Arizona Chickens

[AZKat]

It was pouring rain while I was grocery shopping in Tempe, but when I got home to Mesa, it was just barely sprinkling. I hope it really opens up tonight, we need the rain in the worst way.

I got to meet Becky an her daughter today, to look at a couple of hens that I need to rehome to make room for new pullets. I'm glad to know that they are going to go to a little girl who will dote on them, and I hope that they will help to comfort her friend's daughter during this difficult time.
It was really good to meet Becky and I wish we'd had more time to hang out and talk chickens. Maybe we could plan a meet for once it cools down.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

It poured rain here too, although I wasn't here to enjoy it. I got to drive home in it though.

The "yard" part of my coop that's covered with no sides got a little damp, but not soggy. The inner part stayed dry! Yay!

I saved a gecko from the girls. I hardly ever see gecko here. I saw a lot more of them in Tucson.
It was so pretty I had to move it to a portion of the yard that the girls never go to.
That's one thing I miss from before roaming chickens... the lizards. They have either packed up and left or have been eaten.

AZKat, I enjoyed meeting you too. Your chicken set up is very cool and Mahonri's rooster is gorgeous.
(BTW, I was outside this morning and the ants were everywhere, biting me constantly.

)

 

[newchickmom09]

LareePQG~ I would say your age guess is probably really close. My aunt, two houses, away got one given to her 4 years ago. This one is named Hummer and he just cracks me up. He got that name because at first everything that they put him in or he came cross he would go right threw or over. I think they do have a personality....you can never understand that until you own one. My cousin will go out and pick prickly pear fruit for him when they ripen out in the desert. Then my aunt burns off the stickers, cutes them in half, and Hummer just goes nuts. Hummer just woke up about 2 to 3 weeks ago.

We have been getting a good amount of rain around here.

I think my hens are thankful, they don't sit around all day panting. Yesterday we had some left over honeydew and I thought the chickens might enjoy it. I put it in the freezer for about an hour, just long enought to get it real chilled. My daughter took it out to the coop and put it down on the ground. At first they thought it was an alien. The the chicks ran up to it and pecked at it. They are learning that if they don't get in there first then they won't get any of the treats.

After those chicks started to dive in then here came the big gals like a stampede over my daughter and everything. All I could do was sit there a laugh. She had three hens on her lap and the other three were huddled right around her knees.

It was in a matter of seconds from when those chicks took there first bite and my daughter setting down with it then came the stampede.

maggiemooscluckers~ Anytime is a good time to get chickens in AZ.

Just make sure they have water and shade and they will be fine.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Poured here, so I was out bailing water off of coop tops. No coops actually flooded, but one is open enough that all the birds were soaked (so brought onto porch for the night), and I moves most of the young birds from the coop that had the worst water on the roof problems. I was thoroughly soaked by the time I came in.

 

[LarryPQ]

We ended up with 3 whole minutes of rain. Big drops, but nothing looked wet when it was done.

LareePQG~ My cousin will go out and pick prickly pear fruit for him when they ripen out in the desert. Then my aunt burns off the stickers, cutes them in half, and Hummer just goes nuts. Hummer just woke up about 2 to 3 weeks ago.

Sonoran- You know how 44th street wraps around the mountain and turns into Tatum? Do you think I would get arrested if I harvested some of the TONS fruit dropping in the medians/along the walkways? I am not going to back a truck up or anything, allthough I WOULD if I thought the chickens would eat it.​

 

[gckiddhouse]

Hey all! Nice tortoises! Aren't they fun! Except that the desert tortoises sleep most of the year. My in-laws like to keep the desert spurge growing for theirs.

I found a yuck on one of my Polish girls this morning. It looks like some sort of skin infection. She is missing all her feathers on one side of her neck and the skin looks just awful. There is more irritation around it where she still has feathers. I can't imagine she has had this for very long as i just inspected her about a week ago. I just don't think I could have missed this. That would mean that it is moving fast and I should have a completely bald chicken in about 4 weeks. Any ideas what this is?? When my daughter gets up I will get a pic and start a thread in the other section, but wondered if anyone has dealt with anything like this.

One broody gave up and the other doesn't have any eggs, so she just sits on the edge of the box as if waiting for some to show up. Don't think she will give up. Anyone know where I can get her a chick?

On the up side, I roasted 2 of my roosters and made a delicious chicken and rice soup! We have been eating that for 2 days. Still have enough for a lunch. Those scrawny roos taste really good, but are so lean that soup was really all they could do. I suppose they would make a nice enchilada casserole, or green chili. Maybe I will try that next.

My notices just don't come anymore, so I will just have to make a point of coming by a few times a week. Makes it really hard to keep up with this thread.

Mahonri - have a safe trip back!

Have a great day all!

 

[maggiemooscluckers]

Thanks Overrun with chickens and Chicken obsessed, I was thinking about going ahead and getting my chicks and just keeping them in the house where I can control the heat situation. I would really like to have producing layers this winter instead of in the spring. I did however visit the local feed store and they won't be getting in their chicks until late September. I was trying to avoid the high cost of shipping for just 5-6 chicks. If you have any suggestions I am all ears. I am thinking about BO's, SLW's, and Plymoth Rocks. I also am considering 10-15 FR's for meat chickens. Read that they were better for meat.

 

[LarryPQ]

Thanks Overrun with chickens and Chicken obsessed,

You are so CUTE!

I AM JUST teasing. Those are their "Titles" or a title given to them based on the # of times they have posted on BYC. Not their names. You can see my title is Custom and says, "Pickled kumquat" but my name is "LAREE" (Larry).

You are a "New Egg" because you have under 100 posts.​

 

[rufus]

I don't think anyone would care if someone harvested the prickly pear tunas. The best place to get them used to be just off the Black Canyon highway on the east side opposite the rest stop.

Keep a sharp eye out for rattlers.

Use long handled kitchen forks and a long knife.

They used to make jelly and candy out of them. I suppose most of the old folks that did that are dead already, but I bet you could find the recipe on line.

Also, the Indians used to make an intoxicating drink out of them. They would get crazy drunk, and sometimes really bad things would happen. It was called tulapai.

The Mexicans used to make something similar called tisguine. It is pronounced tisween. If anyone offers you a drink of this stuff, just tell them your religion forbids it. That way nobody's feelings are hurt, and you don't have to drink it.

The pads of the prickly pear when young make a delicious vegetable. Cut them before they get tough and peal and dice them. Then fry them in a little bacon grease. A lot of snotty stuff will come out of them. You want to cook them until it is gone.

They are called nopales. The prickly pear is called nopal in Spanish.

My mother survived the depression eating nopales and rattle snakes.

Rufus

 

[rufus]

Quote:
You would be surprised what you can buy at Food City. It smells like the mercado in Mexico. I think it must be the meat department and the fruit and vegetable departments that give off that aroma.

Rufus