Arizona Chickens

[rockmissjess]

Okay so this is my prefab juvenile chick coop.. today is officially going to be their first day outside.. i know i didn't pick the best of days with it about to rain and windy.. but they are too big for the 54 gallon tote inside the house...and its driving me nuts.... so i took a down comforter and put it on the roof of the run and <<<<< side of the coop...put a large piece of plywood on top ... a sheet on the other side <<<<< and two folding card tables... sounds more and more ghetto i know... so only >>>> this part here where the door is open (is shut now) is the only part exposed.. i moved the heat lamp inside... the little coop part and there are some pine shavings on the floor of it.. and sand now where that weedy grass was... i hope they will be okay.. they will be 5 weeks old sunday.. and they are just driving me nutzo in the house.. they are also right by the back porch (you can see the cement in the pic) so i can check on them constantly..

 

[chicksurreal]

Okay so this is my prefab juvenile chick coop.. today is officially going to be their first day outside.. i know i didn't pick the best of days with it about to rain and windy.. but they are too big for the 54 gallon tote inside the house...and its driving me nuts.... so i took a down comforter and put it on the roof of the run and <<<<< side of the coop...put a large piece of plywood on top ... a sheet on the other side <<<<< and two folding card tables... sounds more and more ghetto i know... so only >>>> this part here where the door is open (is shut now) is the only part exposed.. i moved the heat lamp inside... the little coop part and there are some pine shavings on the floor of it.. and sand now where that weedy grass was... i hope they will be okay.. they will be 5 weeks old sunday.. and they are just driving me nutzo in the house.. they are also right by the back porch (you can see the cement in the pic) so i can check on them constantly..

I'm sure they LOVE it! it looks great!

 

[rockmissjess]

*UPDATE* WELL OUT THE WINDOW GOES THAT IDEA... HUSBAND SAYS ITS TOO COLD OUTSIDE LET THEM COME IN FOR THE NIGHT....SERIOUSLY HIM OF ALL PEOPLE TO WANT THEM INSIDE..

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I was Home Depot today, was talking to the Solor Guy. He is building a coop, counting on the bell BS1151 is going to pass. And if it doesn't he is still going to get 3 or 4 chickens. He said he told his wife no one will ever know. It is really interesting those for and those against. The one against always know nothing about chickens.

 

[Beastie]

I know this might be a long shot but is anyone on here located in the Tucson/Marana area selling any RIR pullets?

 

[hensandchicks66]

Thanks for the help everyone. I have just started to give them tomatoes, hopefully it will help. I am now 99% sure it is dry pox. Does anyone know how long it can last and incase it gets too severe on a bird, what should I do?

 

[Sill]

I've tried several things with the flies from sprays to traps and have only found one thing that works. The traps will capture the adults but they have already laid 100s of eggs that will hatch in 7 days. The sprays I have found are either an arm and a leg for the ones that do a decent job or not very effective for the cheaper ones. Flies are attracted to the moisture and the decaying matter to lay their eggs in so if you have one or both of these then the flies will be a comin. I finally heard about a place called March Biological control. The guy in charge is Brad and has some videos about bugs. Every bug has a natural enemy, the fly's is the fly predator. These bugs are the size of a small ant and fly. They somehow are attracted to the fly larvae and will attack and eat it thus interrupting the life cycle. Will it completely eliminate them? No, because you are always attracting them but my yard went from swarms humming around to hardly noticing them at all. The website is marchbiological.com. They also have all sorts of nematodes, lady bugs, praying mantids, the good bugs!

Yes on Arbico They are locally based in Tucson and their fly predators are great at reducing fly populations. Using the fly predators is always more successful the earlier in the season that you start releasing them, so order some soon.

Hey there everyone, we are getting ready to fertilize our yard and we are curious about what we can use with our chickens who free roam most of the time? I can coop them up if need be but wanted everyone's advice. This is the first time fertilizing sense the girls have joined us. Thank you all in advance

I use either my own home made compost, or buy organic compost or top soil at the DIY stores if I don't have enough of my own. If you have to apply chemical fertilizers keep the chickens off until you can water it in very well. Absolutely no weed and feed and no Roundup!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
A good point about early treatment, I attributed that to our success last year.

 

[City farm]

Ohhh, another broody.. Oh boy.. We will free chicks soon..

 

[pipemum]

Okay, great advice on the Arbico fly control. I'll check out the company as soon as I log off of here. I will say, that hanging pouch thingy has been awesome so far. But, ugh, the smell is no bueno, and obviously if I can stop the cycle, all the better. hahaha, how many commas can I use in one sentence????

I think my EE is egg bound. Trying to lay with no result, fluffed up feathers, tail pointing down, moving slowly. BUT I can't feel an egg inside of her...palpitating, I probably won't do an internal probe. She is, of course, my favorite chicken. In reading the causes, I'm a bit at a loss. They have supplemental calcium, and are feed a layer feed, so I'm assuming it's not a calcium issue. I read something about too many treats and I have been throwing down extra sunflower and a non-corn scratch to fatten up the last of the CX, so perhaps that's the culprit? I haven't been home much to try anything to help her out, but have some time tomorrow to give her a warm bath and lube her vent. If she's still hanging in there.