Arizona Chickens

[vegaschick]

Quote:
Definately!!! Some may call it friendly but really it is annoying. I have three. My handicapped sister calls them the "Biter's" and they stress her out. I've tried to teach her to push on their backs and hold them to the ground, to calmly and (hopefully) gently push them away, but her favorite is to pick them up and throw them away from her. Unfortunately they seem to like this and just keep coming back for more. They are constantly pecking at everything and everyone. I like to hang out in the coop with the chickens and I gotta admit that they make it less enjoyable. They'd better be laying machines cuz personality wise they're first in line for the crock pot.

My 3 dellies are 6 1/2 months old and they each lay probably 6 days a week. give or take. so they are dependable, they are bigger than i thought they would be and they definately make it hard to clean out the run. i make nice piles of crap and turn around and they have it scattered everywhere, they peck the paint off my house, chase my cochins and peck everything in sight and scare my kids. but they are not mean, they are like the annoying little brother who won't stop poking you!

Exactly, and if my sis could lift my brother, she'd probably try to throw him away from her too! ...and just like the biters, he'd be back for more!

 

[pastrymama]

Quote:
oh my, i watched it and honestly wanted to throw up. all of my friends know that i have chickens(and more on the way). i am the "misfit crazy chicken lady of the bunch" and some one them won't touch my eggs because it's not food unless it came from a grocery store. gotta love denial. my place is clean, my animals are well cared for, it just doesn't make sense to me. but their kids come over and go gaga over the chickens and you can see the moms squirm when little susie is holding big brahma, like she going to get the hante virus or something.people can be so afraid and ignorant of what they don't know.

 

[cluckin_crazy]

All this Delaware talk is making me want one. I had a couple Del chicks back when i got my very first ones, but they had wonky legs and were sickly. I had to buy (GASP!) eggs a while back and got some from a lady in Gilbert whose Delaware had just started laying that week... the egg kept the carton from closing properly!! I wanted one BAD at that moment.

I got some new 20 week old sex links about a week and a half ago and all three of them are already laying which thrills me... BUT they are teensy little eggs. Hopefully they get it together - I feel bad giving people eggs that are barely bigger than a quail's!

Speaking of quail, the eggs I got from NoSkiveez are due to hatch today/tomorrow. We'll see how it goes. The temp in my little $20 dome bator isn't very reliable.

 

[constance]

Quote:
Thanks for the tip NoSkiveez. I'd love to have the variety you have (including the goats!), but just can't do it here, and I am afraid if I have more than one permanent coop I'll end up with more chickens than my neighbors are willing to put up with.

NoSkiveez, what breeds are you trying to sell, besides Polish? Sorry, but my colleague has a couple of those and complains about them all the time. I don't need a bird that can't find its food, water, or friends! And I am not patient enough to give them hairdoos, although your's with the bow is awfully cute

Way to go with Goner, what a great story!

 

[squeakyballs]

Quote:
That, plus amount of antibiotics that is necessary to keep the animals alive in such living conditions (which creates antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria), is why I'm a vegetarian.

Even "free range" critters aren't treated any better.

If I won't eat eggs from abused chickens, then it applies to the meat too. It isn't like the meaties are treated (or fed) better. I don't want to eat meat from something that lived such a terrible life.

I know there are other options (like buying a share of meat from a 4H kid) but it is easier to just boycott the entire industry.

 

[mahalo4]

TT! I just raise all my own I love meat too much to give it up!!

 

[squeakyballs]

That's awesome! I'm too squeamish to do it, but it is such a better situation!

 

[mahalo4]

We have done it for generations so just a part of life here.

 

[constance]

TT! :

Quote:
That, plus amount of antibiotics that is necessary to keep the animals alive in such living conditions (which creates antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria), is why I'm a vegetarian.

Even "free range" critters aren't treated any better.

If I won't eat eggs from abused chickens, then it applies to the meat too. It isn't like the meaties are treated (or fed) better. I don't want to eat meat from something that lived such a terrible life.

I know there are other options (like buying a share of meat from a 4H kid) but it is easier to just boycott the entire industry.

TT - I am with you on boycotting the industry. I also don't support buying eggs or meat unless it comes from a known, humane source, although I do purchase from local ranchers and egg suppliers (grrrr to my hens who are not laying) I have met and trust.

Mahalo - I have thought about raising my own meat birds, but am not sure I could "do the deed." Do you process yours yourself?​

 

[ca]

Couple pics of my 12 week old chicks: