Arizona Chickens

[mom-to-5]

We went for an early morning hike yesterday on Pontatoc Canyon trail in the Catalinas and ran across this cutie in the middle of the trail. I was filled with joy at the encounter! e

How wonderful! I would have been so excited too!!

 

[a little chiken]

Jessica,

I just work completely from scratch. I don't know all the in's and out's of design & construction, or the do's and don'ts in building something. It's very calculating and analytical, on my part, and, for the most part, experimental. I just sit on the couch with a clipboard and a few markers and ruler and start drawing. Any screwups I make during the actual construction can always be modified/corrected It's not like I'm building a mansion here.

I really get a kick out of the planning/design stage, but when it comes to the actual physical labor.....Well, I am so tired from working two jobs and need to take a few weeks off from work to do this myself. I know for a fact the extreme fatigue comes from my medications that I take for other ailments, and with that comes the depression, noise sensitivity and adrenalin rushes. I've explained this to my doctor several times, and he says, "start taking some vitamins and you'll feel better." Huh? They did run a bunch of tests to see if was low testosterome, thyroid and other stuff, to see if anything was out of balance. They found nothing.

You all don't know how I've been blessed, blessed and blessed, over and over again. I have a fabulous house (in my eyes), got into it with Zero money down because of a credit score well over 800, decent paying jobs, no credit card debt, for the time being, and no car payments.

Sorry for going so off-topic, but from all the postings I've read in this Forum, there are a bunch of compassionate folks here, and I've read your personal stories, too. Please keep me in your prayers and I may have to go to another doctor to get a second opinion. I've always been somewhat of a loner, but am very popular and social in some public circles, but something's wrong when you shut people out of your life. I haven't talked to my family in a few years, I don't pick up the phone when they call, My Dad and two brothers passed away within the last several years, never went back East to attend their funerals. I'm not going crazy or thinking suicidal thoughts, I just wanna be left alone, and that's not normal. Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky and don't want to be around people, including family, anymore.

Anyhoo, and the beat goes on....Jessica, I had alot of fun just sitting here designing stuff, and I think the plans are final. Basically assemble my lumber list, joists, screws, hardware cloth, etc. After the deck and run are done, it's on to the Coop Design. I may look at alot of pics from different websites and come up with an original BobbyB version that works for me.

That won't be the end of it...then I have to decide whether to use some type of drip irrigation for all the planter boxes, deep litter and/or sand, all the interior decorating stuff, tree branches and things to keep the girls entertained during the day, maybe stringing some lighting around the run while I'm out there in the early evening watching chicken TV.

If you want some help in design, I'll gladly hep, err, help...LOL! Just don't expect something elaborate that would require 50 people to help with a barn raising. My plans are small scale and completely amateur. At least I can draw something, but the actual construction should be left to someone who really knows what they're doing.

Sorry for the long essay (again) and thank you so much for the Ovation that I received and all that took the time to read my posting. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

Bobby, I do not often comment on your posts but I read them and I completely understand. having recently been diagnosed with some serious medical issues I am now unable to work and it really wears on me that I cannot contribute to my family. I also have removed myself from my family and although it is hard we all have our reasons. I ca tell you from personal experience that depression is debilitating and can cause tiredness and pain. I think more and more people are dealing with depression and its not talked about very often. I would recommend what makes you happy. If you are at peace with walking away from your family then its ok. None of us know why you have made the life choices you have made but you sound like a caring, loving, and giving man. Your design was fun and very functional for a backyard. I love all the thought you put into it.

speaking of which look at my pics below ...


speaking of which I have a few kittens if anybody's interested that I've been handling that have great Purr boxes on them! Lol

ugh I also have 2 tabby kittens. we rescued a few cats and guess what.....duhn duhn duhn...kittens. If anyone wants any let me know as well. I have one boy and one girl

Since I posted that I've seen it. Had to go grocery shopping and when I stepped out it ran through the yard next to the house. I came in and told my wife and we saw it again by the chicken coop. Grrr. Coop and run are pretty solid and I've never heard a peep so as long as it stays cool I'll just feed this one little rid bits of treats to make friends and keep it around. I don't like inside cats cause the hair seems to magnetize to my mouth and they are scared of stupid things. Lol. Barn cats are awesome for the job they do.
Thank you. I enjoy taking them and hope to get better as I go along. My iPhone 5 has a real good phone I think. Just the user and situation need some guidance.

Now if I can just get the right time of day for my pics. Shadows really mess you up if you don't know what you're doing.

I wish I was better at taking pic. I take a ton but I have been told I am horrible at pictures . I wanted to make a website for my farm but I guess I will have to find someone to do the pics.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

We went for an early morning hike yesterday on Pontatoc Canyon trail in the Catalinas and ran across this cutie in the middle of the trail. I was filled with joy at the encounter!

That is so great! It's been so long since I've seen one in the wild. This must be the time they are out a lot, though. My back yard desert tortoise is very active right now.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

That is so great! It's been so long since I've seen one in the wild. This must be the time they are out a lot, though. My back yard desert tortoise is very active right now.

Ya know what? That was the first wild tortoise I've ever seen here in AZ. We normally hike at much higher elevations at this time of year so we miss them. We inherited a group of captive tortoises which free range in the back yard and they are VERY active right now. Until you see a group of them, you really never realize how amorous they are. The yard today was filled with the sights and sounds of tortoise love.

Seriously, as I was trimming mesquite branches outside the wall and could hear them, I wondered what passersby must think.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

So, I know I could put this in the making coops part of the boards, but I love you local peeps! Plus you know what AZ chickens need!

Now that I've bought an incubator, and two dozen fertile eggs, I need to prepare for the arrival of more chickens. Here's what I have existing:

A store-bought coop:



Which is in the center of a 12ish x 20' pen attached to a shed used for storage:

Southerly view:



Wide shot facing East:


Facing Northeast:


I am getting a dozen Cream Legbar fertile eggs. It is my first incubator hatching, so I'm not counting on everything going right, BUT, per @AZChiknGoddess, I may need a separate pen for the adults eventually, if I want to hatch eggs from them. In the meantime, I will need a separate pen for the chicks once they can come out of the brooder box. What I would like to do (if my landlady lets me), is create two roosts inside the shed with doors to the existing outside pen. Here is the inside of shed:



It is pretty hot inside in the summer but there are three windows. There is electric in the shed, but running a fan with a bunch of pine shavings doesn't seem like an option ... let's get back to ventilation later. It will be a great three-season shelter. To make the roosts/coops inside the shed, I'd like to use existing material as much as possible. This is what I have:

1) the existing coop (above)
2) my bunny pen and hutch:

3) an old twin bed frame:


Here's a pick of the shed from the front:



My thoughts were:
1) to bring the store-bought coop up to the porch for the bunnies
2) to use the bunnies' pen inside the shed for roost #1
3) to make a hoop roost out of the twin bed frame.

I'd like to make the hoop coop small enough in height that I could move it in and out of the shed. During the summer, I could put it outside under the palo verdes even and/or use it for a baby pen ... bring it up my the house, etc.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Tick Check!!!

Well, it's that time of year. I found my first poultry tick last week and then another one a few days ago, just as I have at about this time of year every year since having chickens here in AZ. So, I post to remind folks to go out and look around their roosts right at dusk for ticks. These guys hide in crevices around the roosts during the day and come out for the first hour or so after dark to feed on the chickens. After feeding for about 30 min. to an hour, they drop off and crawl back into their hiding places. They are so good at hiding that you can have massive infestations and never know it unless you check your roosts and nest boxes at just the right time of early evening. I hope everyone checks and I hope no one finds any.

 

[chicksurreal]

Tick Check!!!

Well, it's that time of year. I found my first poultry tick last week and then another one a few days ago, just as I have at about this time of year every year since having chickens here in AZ. So, I post to remind folks to go out and look around their roosts right at dusk for ticks. These guys hide in crevices around the roosts during the day and come out for the first hour or so after dark to feed on the chickens. After feeding for about 30 min. to an hour, they drop off and crawl back into their hiding places. They are so good at hiding that you can have massive infestations and never know it unless you check your roosts and nest boxes at just the right time of early evening. I hope everyone checks and I hope no one finds any.

Thanks! This is the first year we need to check for that and I am so grateful that there are people willing and able to remind people like me!

 

[Bobby Basham]

Bobby, I do not often comment on your posts but I read them and I completely understand. having recently been diagnosed with some serious medical issues I am now unable to work and it really wears on me that I cannot contribute to my family. I also have removed myself from my family and although it is hard we all have our reasons. I ca tell you from personal experience that depression is debilitating and can cause tiredness and pain. I think more and more people are dealing with depression and its not talked about very often. I would recommend what makes you happy. If you are at peace with walking away from your family then its ok. None of us know why you have made the life choices you have made but you sound like a caring, loving, and giving man. Your design was fun and very functional for a backyard. I love all the thought you put into it.

I did PM someone earlier, but family and friends have done nothing to me. It's more of a self-frustration and anger...things I should have done, but didn't do, things I shouldn't have done, but did anyway and now have to pay the consequences for my actions. Before you can forgive others, you have to forgive yourself, and I've been beating myself up for the last 15+ years. The outside world wouldn't know it, because I hide it well and everyone thinks I'm always cheerful, happy and hilarious...I can crack some good jokes to keep you all howling, LOL!. Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying.

They say when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. Well, I've done alot of shopping in the last several years...$50K on a Concert Grand piano $4,000 on a new wardrobe, bought my FIRST house after renting for 18 years, all new furniture, 20+ console stereos which I fix up and give away, because I love the joy of giving to those who say, "Oh, I'd like to play my old LP's stacked out in the garage," giving away practically new dishwashers and microwaves to my landscape guy, because I wanted to be prissy and go to stainless steel.

I'm not starving or struggling by any means, and actually live pretty well. It's just an inner issue, material worth means nothing, though I've worked hard for the things I've obtained. Most times, we are our worst critic, and right now, I'm giving it a two thumbs down until I get my act together.

Okay, this is not the Therapy Room, straying off our beloved feathered companions, and I appreciate the PM's and prayers.

HAVE YOU HUGGED A CHICKEN TODAY? Share some of their antics/idiosyncrasies if you can. I like the one about the Delawares pecking/grooming the dog...how cute! It's still a few months down the line for me (I tend to be hesitant on new endeavors and plan way ahead in advance...What if this? What if that? What's the repercussions?) Not paraniod, just don't want any decisions to have a snowballing affect down the line.

Oh my, I've managed to babble on again. God Bless the AZ Forum. For you church goers, we were smoking today. It sounded more like a pep rally, and our band was killing it. Of course, gotta have that old Hammond B3 organ up in the mix. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

Yay, Hammond organs!

 

[jubilation]

Yay, Hammond organs!

x2 - teach organ & piano but love the jazz organ. Play for our church and we get down.