green egg in the mix.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:

I'm not sure about your elevation, but I'll guess it's lower. At low elevations in AZ peas are a winter crop and do best when planted at the end of Aug, beginning of Sept. They'll survive until the heat of May/June. Choose a long vine variety. I like Oregon Sugar Pod II, they'll easily grow 8' long in a season and love to climb up on their own.

I credit our grape vines with keeping our birds alive in the heat of summer--they'd have no shade without them. The birds just love the leaves and we harvest enough grapes to eat and make all the raisins we can eat for the year. By mid summer, the vines are so long, they cover the run entirely and most of the coop. They grow out onto the ground where they're neatly trimmed to tortoise height.

In spring before the vines escape the run:


June-ish, when the vines really start to take off:

 

[chicksurreal]

I'm not sure about your elevation, but I'll guess it's lower. At low elevations in AZ peas are a winter crop and do best when planted at the end of Aug, beginning of Sept. They'll survive until the heat of May/June. Choose a long vine variety. I like Oregon Sugar Pod II, they'll easily grow 8' long in a season and love to climb up on their own.

I credit our grape vines with keeping our birds alive in the heat of summer--they'd have no shade without them. The birds just love the leaves and we harvest enough grapes to eat and make all the raisins we can eat for the year. By mid summer, the vines are so long, they cover the run entirely and most of the coop. They grow out onto the ground where they're neatly trimmed to tortoise height.

In spring before the vines escape the run:


June-ish, when the vines really start to take off:

Wow! I love that idea! We have grapevines, but they aren't around the run. I think I'll get some going this year.

 

[City farm]

This is very important information.  How DARE the United Nations decide how to circumvent our constitution. If they were targeting big business instead the global elite,  the global elite would be inflamed.

X2!!!!

 

[circesfire]

For all our BYC friends in Arizona:

OK we need help people!!! It will only take you a few minutes!!! promise. I need you to make some calls and send some emails. Going to make it super easy for you.. the homework has already been done.. We need voices!!!

Thank you so much for making this so quick and easy. All phone calls and emails are made, and gave the info to some friends as well. I am following the Facebook feed as well, but couldn't figure out what I should say or who I should be calling.

Grape vines are such a tremendous idea. Definitely going to look into that!

 

[City farm]

Oh THANK you guys for the support.  An YES, I'd love it if EVERYONE called with their support.  Many of the offices do not even ask or take that information down.  They are really just doing a tally.  Thank you SO much!  Now go bug your friends and family to call tomorrow!

I kind of figured that.. Just glad to have you say it.. I will send out another email..
I looked up the meeting notice & does anyone know what is prohibited?
By city or acre/# of fowl?? Ect... Maybe I need to look somewhere else on their
web site for the answers..

 

[City farm]

Oh THANK you guys for the support.  An YES, I'd love it if EVERYONE called with their support.  Many of the offices do not even ask or take that information down.  They are really just doing a tally.  Thank you SO much!  Now go bug your friends and family to call tomorrow!

I kind of figured that.. Just glad to have you say it.. I will send out another email..
I looked up the meeting notice & does anyone know what is prohibited?
By city or acre/# of fowl?? Ect... Maybe I need to look somewhere else on their
web site for the answers..

Found it