Arizona Chickens

[FeatherPugs]

I collect more often in the summer because I check on the birds more often with the heat and such as that - just naturally happens that way.

 

[meetthebubus]

As my new girls begin to lay I'd probably collect during day bc there is so many lol
Seems like every time I'm outside there is one laying so I never disturb them, but that's just how my set up goes, either way you are good and when they are new layers you'll probably gather them right away it's exciting I still remember the first egg....

Mohawkie (poor girl), was laying, I saw an egg by her, she didn't know yet to lay on top of the other egg, I slowly grabbed the egg, she looked a bit freaked
I went running into the house to my sleeping family showing them the small wonder

Anyone else remember their first egg?

 

[Catwest]

I have a feeling I will be out checking on the hens a lot in the summer because it will be our first time and I’ll be a paranoid helicopter chicken mom

 

[Catwest]

I took these photos Monday and forgot to share! It’s not too easy to get good chick photos, I’ve learned.

 

[DesertChic]

I have a feeling I will be out checking on the hens a lot in the summer because it will be our first time and I’ll be a paranoid helicopter chicken mom

You won't be alone in that mentality. I give myself heatstroke every single summer caring for my flocks' needs. That's part of the reason I've been working so much harder during the cooler months to plan shade areas, plant trees, etc. so each summer I can work a little less hard than the year before. This year....I'm buying a tractor/backhoe so I can make REAL progress rather than killing myself with just a shovel and wheelbarrow.

 

[Catwest]

You won't be alone in that mentality. I give myself heatstroke every single summer caring for my flocks' needs. That's part of the reason I've been working so much harder during the cooler months to plan shade areas, plant trees, etc. so each summer I can work a little less hard than the year before. This year....I'm buying a tractor/backhoe so I can make REAL progress rather than killing myself with just a shovel and wheelbarrow.

Digging in this AZ hard dirt is the worst! We dug the post holes for our run last weekend and we had to dig a little and soak - then repeat 4 times. And then the dogs filled the holes back in running around

 

[DesertChic]

Digging in this AZ hard dirt is the worst! We dug the post holes for our run last weekend and we had to dig a little and soak - then repeat 4 times. And then the dogs filled the holes back in running around

Yep! That's the truth! I decided to transplant a couple pepper plants I started from seed at the end of last year. I wanted to dig a hole 6" wide and 12" deep, but got down a few inches and hit a 20 lb boulder along with a whole bunch of smaller rocks. Water wouldn't drain unless I pulled them out....so my hole wound up being about 2 feet wide and 18" deep, then backfilled with compost. Ugh!

 

[BlueBaby]

I took these photos Monday and forgot to share! It’s not too easy to get good chick photos, I’ve learned.
View attachment 1308096 View attachment 1308104 View attachment 1308101 View attachment 1308099 View attachment 1308098

Thank's for sharing! They look like they are coming along well!

Digging in this AZ hard dirt is the worst! We dug the post holes for our run last weekend and we had to dig a little and soak - then repeat 4 times. And then the dogs filled the holes back in running around

Yes, wetting it helps. That's how my hubby is able to remove those desert broom plants too, because those have deep roots.

 

[BlueBaby]

Yep! That's the truth! I decided to transplant a couple pepper plants I started from seed at the end of last year. I wanted to dig a hole 6" wide and 12" deep, but got down a few inches and hit a 20 lb boulder along with a whole bunch of smaller rocks. Water wouldn't drain unless I pulled them out....so my hole wound up being about 2 feet wide and 18" deep, then backfilled with compost. Ugh!

I guess that is why so many people around here use those above ground boxes to grow stuff in around here. The only things that grow really good themselves directly in the ground around here is the weeds!

 

[Jadesun6]

Hi guys! I hope everyone has been well. Sorry it's been awhile. Its going to take awhile to read the thread to get caught up in what's been going on. We've been SUPER busy over here. We remodeling our kitchen. I have been prepping, staining and appling polyurethane to all the cabinets we bought. I have almost half of the old cabinets ripped out to get a jump start on the project. My husband is off next week and we will be installing them. My new stove just came in today. Can't wait till it's all done! So after Easter things should go back to normal I hope!

I also bought an incubator recently. I put 24 eggs in it to see how well it worked. Last week I hatched 20 chicks. One didn't make it. I'm pretty excited I did so well with my first try! BlueBaby gave me lots of great advice. I hatched black and blue Easter eggers and 1 black and 1 yellow Aulstrolph x California white cross. It's funny to see 1 yellow chick in a sea of black and blue. I'll get some more pictures soon!

Last week we stopped in at TSC to pick up dog food and of course I always have to see the chicks. They had all chicks and ducks marked down to 25 cents. I picked up some Marans. We sell lots of eggs to people at my husband's work. I've wanted a couple to add extra color to the eggs. Most of the customers love the diversity of the colors.
Here's the Marans

I just threw in a picture of the lovely shades of eggs because I could!