Arizona Chickens

[pipemum]

re: flies--the Arbico fly parasite treatment stuff should be here tomorrow. The woman I spoke to (via email) said that there should be a noticeable drop in flies in 2 weeks, if they are coming from my property. I'm 99% sure they are, and I'm so excited to get this program started! The hook to the program is that you have to buy from them and re-treat every 6 weeks or so, but hey, if it makes my my tiny garden enjoyable again, it's so worth it.

Oh, oh, and how's this for disgusting? One of my fly bags no longer has liquid but is full of fly bodies. I keep adding water because it continues to draw flies in...more than ever! I flicked the bag yesterday for my daughter (she thinks the buzz of flies trapped is musical, literally, "music to my ears, lalalalala," omg, oooookkkkkay)... and I saw a maggot squirming around in the fly bodies. So freaking gross. They are breeding and feeding on their dead compatriots!

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Just came across these on a Reddit post and thought you guys would like them. Very cool. About chicken head tracking.

and some funnier ones

  **I'm pretty sure no chickens were harmed during the making of this one

this has been posted before but for the new members [VIDEO]

 

[Arizona Son]

Could my silkie be broody?
Is it too hot in Phoenix to give her some fertile eggs? If she's going to hatch some, I'd rather she do it after our trip in July. Is it ever too hot to hatch chicks?

Thank you!

I am by no means an expert here, LOL, but I have had broody hens sit on & hatch out huge broods of eggs in the heat of July and August during 112º daytime temps, seemingly without a hitch. One thing you do need to ensure is that you have a water source readily available to the chicks. You also need to take into account their tiny size; (can they reach the water?). And make sure they know where it is and that the hen takes them over to it regularly. Some hens are better mothers than others. Sadly, I have had broody hens that were horrible mothers and lost over half their chicks to dehydration. Now I confine them to a small area until I am sure the chicks are drinking, or the hen is already an experienced mother. This may not be an issue for you, but they can dehydrate so fast in the heat of summer, since their bodies are so tiny.

You can give your hen a few fertile eggs and just see how she does with 2 or 3 to start off with. The broody instinct is super strong with most silkies. It is a fascinating process to watch them hatch out and raise chicks.

 

[City farm]

 
Alright, my tiny silkie mix is really getting beat up by the hens.  The black copper marans, formerly the most boring, uninteresting bird EVER is now the biggest, most cruel bully.  She's going after everyone, including the barred rocks, who have always been the bossy ones.  How much time should I give these hens to work out their issues?  It's been a week since the silkie mix has been reintegrated into the big coop.  The marans is a great layer, but I've never been impressed by her personality and wouldn't mind replacing her.   

The EE finally started laying again after her puncture injury on her foot.  First egg was a little golf ball.  My husband put it in the fridge, but not in a carton, and when I picked it up to put in the carton, the thin weird eggshell broke and egg everywhere.  Fun to clean up.  Second egg was still weird and thin and small.   Hoping her eggs get back to normal soon. 

Glad she is laying again.  I'm sure her eggs will normalize soon.

I think it just takes one to learn they can do it, then even the "scary" kiddie pool is OK.  Those pans look very durable.  That is the one think I hate about kiddie pools, they usually only last one or two seasons.

 
So I asked before....no one with brahmas?  My 2.5 month old chicks are already hot, in the shade, in damp dust bath areas.  It can't be more than 85 degrees in the chicken area.    I think it's their super feathered feet that keeps them hot.  I'll start leaving out pans of water for them to stand in.  Maybe I can set up a mister for them, but I've had so many irrigation disasters that it seems like one more thing that can go wrong!

I'm seriously loving that the chickens are out of the garden!  The $100 on the fence to keep them out was the best money spent on chickens so far!!!!!!  My tiny grass lawn is finally starting to fill in, my flower beds are looking great, my veggies are actually growing.  I love it.  Huge issue is still the flies.  They are out of control.  Those fly bags capture thousands, but man, they stink so much and the flies are horrendous and the situation is bad.  It's so depressing because I can't enjoy my created patch of heaven and I feel like I'm keeping a filthy yard (it's not at all).   Before it gets too hot, I'd like to have family and friends over for a bbq, but I'm too embarrassed about the fly situation--it's really that bad.  They do seem limited to the garden and chicken area, at least my house and the rest of the yard aren't overrun.  I'll have to order some of the fly larvae parasite stuff asap. 

I wonder if citronella torches and candles would help keep flies at bay during your BBQ?  I'm sure the food would attract them. 
Maybe one of those mister fans that Home Depot sells?  They are up on a stand and between the mist and the fan they might keep them away from the zone they are being used in.  It would be worth trying a couple of things and doing a dry run with them.  Have your own dinner outside while using something to ward off the flies and see if any of them work.  If nothing else you could schedule your BBQ for after dark.

Pipemon, our silkie get the same treatment.she is now a Moma. That has helped after I cut her top hat so she could see better..
Our black copper Marans is not laying to well, she has a weird red rash on her skin?? I loooked up symptoms, but all I got was lice or mites.. I am going to go out tomorrow night at bed time to look for them,


We have bantams.. With feather feet.. We do what ya all do, misters, lots of water & shade, fans.. Frozen treats. & yes ice.. Once it gets above 115 we do either ice blocks, which last longer or cubes..

FLIES, ok, has anyone heard of the zip lock baggie with a penny? I think we are going to try it

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

FLIES, ok, has anyone heard of the zip lock baggie with a penny? I think we are going to try it

Mythbusters tested this one out. It doesn't work.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I finally got around to taking pictures of the final step in my predator proofing (at least I hope). Everywhere the edge of wire met wood I screwed in 1" X 2" boards over top of the staples and wire, sandwiching them in against the coop. It will be much more difficult now for a dog or coyote to pull the wire off to get in. I also added another gate latch at the bottom of each gate in the run. That should make it more difficult to gain access by pulling at the bottom and tearing apart the gate.

 

[City farm]

[CONTENTEMBED=/t/31227/arizona-chickens/44250#post_13271454 layout=inline] [/CONTENTEMBED]
FLIES, ok, has anyone heard of the zip lock baggie with a penny? I think we are going to try it

 
Mythbusters tested this one out.  It doesn't work.    

Yeah that is a drag.. So glad we did not waste time with it.. We will be celebrating Easter dinner close to dark.. We entertain outdoors on our front yard or out back & with This wonderful weekend happening just thought we would try it.. Thanks Gallo...

 

[Arizona Son]

FLIES, ok, has anyone heard of the zip lock baggie with a penny? I think we are going to try it

I have been to many, many horse properties in and around Tucson, Phoenix, Casa Grande, etc and have seen those bags with a penny in them, in probably 85% of the stables! If those things are just a myth, why do sooooo many horse owners swear by the method? I personally havent tried it, so I cannot comment about its effectiveness from a 1st hand experience. But I am open-minded.

 

[chicksindespair]

I AM IN PRESCOTT VALLEY AZ AND I WAS TOLD AND RESEARCHED THAT IN THIS TOWN THERE IS NO CHICKEN ALLOWED IN OUR BACKYARDS,
IS THERE ANY PRESCOTT VALLEY RESIDENTS THAT WANT TO HELP ME HAVE USA CONSTITUTION RIGHT NOT TAKEN AWAY FROM US?
SOME CITY OFFICIALS ARE INTIMIDATED BY WHOM CAN CONTROL THE COOP....AND WE DID FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE ABBUNDANCE RESOURCE TO WASTE IN ORDER TO REINFORCE THAT ROOLING
I READ IN THE USA CONSTITUTION THAT EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN IS ALLOWED TO RAISE 2 CHICKENS PER HOME'S RESIDENT,
NO ROOSTERS ARE ALLOWED WITHIN CITY LIMITS AND YET PRESCOTT VALLEY RESIDENT ARE GIVEN OUT CITATIONS IF THEY CATCH ANYONE HAVING CHICKEN

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT CAME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM.......

 

[MagicChicken]

I AM IN PRESCOTT VALLEY AZ AND I WAS TOLD AND RESEARCHED THAT IN THIS TOWN THERE IS NO CHICKEN ALLOWED IN OUR BACKYARDS,
IS THERE ANY PRESCOTT VALLEY RESIDENTS THAT WANT TO HELP ME HAVE USA CONSTITUTION RIGHT NOT TAKEN AWAY FROM US?
SOME CITY OFFICIALS ARE INTIMIDATED BY WHOM CAN CONTROL THE COOP....AND WE DID FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE ABBUNDANCE RESOURCE TO WASTE IN ORDER TO REINFORCE THAT ROOLING
I READ IN THE USA CONSTITUTION THAT EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN IS ALLOWED TO RAISE 2 CHICKENS PER HOME'S RESIDENT,
NO ROOSTERS ARE ALLOWED WITHIN CITY LIMITS AND YET PRESCOTT VALLEY RESIDENT ARE GIVEN OUT CITATIONS IF THEY CATCH ANYONE HAVING CHICKEN

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT CAME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM.......

The US Constitution does not mention chickens. Just saying.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html