Arizona Chickens

[DesertChickens1]

My NN chicks just hatched this past weekend. I'm amazed at how much they've changed already! Good luck with your hatch! 
(BTW, that Duck Week looks rather...um...yucky.  )

Thanks! And yeah, it was in an old mud bucket because that's all I had haha it looks nicer in what I have it in now

 

[City farm]

Got some Duck Weed from my friend that I'm going to attempt to grow
I also set 11 eggs to test out my friends new inqubator, if Jeffy is doing his job well then I'll have some cute NN mix babies around Feb. 12th

The chickens and duck's love it.. Keep us posted.. The few batches we got from @Sill have either gone into hiding under the water hyisenth or the mosquito fish and gold fish ate it all up..

 

[aviddamy]

I have so many things I want to try. Fodder, mealworms, BSL/composter, garden, and Duckweed. I have a blue kiddie pool that I use for everything. I think it would make a great duckweed or azolla growing pool. =D Now to just find some. Since I don't live in Phoenix, I might try ordering from gardenpool.org

 

[houdiniduck]

I have so many things I want to try. Fodder, mealworms, BSL/composter, garden, and Duckweed. I have a blue kiddie pool that I use for everything. I think it would make a great duckweed or azolla growing pool. =D Now to just find some. Since I don't live in Phoenix, I might try ordering from gardenpool.org

you are in yuma right? As a resource, I drive to yuma every couple months, so if you ever need help with something from Phoenix, I can probably help you. Every school vacation I drive my kid to and from yuma to meet up with his father from San Diego.

 

[aviddamy]

Yep, I am in Yuma. My husband goes to Phx weekly so I could probably go with him eventually. I definitely appreciate the offer. =D

 

[FeatherPugs]

Like @DesertChic said sprouting seeds is a good way to get the greens they crave. This time of year weeds are abundant. I scour my alley, the neighbors' yards, anyplace that might have unsprayed weeds. I pull them up and give the chickens the entire plant, they even pick at the roots. Most weeds are very nutritious and are eaten quickly.

I too do this EXCEPT this year. Getting over all this surgery has really taken a toll on me and I still am getting what I call jelly legs so I don't have much stamina when it comes to pulling up the weeds that they love. I was always with a bin in my car so I could stop along side the road and pull weeds - especially if they had seed on them!! - and my girls have always loved them. I do beg borrow or steal a flake of alfalfa once in a while too. They love that as well!

 

[girlchick]

My NN chicks just hatched this past weekend. I'm amazed at how much they've changed already! Good luck with your hatch!
(BTW, that Duck Week looks rather...um...yucky.

)

Congrats on the new chicks!
I need some info on hatching here in AZ. With the low humidity here, can the dry incubation method still be used with success? What % for humidity at lockdown?
Yes, I read the info about dry hatching, but there wasn't anything specific to desert climates.
Input is appreciated!
Happy note: my BCM is now giving me lovely dark brown eggs! Good girl, Brobette!

 

[DesertChic]

Congrats on the new chicks!
I need some info on hatching here in AZ. With the low humidity here, can the dry incubation method still be used with success? What % for humidity at lockdown?
Yes, I read the info about dry hatching, but there wasn't anything specific to desert climates.
Input is appreciated!
Happy note: my BCM is now giving me lovely dark brown eggs! Good girl, Brobette!

I think there are a few experienced dry incubation people here, but for the life of me I can't remember who. (Early morning brain fog.)
Since this was my first hatch I didn't have the courage to do a dry hatch. I kept my humidity around 45% until day 18, and then cranked it up to 65% during lockdown. My eggs were mail order, so I was already concerned about how many would survive shipping. I ended with a 69% hatch rate, which I was happy with for my first experience.

I did read one comment recently on one of the threads that made total sense to me....When the momma chicken sits on the eggs, she doesn't make adjustments for humidity and still manages to hatch her eggs. Now, I know that moisture from her body creates a more humid micro-environment around the eggs, but I sincerely doubt that anyone in AZ has bothered to measure that level.

If you haven't already checked it out, here's a link to dry incubation that I found very helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

 

[houdiniduck]

I think there are a few experienced dry incubation people here, but for the life of me I can't remember who. (Early morning brain fog.)
Since this was my first hatch I didn't have the courage to do a dry hatch. I kept my humidity around 45% until day 18, and then cranked it up to 65% during lockdown. My eggs were mail order, so I was already concerned about how many would survive shipping. I ended with a 69% hatch rate, which I was happy with for my first experience.

I did read one comment recently on one of the threads that made total sense to me....When the momma chicken sits on the eggs, she doesn't make adjustments for humidity and still manages to hatch her eggs. Now, I know that moisture from her body creates a more humid micro-environment around the eggs, but I sincerely doubt that anyone in AZ has bothered to measure that level.

If you haven't already checked it out, here's a link to dry incubation that I found very helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

I don't have any expert knowledge, but I am incubating in a foam bator right now and my humidity is around 12-20% I put water in there but not everyday. I candled yesterday and everything is growing. Not sure how I will increase humidity when it comes to lock down time, It doesn't seem to matter how much water I put in the channels. I guess I will just have to put some dishes of water in there or something. Kinda flying by the seat of my pants on this hatch. I am just glad that I am getting some development. I cooked the last eggs I had in. I get to go through the learning curve again with my grandpas cabinet incubator here in a few days too. hahahah.

 

[girlchick]

I don't have any expert knowledge, but I am incubating in a foam bator right now and my humidity is around 12-20% I put water in there but not everyday. I candled yesterday and everything is growing. Not sure how I will increase humidity when it comes to lock down time, It doesn't seem to matter how much water I put in the channels. I guess I will just have to put some dishes of water in there or something. Kinda flying by the seat of my pants on this hatch. I am just glad that I am getting some development. I cooked the last eggs I had in. I get to go through the learning curve again with my grandpas cabinet incubator here in a few days too. hahahah.

My first try with my incubator wasn't too great. I did get 4 healthy chicks, but started with 15 eggs. The temp stayed consistent but I had one that got stuck and I had to help her out of the shell. This really messed up the temp and humidity in the incubator by taking the egg out several times.. My humidity levels were comparable to yours prior to lockdown. I think I am going to stay with the dry method and then use dishes at lockdown when I try hatching again. decisions decisions!! LOL
Your cabinet incubator is great. Hope it works well for you.