Arizona Chickens

[pipemum]

I really just wanted to play around with it. I'm changing my garden around and am going to use the pallets from last years garden to grow some crops for my chickens. Just gonna put some chicken panel on top and let it grow through.

Actually that's a good idea. I have an upright pallet fixed in the chicken run. I was planning on lining the back with landscape cloth pockets and putting some flowers in there, but maybe I'll try the pasture blend this fall, on the lower section that the chickens can reach.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
You're both on it! Just pay attention to when it comes near you and grab it. I won't have any control over it once it leaves here.

 

[Macboat]

demosthine, sorry to hear about the divorce.

I'm growing some of the Grow Organic pasture blend in some wheat grass trays.  This is not a very effective way to grow the stuff.  The trays are about 24x12", so they'll be devoured instantly and are taking forever to grow, and it seems like only the rye grass and one other seedling is coming up.  I did sow some in my grass patch, but it doesn't seem to have come up...plus I've since fenced the chickens out of my grass, so nada benefits.  I've thrown a couple pieces of sod in the chicken area, and will continue to give them plenty of greens from my garden.  I think I'll give up on the pasture blend for now.  

Has anybody tried wheat or barley? Where to get some in bulk?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
I grew wheat fodder (hard red winter wheat from the feed store) for a few months. They really loved it just sprouted, but they didn't like it once the green parts got longer than an inch or so and the roots got longer. My birds are pretty spoiled though, at the same time I was feeding them fodder they were getting a huge head of lettuce or swiss chard every day. That might have made the fodder less attractive. It seems like such a great way to give them green things when they can't forage or when there isn't anything green out there for them.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:

They really must have thought it was good!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Hey all I've been out of the loop for a while. I've been raising chickens for about 5 years now but I had a devil of a time starting up my first batch of 18 were supposed to be pullets and I wound up with 17 cockerels. my second batch was going great they were all hatched from some buff Orpingtons eggs that were given to me and I wound up losing them in their second year to the Wallow fire. the next spring I got another 20 and 18 of them were hens but this past winter I lost all but 6 to a neighbors dog. Today I lost one of my two turkeys due to a wound she got from a pecking battle with the other turkey(which was odd because they've never fought before). So I'm somewhat starting over. I'm located in Eagar(midway up the state very near the NM border). Its much cooler here than most of AZ(we are still getting freezing temps at night). Is there anyone else located in my area?

Edited for spelling

Welcome back! That is about the worst streak of bad chicken luck I've ever head of and I think you've now had your fair share.

I hope things are turned around from here on out. Good for you for getting back into it.

 

[carnivore]

A mirror, huh, might just do that too?? Anyone else try that?

I have a brooder full of week old Jersey Giant chicks right now, and I used some double back carpet tape to attach a plastic mirror to the side of the pen. They definitely do some posturing in front of it, and charge at it in the "flying run". Some of them sleep cuddled up to it, maybe for company?

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I grow a wonderful patch, it was very nice, it took about an hour.



My sweet little mama, Mary, put her little brood to bed early. Every time I looked out one, two or three peeps were out of the box with mama incur aging them to come back to bed. It is interesting, we have to keep chicks warm to keep them alive, but mama is out this her brood in the cool. But I noticed that ever so often mama would nestle down and the chicks will go under to warm up, mostly. The blond NN and the dark EE are the lest affected by the cool air, so it seems, when everyone is getting warm they are still foraging. Several times a day she brings them to water. I looked out in horror About 6 peeps were standing in the water pan for the big girls. I filled it an inch, I was so afraid they would fall in, I didn't think they would jump in and go wadding. It was up to thier belly feathers. When mom moved a way they jumped out and Fallowed.

 

[K9Dave]

Has anybody tried wheat or barley? Where to get some in bulk?

I just bought some of each yesterday from Winco. They have big bins of it, so I did it that way just to try it first. Gonna do Fodder with a few different things and see what my chickens like before I decide to buy in BULK which is my plan at some point. There's a seed company over here by myself that I am gonna stop and see what they have. This will be the cheapest in my experience. It's the source.

The mirror thing I am using but think it should be removed and put back in after a week or so as they kinda grow used to it and it loses it's appeal.

thinking this is gonna be my chicken crop area.

 

[bellsbeauties]

Hello fellow Arizonans, I live in Tucson and are interested in adding some bantams to my flock but would prefer not to do mail order. Anyone know of a place locally I can purchase either chicks or pullets?