Arizona Chickens

[MagicChicken]

They get pasty bc they were too cold in the store probably

It looks like I'm losing the lethargic one, it's so sad just bought her this morning too

In my experience, pasty butt happens when chicks are too hot.

Sorry about the lethargic chick. Hope it recovers.

 

[MagicChicken]

I just thought I'd share a few photos of the two Silver Grey Dorkings I'm incubating eggs for right now.

First, Wesley - I actually never planned to breed this boy because in spite of his incredibly sweet and affectionate personality, he was downright skinny and had a purple sheen to his black feathers instead of green. Then I separated him from the rest of the flock, including from the dominant rooster, and suddenly Wesley became more "studly". His body filled out nicely and as he molted the new feathers showed the coveted green sheen instead of purple. He's still not as large as my other boy, but I decided to give him a chance just in case his stunted development was more about not tending to his needs early on instead of poor genetics.

View attachment 1248628

And now, Wesley's number one gal, Celine - This girl was my favorite from the start because she was so incredibly affectionate, but like Wesley she was skinny and skittish of the rest of the flock, often deprived of feed. As soon as I removed her from the Dorking pen and put her with Wesley it was obvious that there was some true love going on there. Those two literally snuggled with each other on the ground within five minutes of their union and Wesley positively dotes on Celine. She too has filled out beautifully and is so much calmer, even as she free-ranges with my NN girls, and she was the first SGD to start giving me eggs again. She STILL isn't too keen about using any of the nesting boxes, but she literally runs to me and then guides me to where she laid her egg so I may collect it, and then simply wants to be held and snuggled as a reward for her efforts.

View attachment 1248635

Awwww....

 

[BlueBaby]

thank you so much! I am looking forward to this.

Sadly 'little chica' didn't make it, i checked on her an hour ago or so and she was for sure gone, lifeless. I took her out of the brooder, at least the other 19 are full of life and running around the brooder, sweeping the pine shavings aside as they run super happy they are no longer too cold and walking on the wire mesh of their cage at the store.

funny tidbit, the bubus heard the little ones as i walked the box into the house and they weren't happy with me, but soon forgot about what they heard and happily at the treats i brought to them... lol

I'm sorry that you lost that one.

@BlueBaby i didn't do electrolytes, they were drinking electrolyte water at the store. tomorrow i will make the homemade electrolytes to put in their water.

Great! It will help to give them that extra growing energy.

 

[BlueBaby]

@Bobby Basham How are your chicks doing these day's?

 

[Bobby Basham]

Hello everyone I am a fellow Arizona chick! I have yet o start my coop and get chickens yet because i want to make sure i know as much as i can before we build our coop for the two chickens i am hoping to get. I am so happy to find fellow Arizona people and would love to pick your brains! SO happy to have found this thread! Shannon

Chickens are social critters, and I would get more than two in case one should have a mishap. You don't want a lone chicken. If you're gonna go to the trouble of building a coop, surely you can house more than two.

A coop for two birds sounds more like a honeymoon suite. Might as well get a big cardboard box. Do some research and look at the other forums about coop design and space requirements before you buy any lumber, screws and nails.

Don't limit yourself to this AZ thread, but familiarize yourself with chicken keeping in general, and explore the BYC website. There is so much information here, and you'll be well prepared when you get your chickens.

BYC website, as a whole, is awesome, and you can view all the different topics and eventually narrow down and tailor all the requirements that work for you.

Going through the AZ thread, it seems like most folks deal with diet, heat, hydration, shelter, ventilation, predators and picky eaters...LOL. And, I forgot processing (aka: butchering).

I spent the entire week going through another forum that had over 7,000 messages, to avoid posting a redundant question that had been answered a gazillion times.

Anyhoo, Welcome to the AZ forum! We have covered so many topics here, and occasionally, I go back a few hundred pages (that's how I roll) to refresh my brain of all the topics covered. It's just educational and entertaining. --BB

ETA: Sorry if I came off sounding like a grump. You've discovered a gold mine and I'm just encouraging you to go the whole nine yards and absorb as much info as you can.

 

[SonoranChick]

thank you so much! I am looking forward to this.

Sadly 'little chica' didn't make it, i checked on her an hour ago or so and she was for sure gone, lifeless. I took her out of the brooder, at least the other 19 are full of life and running around the brooder, sweeping the pine shavings aside as they run super happy they are no longer too cold and walking on the wire mesh of their cage at the store.

funny tidbit, the bubus heard the little ones as i walked the box into the house and they weren't happy with me, but soon forgot about what they heard and happily at the treats i brought to them... lol

Aw I'm sorry to hear little guy didn't make it. It's natures way I suppose. Glad to hear the rest are thriving though, they sure will keep you busy! I was wondering what the BOs would think about the new crew, definitely keep us posted. I'm loving my BO ("Waffles") so much...she likes to be picked up and carried around like a purse when I'm raking lol. Maybe she thinks she's raking too.

 

[meetthebubus]

Aw I'm sorry to hear little guy didn't make it. It's natures way I suppose. Glad to hear the rest are thriving though, they sure will keep you busy! I was wondering what the BOs would think about the new crew, definitely keep us posted. I'm loving my BO ("Waffles") so much...she likes to be picked up and carried around like a purse when I'm raking lol. Maybe she thinks she's raking too.

Buffs are the best, very forgiving trusting, when their new sisters come outside they'll love em until bedtime when finding a spot is war

Your waffles sounds like a sweetie, when I rake mine won't come near. They aren't scared since I don't use sticks or any type of intimidation to corral they just don't care for the tools.

Do you have ee's?

 

[SonoranChick]

No EEs, the hatchery had JUST run out of them when I ordered unfortunately. I wanted one in my flock so badly! I used to have have ameracaunas, and they were great. They never fought and laid fairly well...gorgeous light teal colored eggs. They also had the cutest little beards, and the roosters were sweet and docile. When I got them, they were 7 weeks old and they were not hand raised. They were terrified of me (of everything, really). I really enjoy raising my birds from a younger age and doing a much more hands on approach now.

 

[meetthebubus]

i cleared shoppers out of their ee's in chandler maybe the apache junction has some, they get random shipments in every week... what i left were red sex links (no thank you lol) or black australorps.

 

[Bobby Basham]

No EEs, the hatchery had JUST run out of them when I ordered unfortunately. I wanted one in my flock so badly! I used to have have ameracaunas, and they were great. They never fought and laid fairly well...gorgeous light teal colored eggs. They also had the cutest little beards, and the roosters were sweet and docile. When I got them, they were 7 weeks old and they were not hand raised. They were terrified of me (of everything, really). I really enjoy raising my birds from a younger age and doing a much more hands on approach now.

I don't know where you are located, but give OK Feed & Supply a call (Tucson). They receive chicks all year long and had a bunch there last week.

Their website is a re-work in progress, but they have a Facebook page run by the manager. If you post an inquiry there, he will respond back.

We are so blessed to have beautiful weather in Southern Arizona, and it may even be worth the drive if they have what you want.