Arizona Chickens

[cactusrota]

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.

Oh! I thought you went up to Tucson to pick up your order and thought maybe I could meet you on your way back. If you get it delivered that's a whole nother thing... No probs...

 

[cactusrota]

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

Arizona State Fair Poultry Show October 6-29, 2017

We're having our Graham County Fair this weekend and Willcox is having their Rex Allen days this weekend too.... so not likely for me.

 

[MagicChicken]

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

Mine too.

 

[Eighty806]

I'm having chickens for the first time this year and I started in March. I'm in Rio Verde. I didn't do anything special, I provided them with plenty of shades and water and food. They did OK for their first summer. Also, certain breeds are more heat tolerant than others.

 

[meetthebubus]

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

That's what I would think too but I'm just speculating, it could be I've spoiled them with scratch, or it could be the weather throwing them off (colder than hot) or I could be worrying for nothing and they're all just in a rut lol I got 4 eggs yesterday out of 7 so that's better....

 

[Eighty806]

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:

View attachment 1152935

OMG, is this during summer? I'm a first timer in raising chickens and my flock has not molted yet.

 

[Stynch]

We are looking for 2-3 started pullets/hens to replenish our aging flock. We're open to any full-sized breed as long as they are good layers. Location is west of Phoenix. Thanks

 

[DesertChic]

OMG, is this during summer? I'm a first timer in raising chickens and my flock has not molted yet.

In my experience, molting times are a little bit different here than in colder parts of the country. I usually don't have to feed meat during the hottest days of summer, thankfully. Plus, there are more insects for them to eat in the summer, so they get plenty of protein then.

I took that photo of Rizzo last November. Believe it or not, she went through the entire winter, spring, and summer looking like that. It's only in the past few weeks that she suddenly burst into feather spikes all at once. She spent one week looking more like a hedgehog than a chicken, and by last week all of the feathers had "bloomed" except her tail feathers, which are coming in this week. Strange bird.

 

[DesertChic]

I'm having chickens for the first time this year and I started in March. I'm in Rio Verde. I didn't do anything special, I provided them with plenty of shades and water and food. They did OK for their first summer. Also, certain breeds are more heat tolerant than others.

My primary breed is the Naked Neck Turken because, in my experience, they laugh off heat that sends other birds to the brink of death. Here are a few of my beauties:

 

[SonoranChick]

Sorry but I have to brag! We got our first egg yesterday! And another today. I know it's my leghorn because it's white. She got some extra loving We are so excited!