Arizona Chickens

[City farm]

Thanks all!


I can not wait to start this adventure. I started off by making an incubator and had some friends give us some fertile eggs. Got 14 of 18 to hatch and my wife and kids cried when i gave the chicks away to the family who gave us the eggs and some family. Needless to say we have the bird bug and look forward to quail.


Will post some picts and more info as things progress.


Aaron

I remember having quail as a kid,  
My dad could not bear to see them locked up in a cage,
so they got turned loose and lived on the side of the house for a few years 
till some wild predator finally took the flock down... 

they were a blast to watch!!!!

Your kids will adore them!!

 

[City farm]

Hi! I am a new chicken momma to a red, barred rock, Orpington, and americauna. First night was last night. Was told all but the Orpington are a year, and the orp is 8 months. Already got an egg this morning!

Open to any and all tips! We are in Gilbert on a 1/4 acre. Have a 10x5 dog run for our run. No coop, but roosting posts.

What are your secrets to keeping them cool and happy?

We have fan's, pot's for them to stand in.. Cold or frozen treats..

 

[City farm]

Does anyone here make their own fodder? If so, where do you buy your barley?

Also, what is everyones watering system? I'm just refilling a bowl every day but it gets moldy and I need a new method. 

We have had galvanized, that had rust so it went buy, buy.. Then plastic, sometimes slimmy.. We wash with baking soda.. Bought the cup's.. They won't use, or has not figured out how to use.. GET'S crusty calcium build up.. So now we are going to try a plastic container with nipples.. Once it cools down.. For now we are using the gallon plastic.. I refill everyday..

 

[City farm]

Back a month or 3, I got some more black copper Marans from @desertmarcy. One of the pullets has started laying, today is her second egg. Still small, but nice color.......

.

The cockerels have excellent color too!

Now I gotta get some of those..
I plan on making a trip down there this fall.. Want to go to @MaddBaggins new bar...

 

[City farm]

Back a month or 3, I got some more black copper Marans from @desertmarcy. One of the pullets has started laying, today is her second egg. Still small, but nice color.......

.

The cockerels have excellent color too!

OH WAIT!!!!
ENABLER...

 

[MagicChicken]

Quote: I myself would prefer the plastic to the metal pans for them even though it's in the shade I do use in the shade Huge flower pot saucers but I think the oil drain pans would be larger that you can put more water in it so it can stay cool for longer under the shade. But this is just an opinion from an ongoing Medical student and Somebody who is very particular about what her chickens get To use!.. The other thing is I'm not sure I would want them to drink from galvanized steel pans. But those are just my thoughts and preferences.

I use black rubber bowls similar in size and shape to the metal pan being discussed. The rubber bowls supplement the two and three gallon galvanized "founts" that are the primary water sources in each coop/run. The chickens love to stand in the bowls. You can get them at most feed stores. Mine are made by Fortex. They are tough, they don't get quite as hot as metal, and they last a long time. I use them in the winter, too, because they are easy to kick ice out of when it freezes. They work great.

( @FeatherPugs and @desertrocks )

 

[generaldsherman]

Now I gotta get some of those..
I plan on making a trip down there this fall.. Want to go to @MaddBaggins new bar...

Over Easy chicken ranch in Queen Creek has them. Paid $10 for my maran chick and $15 for my blue Isbar.

 

[tschmaltz722]

Luck would have it that the skies open up and pour rain down on my 2nd night... Praying they stay quiet tonight bc I don't want to trample through mud to quiet them!

 

[cyborg]

So, anybody in the Tucson area have Muscovies for sale?

 

[DesertChic]

I finally caved and gave my persistently broody White Rock pullet a half dozen fertile eggs to hatch. I spent three weeks trying to break her broodiness with zero success, and when I finally tucked the eggs under she was so happy she actually started cooing, which was a refreshing change from her usual growls and puffing up. I'm not thrilled with her choice of locations as the nesting box is in the pen with the rest of her flock, but she flat out refused to be relocated. So...my first natural hatch...I hope!