Arizona Chickens

[City farm]

I just picked up an issue of "Poultry World" July/August 2014 for an article on parasites. In it there is a walk throw of a necropsy. I remember way back there had been questions on what was being looked at. For one it was those yellow grainy bits flouting around. That is an indication of infection. The birds body anti body's, white cells and such at work. The article explains a lot. If anyone is interested I suggest you find the magazine and read the article. I do not know if there is on on-line version of the magazine. The articali bought it for did not have anything I already did not know, that is all-right, it never hurts, I never know until I read content. It confirmed that using DE in dust bath is helpful.

I have always believed in necropsy as being important, I am not surprised at just how many people do not do them and will not. It is unpleasant, and if the chicken died over 24 hours ago, it is a whole nother leave of unpleasantness. I will not touch that, at lest until I have a toxic wast suit and breather. But a fresh body it is a must. I like to know if I have something going on. I learned that I was over feeding my girls hot feed, and they had water on the heart and enlarged livers. I was unaware of hot feeds until them. Did not know the question to ask.

What is "hot feeds"?

 

[City farm]

That is so fun.. Why do we laugh at people laughing? Have your people get back to my people on that one

I dont know, I even laughed at myself for laughing, lol.

Awesome !! . . :yiipchick

 

[wldlfe]

Hi, yes, I read all of those, thanks.

I think the problem was me, not the eggs.

Temp was steadly, but the humidity was all over the place.

I'll give the Marans eggs another day or 2, but I think they are goners..

My sticky chick is doing fine, feisty little fuzzball now.

So, assuming the last 3 eggs are not viable, my hatch rate for the 15 shipped eggs is 26.7%. Bummer, but at least I have 4 adorable chickies.

A dear friend & I did the same thing with shipped eggs.. 0 zero percent success.. They were literally tossed so hard from truck to truck. More than half were broken.. We did have one make it but then died.. It was so sad..

That sucks. My hatch rate on my shipped eggs is about 80% so far. I candled My Welsh duck and my Blue Wheaton Ameraucana eggs last night I had a few quitters and one non fertile duck egg and one duck egg the air sac was in wrong position, I asume from shipment. But so far so good.

 

[wldlfe]

Hi! I'm new to BYC chicken and chickens, in general. I moved from Central Tucson to Oro Valley in January and got chicks in February. It's been an adventure!

Is there anyone else from Tucson, AZ here?

Welcome. I'm new here myself and you found a great group of people to chat with. Always helping each other out and giving great advise. And laughing at each other, lol.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Hot feed is a feed that is fattening, high calorie, and or give high energy. Corn, Oates, some grains. Usually scratch with corn is a hot feed. In cold country's it is really good to feed them hot feed. In AZ hot feed should never be given in the heat of summer, light in so ring and fall, when 40 or below give them every day. Or if you have CX they will just get fat, not more meat necessarily, but more fat for sure. The same with horses. Horses that are working are given more hot feed, oats and grains, horses will founder if given hot feed if not working.

 

[Bobby Basham]

Even though there may not be an online version, is there a website listed somewhere in the magazine where you can subscribe to their publication? --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

 

[ChuskaMtns]

My hatch rate on shipped eggs varies. I only get eggs shipped under 1000 miles away, the closer the better. I always have the seller put on the box Live Hatching Eggs - Do Not X-ray & to hold the parcel at the post office & have my phone number listed on the box. I have had a lucky 75% hatch from FL & I was sweating that one out because they were the most (at that time) I ever paid for eggs. Experienced sellers know not to scrub or was the eggs, pack well but we still have to rely on the post office.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

I just googled Poultry World magazine & got poultryworld.org. It's $50 to subscribe for a year. Think I'll stick with The Chicken Whisperer.

 

[Sill]

here is a link to a youtube vid of the chick I had to help hatch. It loves to tickle me, lol. Enjoy:

That was funny! I swear sometimes that chick was laughing.

What would cause a hens wings to be featherless? I was at someone's house tonight and she said their hens used to be in with the Roos but they were rough so she separated them. Is this the cause? Will they come back in?

Is it possible or anyone have experience training a flock to go into a pen? A few times a day is what I'm really asking about. For instance could I seperate 2 flocks and let them free range at different times of the day? It's a fairly unique situation so it's hard to ask the correct question. Anyone have to put their birds up before letting the dogs out? How do you get them in the run each time?

If the feather was pulled out it will be replaced in 4-6 weeks. If it was just broken off it will be replaced with the next molt.

My chickens come running anytime I get the black soldier fly bucket. They will even come off a nest or out of the compost bin so you know how much they love them. Really anything they can be conditioned into wanting treat-wise will get them into the coop. If you make sure to call them then treat them they will learn to come just by calling.

AWWWW, too cute!!!!!

I candled my remaining eggs tonight. The 3 Ameracaunas were quitters.

No doubts on those. The remaining BCMs are iffy.. Hard to candle those and one I couldn't see a thing. I did the float test as a last resort and all floated like viable eggs. No wiggles tho. I put them back in the incubator for a couple more days, just in case. I'm not optimistic tho.

Since this was my first time ever attempting this, and, thankfully, have 4 adorable chicks that did hatch, I'm happy.

Glad you got at least four babies! Shipped eggs can be so iffy, there's no telling what happened to them in shipping.

I do recommend trying the meaties! I've done a several small batches now, and nary a bad experience. Well, except that one time a coyote ate them before I could. These 4 I have now are the worst, but that's because they were already practically raised for me by the feed store. Raise them like regular chickens, and they pretty much act like regular (but VERY HUNGRY) chickens. And the fermented feed helps ton. I wish these 4 would take to it, because the squirty poop really is gross.

The flies. Ugh. I've gone through POUNDS and POUNDS of DE this summer. If it's actually helping...well, maybe my neighbors really are hiding some festering bodies because we can't even enjoy being outside due to the fly hordes. Holding out hope the the predator wasps are going to be doing some damage soon!

In fact, all the DE recommendations that goes on here at BYC and the gardening forum I'm part of....I'm just like, really? It has been so extremely ineffective for everything I've tried it for (pest control, ants and flies), I probably should stop wasting money on buying bags of it.

I've not found DE too successful except to deter ants from crossing it. They will always go around it unless it gets wet. I think flies and beetles eat the stuff.

Thanks for everyone chiming in.

I am taking a live-in position at a dog boarding facility starting Sept. 1. in San Tan.

The owners name is Fran and hopefully she's going to join here. Very nice lady with an Assortment of hens for eggs and Roos raising for food. She has them separated now in little sheds. The Roos seemed fine but the hens wing and back feathers are messed up. I think she's had them separated for a bit now but still no feathers. Will they come back now that they're separated?

The reason I was asking about training them to go into their run is because the dogs are let out a few times per day. They're client dogs and won't be chicken proof. The land could use the nutrient boost and pest control they provide as well. I'm sure they'll keep the place clear of ticks and fleas.

I think she and I are gonna start a garden too as it's 2.5 acres with half being empty. She's not against raising a hog or anything either. Very excited.

One step closer to our dream home and homestead with this move.

Very cool!

Hi! I'm new to BYC chicken and chickens, in general. I moved from Central Tucson to Oro Valley in January and got chicks in February. It's been an adventure!

Is there anyone else from Tucson, AZ here?

Welcome!
Yep lots of Tucson area peeps here.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

welcome. Pretty new myself and No ma'am I don't think there is anyone on here from Tucson. No one that matters anyways. Ha just pickin' on 'em. They have a big group I think.

What kind of chickens do you have?

Hi!

I originally got two barred rock and two "ameracaunas" from the feed store. Short story: left with one PBR hen. 1 Ameracauna was a rooster. Gave him away. 1 ameracauna passed away. My elderly greyhound killed the other PBR.

Then I found Marcia at Feathered Reptile in Marana. I got four pullets from her: 2 PBR, 1 RIR, 1 Blue Copper Maran. I also adopted a little leghorn hen from someone on Craigslist. She laid her first egg for me the other day. Unfortunately the RIR passed away.

I've finally named them all, albeit not too creatively:
Polly: the original PBR (outside pen in way back)
Stubby: PBR in front
Fluffy: PBR behind
Agatha: Leghorn
Bluey: Blue Copper Marans



I know the coop isn't that big ... we are expanding this weekend.