Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

I can't speak about Bielefelders, but in general, the activity level of the bird is very important, so is personality. For example, I had andalusians, about 4.5 lbs per hen. They needed a lot of space because they're not super nice to each other and a bit nervous, and like to roam. I had amberlinks that were about the same size as the andalusians, and they were so calm you could put them in a smaller space than the andalusians.

I agree with you. Sometimes it depends on what breed that you have as to how friendly that they can be to each other. Mine are all getting along, and the adult's aren't being merciless to the younger ones in there with them. 2 of the pullet's should start laying egg's next month, but 4 pullet's won't start until in April. The cockerel in there with them is the same age as the last group of pullet's that I mentioned.

 

[igorsMistress]

Bluebaby, question for you, or anyone. If 10 sq ft per chicken is the general rule of thumb for minimal run space for standard chickens, what is the minimum for Bielefelders? They are so much bigger than most chickens. Do you use a different rule of thumb for run and roost space for them?

I can't speak about Bielefelders, but in general, the activity level of the bird is very important, so is personality. For example, I had andalusians, about 4.5 lbs per hen. They needed a lot of space because they're not super nice to each other and a bit nervous, and like to roam. I had amberlinks that were about the same size as the andalusians, and they were so calm you could put them in a smaller space than the andalusians.

I agree with springvalley, it really does depend on the activity level of the birds. I think the things you do enrich their environment also play a role. Things to jump on, stuff to scratch around in, etc are important. A wide open space with nothing to distract can be as bad a small space.

 

[BlueBaby]

My next door neighbor that bought the Naked Neck's from me was excited today. Her hen's molted and were taking a long time to start laying egg's again. She had to buy store bought egg's. Anyway's, she got 2 egg's from the hen's today, and told me that it was like getting 2 nugget's of gold. I told her maybe this year she should start preserving some of those egg's when they start laying like crazy so that she won't have to buy the store bought one's in the fall and winter.

 

[Happy Novogens]

My next door neighbor that bought the Naked Neck's from me was excited today. Her hen's molted and were taking a long time to start laying egg's again. She had to buy store bought egg's. Anyway's, she got 2 egg's from the hen's today, and told me that it was like getting 2 nugget's of gold. I told her maybe this year she should start preserving some of those egg's when they start laying like crazy so that she won't have to buy the store bought one's in the fall and winter.

I haven't gotten a single egg from any of my 3 Easter Eggers for over a week now.
My Novogen Browns, on the other hand, are each giving me an egg per day. So I'm getting just 2 eggs per day. Thankfully that's been enough for us so that we haven't had to buy any yet.

 

[igorsMistress]

I’m getting eggs again, enough to share with a friend from time to time.

 

[springvalley123]

I’m getting eggs again, enough to share with a friend from time to time.

Excellent! I've got 4 out of 5 laying, just the legbar/ee slacker now.

 

[igorsMistress]

Excellent! I've got 4 out of 5 laying, just the legbar/ee slacker now.

Nice! I shared and am going to have to make some deviled eggs tomorrow. We got out of the habit of eating them when we weren’t getting any!

 

[cavemanrich]

going to have to make some deviled eggs tomorrow.

 

[CommonSalt]

Hi everyone, I'm looking (like so many people) to offset the egg use for my household. We don't eat meat, so this will be purely for eggs. We have a couple raised garden beds that are empty. I was thinking of emptying one out, putting hardware cloth along the top, and using it as a run for some bantams or some button (king) quail. Does anyone have experience doing something like this?

Likewise, does anyone sell bantams, buttons, or coturnix quail out in the Mesa/AJ area? Even though the eggs are astoundingly small, we are heavily leaning toward button quail because we only go through about dozen eggs a week, and many of our recipes (ramen, fried noodles, etc) call for quail eggs instead of chicken eggs anyway.

 

[BlueBaby]

Hi everyone, I'm looking (like so many people) to offset the egg use for my household. We don't eat meat, so this will be purely for eggs. We have a couple raised garden beds that are empty. I was thinking of emptying one out, putting hardware cloth along the top, and using it as a run for some bantams or some button (king) quail. Does anyone have experience doing something like this?

Likewise, does anyone sell bantams, buttons, or coturnix quail out in the Mesa/AJ area? Even though the eggs are astoundingly small, we are heavily leaning toward button quail because we only go through about dozen eggs a week, and many of our recipes (ramen, fried noodles, etc) call for quail eggs instead of chicken eggs anyway.

Have you checked the Phoenix Craigslist? I seen someone selling quail and quail egg's on it recently.