Arizona Chickens

[SonoranChick]

Hi @MissLavender welcome to the AZ thread
I am going through my first molt with our hens so I don't have much info, but if they are having a particularly rough time with the molt you can try "feather fixer"- it's a type of feed that is good for feather growth. I don't remember what brand makes it...but most, if not all, feed stores should have it. It's slightly more expensive than the layer feed, but worth the price.

 

[BlueBaby]

Hey, thanks for the response! Right now I am feeding a 16% protein organic layer feed, and supplementing with black oil sunflower seeds (about 10% of their daily ration until the weather warms back up), cottage cheese (roughly 2 tbsp per bird every couple of days) and a handful of mealworms tossed out into the yard for them to "hunt" when I let them out of the coop in the morning. They also get some table scraps, such as leafy greens and the odd apple core, and the occasional scrambled egg. Does that sound about right, or do I need to adjust their feed?

Sorry I took so long to reply. I was outside with the hoe getting rid of some weeds that popped up after all of that rain. The yard was looking too green.

I agree with what @SonoranChick told you about the Feather Fixer feed. I think that @DesertChic also mentioned before that you can give them some catfood or some type of meat.

 

[nicollee]

Hello fellow Arizonians! I just got my first flock of hens back in mid September, and they're ALL molting, so I'm getting almost zero eggs at the moment. Haha. For some of them, this is their first molt and for others it's their second. It's a mixed flock of 2 BC Marans (2 yrs), 2 Dixie Rainbows (18 mos), 3 Ameraucanas (2 yrs) and an Olive Egger (18 mos). I do have one Dixie Rainbow who is laying 5 eggs a week RIGHT through a hard molt. But other than that, production has come to a screeching halt.
So my question is: about what time of year do they start laying again in this region?

Welcome to the AZ thread. After they finish molting, if you want to up the egg production, you can add a few hours light to the coop. Some people want the eggs, some folks, just figure the chickens need a break.... Depends on your own philosphy.

 

[Geranium]

@MissLavender welcome to the thread! I'm still very new to chicken keeping so I don't have any advice. Sounds like a nice flock that you have!

 

[SonoranChick]

@BlueBaby I am dreading how many weeds will likely be popping up soon! My husband had sprayed for them months ago...but I think you're right, with all this rain things are about to get very GREEN.

 

[Geranium]

I let the chicks out into their yard for a while today and they had a great time! Hopefully the weather will be nice tomorrow so I can get some work done out there.

 

[BlueBaby]

@BlueBaby I am dreading how many weeds will likely be popping up soon! My husband had sprayed for them months ago...but I think you're right, with all this rain things are about to get very GREEN.

My hubby started dragging the yard because the dirt is still moist enough that the weed's pull out of the ground easier. I took the hoe to get the one's that were closer to the coop and run where he couldn't get in good to drag.

 

[FeatherPugs]

@MissLavender Welcome! I used to live in Clarkdale - I totally loved it. Worked for Judge Graham at the Cottonwood Municipal Court the majority of 10 years. Moved to the Casa Grande/Eloy area in 1997, been here every since. I have a very mixed age flock as well - newbies to 6/7 year olds. Some are molting and some aren't - like the newbies. Some are molting really, really hard and others are just losing a tail and a wing or two. Who knows how that goes. You seem to be giving your girls good food. Everyone figures out what helps their girls along during molt, from FeatherFixer (I think Purina) to cat food. I feed mine extra chick starter. Generally its 20% protein and throw out hard cat food occasionally. They also get greens, BLO sunflower seeds and mealy worms.... the last two are good sources of protein too. The sex link breeds I have lay right through their molt! I also use supplemental lighting in my coop. I use Christmas lights, they come on at 4:30am - go off about 7am. I do not supplement at night. Chickens, as you probably know, need 14-16 hours of light for good egg production. My goal is to get my chicken yard on solar for next year - I don't use much electricity but......... Welcome again - you are doing just fine. I'm thinking you just need light for the egg production to restart.

 

[Sodell]

Hello fellow Arizonians! I just got my first flock of hens back in mid September, and they're ALL molting, so I'm getting almost zero eggs at the moment. Haha. For some of them, this is their first molt and for others it's their second. It's a mixed flock of 2 BC Marans (2 yrs), 2 Dixie Rainbows (18 mos), 3 Ameraucanas (2 yrs) and an Olive Egger (18 mos). I do have one Dixie Rainbow who is laying 5 eggs a week RIGHT through a hard molt. But other than that, production has come to a screeching halt.
So my question is: about what time of year do they start laying again in this region?

I have built my flock to over 44 including chicks and they just started laying last month. My marans and ameraucana are laying daily except for the days we have excessive rain. It takes the awhile to get used to their new home I would say a few weeks to a month before I start to see eggs. I have integrated several chickens in the last 6 months and have spent weekends building coops for all of them. So I think it’s an adjustment until they get used of their new home. I have noticed if I don’t let them free range everyday or every other day their production slows down. I think I just spoil them too much and now they expect it!

 

[BlueBaby]

I have built my flock to over 44 including chicks and they just started laying last month. My marans and ameraucana are laying daily except for the days we have excessive rain. It takes the awhile to get used to their new home I would say a few weeks to a month before I start to see eggs. I have integrated several chickens in the last 6 months and have spent weekends building coops for all of them. So I think it’s an adjustment until they get used of their new home. I have noticed if I don’t let them free range everyday or every other day their production slows down. I think I just spoil them too much and now they expect it!

Good thing that I'm taking a break from incubating egg's, or I'd probably end up with more than that! I'm a hatch-a-holic.