Arizona Chickens

[cap1717]

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Hi, last year, when they were just pullets, I gave them frozen ice blocks, set into pans, for them to cool off with. With the completion of my new coop / run structure this past spring, I incorporated the pans with shallow water (about 1 - 1 1/2 inches) when they were first introduced to their new digs, and they took to them immediatly. I have not needed the ice this summer as the run has several layers of shade. . .even on hot days (like yesterday, for instance) I will find one or two of the girls "sunbathing" in a hot dry place. . . .the only panting I have had this summer is when they are in the nest boxes. . . .other than that, everyone seems healthy, happy and comfortable.

Layers of shade....yes. Unfortunately, my coop/run gets blasted directly by sun from about 2-4pm daily. Grape vines over the run help, but I need more tree-cover. My girls pant a lot when the temps get to 110 or higher. I have frozen gallon jugs in water pans, but nothing big enough for them to get into, just drink from. I will change that now. My girls are somewhat spoilt. They have free access to the yard from 5:30 am to dusk, but tend to spend the majority of the day in the run. They get into trouble when the lure of the garden overcomes their aversion to the heat right around 2-4 pm. I just went out and watered one of the citrus and they are wading in the tree-ring (that is a first). I used to water the trees automatically in the wee hours of the morning, but someone here (Rufus?) suggested staggering the irrigation over days so that they have a wet tree to get under. I think that is a good idea. So do my birds. Maybe they'll go into a larger pan now. -Todd.

Todd, my girls love to play in the mud and the puddles when I water the plants in their run. . . .that is probably a great way to get them used to stepping in water.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

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I look forward to tying out your method - what we were doing just wasn't working. We got plenty of beetles, but they wouldn't reproduce! They were the large mealworms, though, so after reading your directions I wonder if this was part of the problem? Thanks for the tips on this...I'm sure our chooks will be grateful!

I'd say good luck, but you really won't need it. It really is that simple. Stick with the standard worms; they have an extremely rapid life cycle and reproduce at tremendous rates. Get your worms from a couple different sources if you can and add more worms when your first beetles start disappearing. That will get you off to a faster start. The chickens go crazy for them; they really do seem to lose their minds when I come calling with the bowl of worms. I have to take great care not to give away any cues when I go to collect them for feeding. If they ever found out where the worms live, they'd be on the patio all the time. Everyone with chickens should have them; it's such an easy, cheap source of protein.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Cap1717: I just realized that my girls really haven't been exposed to puddles. I remembered reading about the horrors of muddy runs and I've avoided that problem. That, plus the fact that this week is the first rain they probably remember. The last time it rained they were just coming out of the brooder. They were so funny when it rained last week for the first time. They really thought the sky was falling. I guess this has been a week of new experiences and exploration for them.

Tepary: entomology bug = good. Backyard Hefeweizen = much better.

 

[cap1717]

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I think the "horror of damp, muddy runs" is just not very applicable to the desert southwest, at least not in the summer. I always let things dry up in any particular spot. . . to avoid the spread of disease, etc., use good fly control, etc., and so far at least (keeping fingers crossed and knocking on wood) I have had no disease and no problems. My main concern in the summer is keeping them cool and comfortable. . ..in the winter they just have their drinking water, one big waterer outdoors and a slightly smaller one indoors, a nice big dry coop that they can be contained in if the weather is really bad, and of course plenty of food, love and treats.

 

[Dakoda]

newchickmom09: Dakoda~ Congrats on the new roos! Do you have any hens for them or are you planning on getting any hens for them? I think seramas are just beautiful little chickens. They kind of remind me of chihuahuas...all that attitude in a little body.

No plans for hens just yet. We're nervous enough with the roosters and can just imagine how worried we'd be with hens too. We're not sure what we're doing yet.


Gallo del Cielo: Dakoda: Welcome to BYC; your three birds must be a riot to watch! I'm so jealous of those that can have roosters.

Our little Serama roosters are so much fun to watch. The llamas don't know what to think of them!

 

[a2ms4chickens]

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All I have are the dutch and oegb, and they aren't laying very well. I only got 1 egg today.

I don't know if she is looking for standards, but these are bantams.

Let me know if she would still be interested and I'll hold the eggs.

Angie

 

[joel david]

Arg! Now I am suffering from the dreaded "no update notice glitch". I'm on my wife's puter until mine comes back from repair or gets replaced so hopefully it is because of the way her cookie handling is set up or something.

The coop needs a good cleaning and I am soooo looking forward to doing that in the heat. Those of you doing deep litter how long do you let your litter compost before putting it on plants or lawn. The pullets have been getting on the feeder and scratching out all of the feed in a couple days, when I made the feeder I put a 24 inch pot tray under the bucket I'm switching it out for a16 inch one to see if that helps. Basil seems to be starting to molt. And lastly I have a new layer, I got a pullet bullet on Saturday and got one that matched yesterday and today. So either she wants to be a real good layer or I suppose more than the one could have started.

Oh, also thank you for the worm 411!

 

[NoSkiveez]

Newchickmom - I love the cactus garden!

I've managed to collect 6 blue polish eggs in the past few days. I think all are laying. They seem to be laying quite consistantly. I don't think the roo is fertilizing them but I put them in the Bator anyway. I have a silkie egg in there that just may be my first viable silkie from eggs laid here. Its about 12 days in.

I'm really hoping that this egg hatches. It gives me hope for the egg I just out in today. I hate the waiting game. I'm so impatient.

 

[Mahonri]

Today: High 73 Low 62

We slept with the window open here in the resort.

Swam in the ocean yesterday afternoon. NICE.

Hope DS#1 and #3 are keeping track of the chickens in Phoenix.

Disneyland and CA Adventure today.

 

[tofuranch]

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HAVE a VERY nice day....sounds like it has been nice so far