Arizona Chickens

[Timskins]

I use the excelsior nesting pads. No more shavings on the floor.

http://www.eggcartons.com/Excelsior-Nesting-Pads-p/ep1313.htm

Not a bad idea, how long are they lasting for you?

 

[FeatherPugs]

Not a bad idea, how long are they lasting for you?

I use these same nesting pads - I get them locally - I think I found them at PetClub. I put a layer of wood chips under and then hay on top. I also change them out about every six months - mostly because I believe they should be - they still look great. IF an egg gets broken - I just rinse it out and dry it and reuse the pad. I think there must be 10 in a package and one package - which I don't remember the price - lasts all year. Very, very few broken eggs. I can't even remember the last one.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

The excelsior pads look interesting. I wonder if they are the same material and structure as the aspen excelsior evaporative cooler pads?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Off topic but thought those garden folks may be able to help. We recently purchased a house in Mesa (as-is sale, so unable to ask previous owner), and there is a deciduous tree, still small at only 5 ft tall but it has some bunches of flowers coming in with the new leaves....does anyone know what this tree may be?
I want to plant my potted fig tree there but hate to tear it out if it will be a fruiting tree.
Here are a few pictures of the tree, leaves and incoming flowers.

Any one know? Thank you!!!

I don't recognize it. Hopefully, some one else will.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I have found that wood shavings on the bottom with timothy or orchard hay as the nesting material. It has always worked well for me. The timothy/orchard hay kind of intertwines and it forms a really good nest that is also soft. Hens will kick out nesting material that are too harsh. They like the softer stuff. Just my limited expertise after 40+ years raising chickens.

I've been using wood shavings too, with dried herbs on top (around the edges). They seem to like the shavings. It's great to have people here with so much experience and willing to share it.

 

[desertmarcy]

I use the excelsior nesting pads. No more shavings on the floor.

http://www.eggcartons.com/Excelsior-Nesting-Pads-p/ep1313.htm

Evaporative cooler pad material! Great idea.

 

[Billiam]

Is anyone here following SB1151? Have you made your voice heard?

http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/51leg/2r/bills/sb1151p.htm
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/51leg/2r/summary/s.1151ge.doc.htm

 

[Billiam]

All right I have a young silkie, probably a pullet, probably 5-6 months old. Has been fine until the last couple days. I noticed she didn't come out with the others last night but it was almost dark when I got home from work and let them out so didn't worry about it. This afternoon tho I looked for her and she was just sitting in the corner of the coop with her head bent down between her legs. Like she is trying to stick her head between her legs and go the other way. Also some slight trembling when I'm holding her.

I have brought her in, gave her 1 cc straight of Poultry Cell followed by 2 cc of plain water. She is able to swallow if I tip her head up, it's just like her muscles are forcibly moving her head/neck downwards and she can't control it. About an hour later gave another 1cc of Poultry cell mixed with 1cc of water.

Read up online and the closest I can come to is botulism poisoning, tho I don't have any idea how she would have gotten it and none of the other birds cooped with her have any symptoms, although most of them are larger than she is.

I was wondering of the possibility of it being a scorpion sting, since that is a nerve toxin also and what the symptoms of a sting might be. It's been very warm and I've already killed one in the house.

Advice? Anything else I can do for her?

Wry-neck or Crook-neck?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/97121/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck

 

[maryhysong]

Wry-neck or Crook-neck?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/97121/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck

Yes that is the conclusion I have come to. I had absolutely no clue that silkies did not have closed skulls and their brains are exposed under their crests. This pullet is the smallest bird in a mixed pen and I'm thinking a rambunctious young roo pecked her on the head or something. She can at least swallow if I put water in her mouth, giving her hard boiled egg yolk and yogurt mixed to a slurry with a syringe this morning and she takes it. Just still having tremendous muscle spasms. I will go out later for baby asprin and try that as well, since they say the symptoms are caused by damage/swelling in the brain and the asprin helps take the swelling down. I will give supportive care for a few days but if there is no improvement I will put her down. I am just glad to know that it is probably not Marecks

On a happier note I have an early bird chick; purebred Ameraucana. I really didn't expect any until late tonight or tomorrow morning and none of the others have pipped yet but looking forward to this batch of babies

 

[Demosthine]

Is anyone here following SB1151? Have you made your voice heard?

http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/51leg/2r/bills/sb1151p.htm
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/51leg/2r/summary/s.1151ge.doc.htm

I've been watching it, but not obsessed with it. I know it passed the Senate this last week, so it'll go on to the other side. But with such great support, 29 to 1 vote, I don't believe it'll falter. It appears to have very strong backings at all levels. It's fantastic news, though!