Arizona Chickens

[cactusrota]

I use alfalfa hay in my coop, nest boxes, and then I push out into run. It cost only about $4 more than straw per bale in my area. $10 vs $6 I get it at $4 per bale from a farmer directly if I'm at his farm. Replenish with fresh and clean on a as needed basis. I get more rain than my AZ friends put together. Never had a mold concern. I'm sure there is some that forms . Not all mold is dangerous. Mold is everywhere and unstoppable. If you have known allergies to mold like the kind that occurs in hay, grass, compost piles, then need to avoid for sure.
BTW talking about alfalfa for chickens to eat. I buy alfalfa pellets intended for rabbits and offer free choice to my girls. I do this during winter when nothing is growing in my lawn. It does not get consumed as compared to other treats, but does go down.

My brother lives in the Pacific NorthWet (just south of Seattle) and he uses straw all the time. Never has much of a problem. The birds seem to scratch it around enough to keep the airflow going. Mold grows better when undisturbed, so I would say if you have some in a place where the birds aren't paying it much attention then maybe getting in there with a stick and stirring it up daily might prevent any mold?
I have given the rabbit pellets to my birds too, and since they already get layer feed in pellet form they don't mind eating it up. I just put a pan out with some in it and it's usually gone by the end of the day. But i found it's expensive, and I can get the alfalfa pellets for horses for alot cheaper, but those pellets are too big so they get soaked or go in the fermented feed instead.

 

[cavemanrich]

Can you put those alfalfa pellets into a food processor and pulse them a bit and mix with something else? Just a thought.

You have lil babies, so you want to give them smaller bites., sure can be crushed or like others say, soak and serve wet.
As to the use of straw. It is more water resistant indeed. Many peeps avoid using it thinking it is responsible for impacted crop. I cant say it is or not. Have been keeping chickens for 20 years and never had a chicken with that condition yet. I get my straw for free. I'm a City Slicker. For Halloween neighbors purchase straw as decoration. Afterwards, they place curbside . There is more than enough of it thrown out. Some of it gets picked up by peeps using it for their garden beds. Rest goes into trash dump. I just grab enough for my needs and keep it stored dry, but outside, next to my bale of hay. I also sometimes get Tymothy Hay. Not sure if it is available everywhere, but by me it is common.

 

[SonoranChick]

Anyone else about to blow away? The chickens are NOT enjoying this wind at all

 

[DesertChic]

Anyone else about to blow away? The chickens are NOT enjoying this wind at all

Mine are giving me the stink-eye, as if I'm to blame for the wind. They blamed me for the rain by day two too. I've created a number of wind breaks for them, but they prefer to be as visible to me as possible. I'm pretty sure they're plotting to break into the house and chill out in front of the TV as soon as I leave for work.

 

[SonoranChick]

Mine are giving me the stink-eye, as if I'm to blame for the wind. They blamed me for the rain by day two too. I've created a number of wind breaks for them, but they prefer to be as visible to me as possible. I'm pretty sure they're plotting to break into the house and chill out in front of the TV as soon as I leave for work.

Good to know I'm not the only one getting "the look". Mine have the option of going into the coop, but no...they want to glare at me from the run lol

 

[FeatherPugs]

I was just out checking on the girls and they are NOT happy. I even left their coop closed up so they could go in there to get out of the wind. We have a good sized stand of bamboo that seems to be keeping the wind off most of them but then pecking order comes into the whole scope of things. We are supposed to get rain showers too. YUCK. I'm not dry from the giant rain yet!

 

[BlueBaby]

I was checking the overnight temps for the next few days. It's going to be colder again.

 

[azurbanclucker]

Anyone in the phx area raising barnvelders? I'm going to be looking for some chicks beginning in March. would rather get them locally if i can since I don' want to have to order a million and have them shipped.

 

[SonoranChick]

Anyone in the phx area raising barnvelders? I'm going to be looking for some chicks beginning in March. would rather get them locally if i can since I don' want to have to order a million and have them shipped.

While I am not raising them, I do have a barnevelder in my all-hen flock. I was just thinking this morning, I never hear anyone talk about that breed in particular, so I really hope you find someone locally who can help you build the flock you want! They are just gorgeous, mine looks like a cheetah with her double laced print. She's very timid, not sure if this is breed specific.

 

[azurbanclucker]

While I am not raising them, I do have a barnevelder in my all-hen flock. I was just thinking this morning, I never hear anyone talk about that breed in particular, so I really hope you find someone locally who can help you build the flock you want! They are just gorgeous, mine looks like a cheetah with her double laced print. She's very timid, not sure if this is breed specific.

Cool. I really like them and want to add some to my crew. Going to find some BLRW and a couple more gold laced 'dottes as well this year.