Arizona Chickens

[City farm]

Anyway on to happier things....look at my new additions. ..im so excited

Wow, so fun..

 

[City farm]

Hey guys, Im excited about this so I thought I'd share! ... I have a few BBS Marans and one that just started laying! The eggs they hatched from were darker than this first pullet egg so hopefully they darken up! I've been having fun all year checking out some of the different breeds and did decide I would be sticking with these as a project. They have no copper, but hearing what other people say, I'll be keeping a close eye on them for it. I'll keep you guys posted on my progress if you are interested! Here are some pics of them.. What do think?! I'm in contact with someone else who shows black Marans that I'm planning to buy a better Roo from this fall, mine has white under fluff..Not sure how easy a fix that is.. (And his poor tails been picked!) Also hoping to work on egg size!

Yes, glad you posted up photos.. Always good to see them...

 

[carnivore]

SLEEPY CHICKS AGAIN
Just checked the chicks again, there were 2 actually asleep while standing up. Up on legs, beak down in the wood chips. Watched one of the PC's for a minute, he/she jerked awake, then beak headed south again while still standing. So cute!

 

[Twinklin]

I forgot to ask you about your other girls. How is everyone doing? Sorry for your loss as well

Thanks. The other girls are doing great. Eleanor's crop bra is still working, she hasn't had any crop issues and lays about 5 days a week. She has become some what of a bully. She hates if any of the birds are picked up. If I pick her up she immediately attacks whoever is closest to her when I put her down. If I pick someone else up she attacks them as soon as I put them down. She grabbed Tea's comb and tore a little chunk off a few weeks back. I have my eye on her. She seems fine any other time. She just doesn't like anyone being picked up.

 

[City farm]

For those that have dealt with broody hens I have a few questions. My 2 year old Black Australorp has gone broody. This is my first time dealing with a broody in my 5 years of having chickens. I don't have a too but I do have a friend who will give me a dozen if his fertile Aracauna eggs on Wednesday. She is sitting on the favorite nest so my other girls often cuddle up to her to lay their eggs. When I do get the fertile eggs would it be okay to leave her with the flock or would it be better to put her in a separate area? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Oohhh, you are going to have a good time.. e
I did try moving one time, never again... It does disrupt her.. However we have the same issue.. All the other girls want to lay where she is.. We used a marker
for the fertile eggs, with date of lay... We go in every night to remove any extra eggs.. I would rather do that them move the Moma & eggs.. She integrated better with them after they hatched.. At first she pecked us then now she does nothing.. It is so good for the flock to have babies around.. They learn from others & all get along just find.. We do have a couple of roosters.. A few are going to new homes soon.. It is fun to hear from other families that started up their flock from yours... Keep us posted..

 

[City farm]

For those that have dealt with broody hens I have a few questions. My 2 year old Black Australorp has gone broody. This is my first time dealing with a broody in my 5 years of having chickens. I don't have a too but I do have a friend who will give me a dozen if his fertile Aracauna eggs on Wednesday. She is sitting on the favorite nest so my other girls often cuddle up to her to lay their eggs. When I do get the fertile eggs would it be okay to leave her with the flock or would it be better to put her in a separate area? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I just went through this too. I got a dozen fertile eggs and let her hatch them out. Most people will recommend that you remove her from the flock. I chose not to remove my broody. I do have 6 nesting boxes and only 8 hens so that was not an issue. She sat on the eggs and hatched out her chicks all around the flock.
Once the chicks hatched I sat a large box with betting in a corner of the coop with food and water close by so she had more room to care for them. She moved over to this spacious nest herself. Then she took the chicks out to free range at 3 days old. She brings them in at night to the larger nest while the other hens roost.
I choose not to seperate the broody mostly out of laziness! I do not have a seperate area for her and would need to build something. Also, I didn't want to have to reintroduce her to the flock or deal with introducing the chicks. Luckily, things have worked out great! She does a great job with them. The other birds leave the chicks alone and momma has plenty of space free ranging to keep to herself with the chicks.
While it is probably safest to seperate. If your situation is similar to mine (large coop, small flock, free ranging, etc), keeping her in the flock may work. But she may need a makeshift nest so your nesting boxes are free.
Here is our momma with her crew:

Awhee, is that lovely

 

[mom-to-5]

Just thought I would throw this out there before I head to the feed store in a day or two. I have a 50# bag of the big sky organic chicken layer feed from the co-op. I am hoping to exchange it for layer starter (preferably organic big sky feed) to last until the next order comes in. Anyone have an extra bag of organic starter and need feed for their big girls?
I live in Mesa but can travel a little ways. I'm hoping to avoid buying another bag of Bar Ale.

 

[City farm]

Well a bit of excitement last evening. I was on my way out to do butt checks since I've been battling mites on some birds and lice on others. Now you have to realize that I often go out to the car barefoot in the dark. Well I doubt I'll do that again any time soon. Glad I had my headlamp on because there was  a rattlesnake right in the driveway. Went back in for the gun and of course it was gone; so carefully checked the junk pile on the side of the wash and found it.  I know I hit it several times, just not sure it's dead. Will be looking for it this morning.

On a happy note I found not one live bug on any chicken. Whew. Very glad about that, it has taken several months to get them bug free!

Never had a broken egg.. When we moved our broody she was so upset, she just ignored all the eggs.. I guess there are risks with everything..

Oh boy, so gald you found it hiding in the pile.. That would of been awful.. I must say I am glad ducks don't have mites or lice..
Patiently wait to see if Daisey Mae is a hen.. Just a few more weeks..

 

[City farm]

Daisy Mae digging for bugs, happy when she gets one..her feathers are starting to come in..
She has doubled in size..
Shoot for sone reason the photos won't load?

 

[a little chiken]

So my broody did not hatch a thing. Not one. I know they are futile because we had some eggs under our nest boxes and they had blood spots before we found them.
My other hens do lay in her nest. Im thinking of fencing her off with food and water for her and see if we get chicks this time.
Also the only hens I have going broody are not my silkies nope its my blue Ameraucanas. I read they are not a broody breed. Hmmm I have my second blue that started being broody yesterday.

Anyone have good stock silkies eggs for sale in Tucson area?