Arizona Chickens

[CaroleW]

Excellent idea! You can do that with any multi-cooker/pressure cooker:
put the eggs in on the rack with about 1.5 cup water, put the eggs in, set for high pressure for 5 minutes (steam vent shut). cook 5 min, then keep it shut another 5, then open the steam vent and take out the eggs. It really does work!
There's another version for a vegetable/rice cooker, where you put the eggs in the vegetable basket with water in the pot and cook about 25 minutes, almost as good as the pressure cooker version.
I have a crock pot multi cooker because after 3 replacements my instant pot wouldn't safely (or at all) cook food in the slow cooker mode. I find my crock pot brand works on all the modes I've tried so far...

I just tried the rice cooker recipe for boiled eggs you gave me - It is great! 2 of 4 peeled almost perfectly and the other 2 only got a little egg stuck to the shell -Thank you so much! I had been keeping eggs for weeks to get them ready to boil - now I can do it within the week and save lots of fridge space and get more ready to eat quickly!

I think you could just use any steamer too, doesn't have to be a rice cooker. Now I don't have to buy another kitchen gadget either. Thanks again!

 

[AngBantamLuv]

I think Weed 'em and Reap on YT built a natural pool with catfish or tilapia(?) with filter system after lots of research and pond owner interviews. They are in Gilbert (I think). Might be worth checking out to glean what you can from their example. They also have a variety of animals that may sometimes be in/near the pool and the humans swim in it too.

Yea there is a natural pond builder i considered when i first moved in, and ive watched a few backyard diy shows on tv where they dig out natural pools.. it's pretty cool!

 

[springvalley123]

...I've been worrying about what someone might say if they came in and saw a jar of eggshells saved on the counter. Non-chicken people probably wouldn't understand.

It's your house, if they say something, educate them and set them straight!

 

[igorsMistress]

There are hawks & coyote closer than you think even in Phoenix. I'm in Mesa almost in Tempe and I know we have both from time to time. Especially if you are anywhere near a trail system, canal, Salt River, or mountain reserves, the zoo or any parks you will be surprised what wildlife runs thru the neighborhoods and alleys and back & forth from those trails systems.

Absolutely! Raccoons and owls come to mind as well.

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

There are hawks & coyote closer than you think even in Phoenix. I'm in Mesa almost in Tempe and I know we have both from time to time. Especially if you are anywhere near a trail system, canal, Salt River, or mountain reserves, the zoo or any parks you will be surprised what wildlife runs thru the neighborhoods and alleys and back & forth from those trails systems.

Loose dogs, too.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Do any of you that have, or had D'uccles in the past, notice them panting a LOT? Minnie seems fine, but Daisy has always panted non stop. At first i thought she was just panting because she needed to lay an egg... but I am noticing it is even on her non laying days. She is still eating and drinking, acts normal otherwise, but its honestly all the time. Her comb is a little dry, same as Minnie's, but doesn't seem pale or dark or anything odd. I keep the house at around 75. The only time I notice the others panting is if ive been holding them for a while, but im not holding Daisy.

Here she is in the center.. mouth always open and she is panting.

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

Poor Daisy! Could she have something stuck in her mouth that's causing her pain?

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Poor Daisy! Could she have something stuck in her mouth that's causing her pain?

Well shes not shaking her head, everything else seems normal.. and this isn't new.. when i look at her mouth (which is easy since its always open) there doesn't appear to be anything abnormal. She is a great egg layer, sometimes i get daily eggs from her, so it seems like her overall health is good... but to me its like she is running hot. Since i only have the 2 D'uccles, i wasn't sure if this is something they might just do.

 

[BlueBaby]

Well shes not shaking her head, everything else seems normal.. and this isn't new.. when i look at her mouth (which is easy since its always open) there doesn't appear to be anything abnormal. She is a great egg layer, sometimes i get daily eggs from her, so it seems like her overall health is good... but to me its like she is running hot. Since i only have the 2 D'uccles, i wasn't sure if this is something they might just do.

What about her nostril's? Anything blocking them and causing her to breathe through her mouth instead?

 

[AngBantamLuv]

What about her nostril's? Anything blocking them and causing her to breathe through her mouth instead?

Just checked, and her nostrils are dry and clear, i can see up her little nostrils in fact. Nothing looks dry or crusty around her nose, beak or eyes. When i did pick her up just now, she got over excited, and even w her beak closed, it almost reminds me of heavy asthma breathing.