Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

Cement pipes that they can walk into bt also a water drip onto the pipe.it will make cool air inside .i did it onces for a dog.place a few. Gal bottles. On top with a pin hole in the bottles .as it. Drys it will drop the temp as much as 20 deg..it has too be a tube also makes its own air flow

Hello, Xfarmer! I noticed that you are new to the BYC site. Welcome! What part of AZ. are you in?

 

[DesertChic]

Is there a specific type of meat you feed? is it cooked or raw?

Nothing specific, but I don't feed them poultry of any sort. It just doesn't seem right. When I had a hen in very prolonged, very severe molt, feeding her lamb plus extra greens seemed to give me the best results. I suspect she was deficient in some nutrient as she never stopped laying jumbo-sized eggs six days per week. Just 24 hours after feeding her the organic lamb treat she started sprouting pin feathers. This is her, Rizzo, at her worst:

 

[DesertChic]

@meetthebubus - I've used the source that DesertChic mentioned. They have great feed. It is milled in Montana and trucked in a few days later. There is a central pickup in Tucson once every couple of months. There is also a similar group for the Phoenix area.

I had to switch to pelleted feed from another source because the organic feed group only has mash and the birds were wasting a lot of it. The birds did well on the mash from the organic feed group while they were on it. You do have to plan ahead, and be able to store two months worth of feed at a time if you go that route. But it is good stuff.

I always soak the feed in 5-gallon buckets. Not only does it cut down on waste but it also increases digestibility, nutrient availability, and hydration in our hot, dry desert. I frequently add either yogurt, kefir, or ProBios to the soaking feed, which has the effect of semi-fermenting the feed. My chickens LOVE it!

 

[BlueBaby]

Just a little reminder... Who's going to be there?

Arizona State Fair Poultry Show October 6-29, 2017

 

[cactusrota]

Yeah, I've been feeding my birds meat for years without any indication of increased aggression. In fact, when they're molting heavily I typically notice an increase in feather picking, but once I start feeding them meat that behavior becomes far less prevalent. That said, all chickens turn into ravenous sharks at the introduction of ANY special treat. (Just my opinion. )

Haha! The very idea just makes me think of the movie Oliver!.... Never feed orphans meat!
I would think it would be the other way around, that witholding it would cause aggression due to the increased hunger for it...

btw - what are the chances I could get you to pick me up a extra bag next time you go and I could meet you in Benson to get it? I'd like to try it out but that's a 3.5 hour drive for me.

 

[DesertChic]

Haha! The very idea just makes me think of the movie Oliver!.... Never feed orphans meat!
I would think it would be the other way around, that witholding it would cause aggression due to the increased hunger for it...

btw - what are the chances I could get you to pick me up a extra bag next time you go and I could meet you in Benson to get it? I'd like to try it out but that's a 3.5 hour drive for me.

Unfortunately, not good. I own two businesses and a farm and really don't have much in the way of spare time. Round trip to Benson would be over 2 hours of driving for me. (I used to work down there.) I just don't have that kind of time to spare. Sorry.

 

[DesertChic]

Just a little reminder... Who's going to be there?

Arizona State Fair Poultry Show October 6-29, 2017

I hope to make it to the Tucson show, but unfortunately won't be able to make it to Phoenix.

 

[nicollee]

...
This is her, Rizzo, at her worst:

View attachment 1152935

Poor Rizzo....

 

[meetthebubus]

Well no one practically is eating feed I switched from dumor to Purina and no change most are molting, or actually both growing feathers and molting and they are not laying many eggs,

I've observed in the past the times when egg production is up they are better eaters, and when they aren't laying their appetite I'd down so maybe that's it... we'll see

 

[DesertChic]

Well no one practically is eating feed I switched from dumor to Purina and no change most are molting, or actually both growing feathers and molting and they are not laying many eggs,

I've observed in the past the times when egg production is up they are better eaters, and when they aren't laying their appetite I'd down so maybe that's it... we'll see

Strange....my chickens actually eat more during molt.