Arizona Chickens

[pipemum]

I don't think the timer has that capability. it has 4 start times, so you could get 2 hours misting every 15 minutes. Not quite several hours, but a couple hours!

 

[Syl in Tucson]

Hi y'all ! So happy I found this thread ! Im new to BYC , but not new to chickens. I've lurked all day, so Im all caught up.... : )
Im in Tucson, near the zoo. We have a small flock of chickens, a herd of New Zealand white rabbits, doing the tilapia and aquaponics thing...have a pack of dogs and a gazillian kids and grandkids under foot. oh. Cant forget the cats. We have those too. Doing some serious thinking about adding a pair of miniature goats to the craziness, but haven't taken the plunge.
According to some web sites, I am doing everything wrong. My chickens are mostly free range. My rabbits are also. Chicken feed? (the chickens look at me as if to say "you expect us to EAT that?") Rabbit feed...again..." *&^%$#@ " . Its always put out there, but I think the wild birds eat most of it. I hit up Market On The Move on a regular basis. What we don't stuff down our faces, goes to the critters. Dogs and cats eat a lot of raw stuff too.
Oh and I was one of those moms that spanked their kids when they needed it and told them all they were my favorite. My grandkids now get this illustrious treatment. I look forward to reading all the goings on , knowing Im not the only insane person in the Old Pueblo

.
Thanks for all the info!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Hi y'all ! So happy I found this thread ! Im new to BYC , but not new to chickens. I've lurked all day, so Im all caught up.... : )
Im in Tucson, near the zoo. We have a small flock of chickens, a herd of New Zealand white rabbits, doing the tilapia and aquaponics thing...have a pack of dogs and a gazillian kids and grandkids under foot. oh. Cant forget the cats. We have those too. Doing some serious thinking about adding a pair of miniature goats to the craziness, but haven't taken the plunge.
According to some web sites, I am doing everything wrong. My chickens are mostly free range. My rabbits are also. Chicken feed? (the chickens look at me as if to say "you expect us to EAT that?") Rabbit feed...again..." *&^%$#@ " . Its always put out there, but I think the wild birds eat most of it. I hit up Market On The Move on a regular basis. What we don't stuff down our faces, goes to the critters. Dogs and cats eat a lot of raw stuff too.
Oh and I was one of those moms that spanked their kids when they needed it and told them all they were my favorite. My grandkids now get this illustrious treatment. I look forward to reading all the goings on , knowing Im not the only insane person in the Old Pueblo

.
Thanks for all the info!

Hey neighbor,

We're glad you found us. You must be close, I'm just east of Reid Park.

 

[City farm]

Just trying to post up photos. Here it goes. .

our baby rooster I think?

 

[City farm]

More photos of the babies from our hatch

I think the silver & copper is a rooster.

This is one of the welsummers

 

[maryhysong]

Just trying to post up photos. Here it goes. .our baby rooster I think?

yep looking like a boy to me.

 

[Macboat]

I don't think the timer has that capability.  it has 4 start times, so you could get 2 hours misting every 15 minutes.   Not quite several hours, but a couple hours!

I think you can set up your start time 1 hour apart and 15 minutes every time.

 

[City farm]

Finally got some pics of the quail cages. Right now they are all in the two larger grow-out/production cages on the right. They are 4' long 2' deep and 12" high. Even with all that space they are all usually right next to each other, they like being with their flock mates. There are four 2' long cages on the left for breeding quartets eventually. So the cages together are 16 feet long and are suspended on the 2x4s behind the cages. The tops of the cages are flat but the shade cloth is attached to the lattice higher than the back of the cages so it slopes down so the black cloth is not sitting directly on top of the cages giving them more ventilation. The shade cloth is held down in front over the front edge of the cages with bungee cords and clamps since the wind will make a sail out of it otherwise. The quail have baskets to use when they want a break from standing or laying on wire, as well as terracotta saucers for water to wade in to stay cool, and boxes with sand for dust bathing. The tops of the cage doors are shoulder high for me so I don't have to stoop to reach in to service the cages. It also keeps the quail at a height that my terriers can't terrorize the bird at. Right now I'm using shavings or saw dust under the cages but I think I'll switch to sand when I run out. Sand will keep the droppings dryer so they won't build up ammonia. The cup waterers work well for quail, but I did show them that the water was there. By the end of the first day they were all using them. Our hard water does leave calcium deposits on the waterers so I will eventually have to switch them out and soak them in vinegar to dissolve it. I also give the quail veggies and fruit with a high water content when it's hot. The hen on the left is pecking at a piece of cucumber in this photo that they've eaten most of. The nice thing about jumbo browns is they are so easy to feather sex as early as three weeks old! The boy in the middle has a pale rust color chest while the girls on either side of him have a speckled chest. With the whites you have to wait until when the boys crow or the girls lay an egg. You can also vent sex them but they have to be fully mature for that so are probably already crowing or laying eggs.

Ok, wow that is so rad!!!

 

[City farm]

Seems folks here are pretty knowledgeable about anything bees, goats, quails, plants..... here is a new topic, meat rabbits.  Anybody had any experiences?  I want to have some in my backyard but really worried about the heat in the valley.  And with a regular 9-6 job, I can't attend to them during the day, (so any chores says more then once a day would be impracticable for me.  for example, give them iced bottle of water twice a day...) ... Any thoughts?

There are a few that will let you know about it..
We had a pet bunny for years here, loose in our neighborhood. 4-5 years.. It would come around and play with our friends cat.. They really miss it..

 

[City farm]

We raised them in the Texas heat under oak trees in their hutches. Changes the water in the morning and give them clean bedding and you're good. The hutches were off the ground for ease of care and it let the rabbits have wind all around them. Shade is super important.

On a side note, my wife is gonna kill me because your post just made me remember how easy it was and how much chicken we eat around here. I make a great Rabbit and sausage gumbo too. I also have a great shady part of the yard. Uh oh.

Oh NO uh oh.. on rabbits.. Rabbit math on it's way... e