Arizona Chickens

[NoSkiveez]

Rufus- I have two pens I could run controls over. Same age/size/production type. I'm curious to see if it will kick starts some eggs.

Pinksparrow-how old are your children? Mine are 15,8, 19 month old twins and 6 months.

Bob-Im sorry to hear about the little peep and quacker.

 

[rufus]

Quote:
OK, let's give it a try.

Rufus

 

[gckiddhouse]

hey all!! Miss you guys! I don't often get the update emails, so I just have to remember once in a while to come in and check out what's going on...

It is an absolutely gorgeous morning!!! Really wanted to go running under the low clouds, but several reasons I can't. Darn. Think they will still be around tomorrow? (fat chance)

We had all our chickens start molting about 2 months ago-ish. But, considering that the coop still looks like a chicken exploded, I would say that some of them are STILL molting!!! We rake it out every week and then poof! more feathers.

I think most are laying. We were up to 10 per day, but now I think maybe 7 or 8. I am STILL waiting on the Polish girls (4) and the BWA to lay their first egg. I picked up 3 green eggs yesterday and thought for a moment that maybe the BWA had finally gotten her rear in gear, but we figured out it was from the previous evening and from an EE.

On flies - not that I have figured out the magic, but I don't believe that flies are breeding in the chicken coop (at least not at my house). They come as adults, attracted to the chicken pen. What has helped us is to hang those nasty fly trap bags - but not near the coop! We hang them at the back of the yard and the flies go there instead of near the coop. The folks behind us have horses, so I suspect they are coming from there and the fly traps are between the horses and the coop. Hopefully it catches them on their way over. Anyway, it does cut down on the number of flies. This has been a banner year for flies!

Cluckin - if you lived closer I would consider the meat bird thing. We are getting close to butchering ours. They will be 9 weeks on T-day. They are not up to weight yet. I was just about to go over to the meat bird section and ask some questions.
I will tell you all that meat birds STINK! They are just not as pleasant to have around as the layers. EW!!

Can't wait to get them out of my garden.

Mahonri - Still waiting for a broody so I can get some of those dark eggs...

 

[Bob's Henhouse]

Yeah, and both raindrops landed on my windshield.

I'm just happy that some of the rye seed I threw out is sprouting. It was leftover from last year, and it was borderline too late to plant it. In a couple of days I'll know it the fescue will sprout. Hopefully i'll have enough greens to keep the girls happy.

 

[5pinkarrows]

Quote:
I assume you meant me? I have 5 kids, arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior (Psalm 127:3), and my arrows are pink since they are ALL girls. My kids are 12, 9, 5, 3, and 21 months. I can't believe you have 3 kids that little! That would be so hard, but soooo fun, too! Precious!

 

[5pinkarrows]

Quote:
What makes the chickens molt anyway? I have had chickens for a year and a half, and don't think we have had anything you could consider a molt. We see a few feathers here and there, but nothing serious. My little Candy Cane was mostly bare on her back from our previous rooster. Then, after surviving the coyote attack that took said rooster, she lost most of the feathers on her belly. She looked awful. I assume it was stress. It's all back now. We had a coyote try to get into the coop, and the silkies lost a bunch of feathers instantly. I couldn't tell by looking at them, but there was a big pile of feathers where they were standing when the coyote walked up. That's pretty much it.

As for flies, we use those stinky traps, too. We still have a lot of flies, but those things will be full with literally hundreds, so I know they are doing their job. I have one hanging on the coop, but I'll try moving it. We don't have any horses around, but we have free range cattle. Thanks for the tip!

And thanks for the chili pepper idea! I will let a friend with eggless hens know. I can't wait to hear how the experiment turns out.
~Ginger

 

[squeakyballs]

Mahonri! Here are the pictures of Snoop Chicken, check out all her bling. The gold feathers make a chain around her neck

I'm sorry for taking so long to upload them!

I'm sorry to hear about everyone's problems with molting and the lack of eggs. We aren't getting many here, either.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
She is just cool. Was the egg white and small or cream and medium?

I don't remember, I know the dad is the Blue Wheaten Ameraucana and the mom is either the Bearded Buff laced or her daughter whose daddy was a white crested blue. I'm thinking the mom was the white one, BUT... if I didn't know better I'd almost think the Marans roo got to the polish girl with how dark she is!

 

[gckiddhouse]

I am enjoying watching the Ironman triathletes cross the finish line! What an amazing accomplishment!! And what a great day for a race like that.

I think the weather and their age determine a molt. Mine have always done it in the fall. I can't tell that mine are molting by looking at them, but there are feathers everywhere and if I pick up a chicken and feel her feathers, I find that they are growing lots of new feathers. I think I am noticing the feathers more because we aren't using any bedding material. So on the dirt, there are just feathers.

 

[gckiddhouse]

Check out this Polish mix roo!! He's a looker! http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/grd/2031202145.html