Arizona Chickens

[Sonoran Silkies]

Thanks everyone. I'd like to say my story was a warning about complacency towards urban predators (and maybe it does that). But truth is, it was a calculated risk I had thought I had accepted. The reality of the cost seems quite dear. For the first two years of chicken raising here in Tucson we free ranged them only under supervision. In the worst heat of last summer we had to leave the chickens with our house sitter and we decided that we would let the girls free-range unsupervised during the day so that they could find the coolest places in the yard as they normally do when we're here. Since then they've been let out in the morning and locked up just before sunset without incident. I guess the luck just ran out.

I think the coyote was, in fact, returning from eating our cat the previous day. I let poor Rocket outside at 4:30 am and he didn't come back in at 8 am as he usually does. I think the coyote chased him into the back yard and over the wall, where he was caught. Maybe it saw the chickens then. I'm pretty sure it came back today as well. The birds didn't come down off the roost until nearly 11 and they didn't beg to be let out all day.

I wished there was something I could do about the coyote. Being in the center of such a large city limits my options. Of course the best option in keeping them safe is to lock them up.

Call Game and Fish and ask them what you can do. I am pretty sure you can live-trap. You may need to hire a trapper who will be able to dispose of it afterwards for you, and will know best how and where to place and bait the trap. So sorry about your poor cat, too

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Absolutely!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Bugs have ears?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

The silkie additon





One day will live in the silkie addition



See Noel..they do go up the ramp! LOL
I had forgotten to turn the light on and they were waiting at the door. Once the light popped on, they went in.

So how much do you charge to build those? VERY NICE! I need more coops, and/or a couple of rebuilds....

 

[City farm]

Mama hen Chris ,
Where do you get your straw that you use in your coops for them to lay?

 

[Arizonachicken]

I *THINK* my blue Marans finally laid her first egg! I didn't catch her in the act, but I found a darker brown egg this morning.

Here's a picture next to an egg from my production red:

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Mama hen Chris ,
Where do you get your straw that you use in your coops for them to lay?

I get the 13 x 13 excelsior nesting pads. No more messes of kicked out shavings on sand floor.


http://www.eggcartons.com/searchresults.asp?cat=1901

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

So how much do you charge to build those? VERY NICE! I need more coops, and/or a couple of rebuilds....

Thanks...Hubby built these. Maybe I can rent him out

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Is there more information on the Phoenix show available? Location would be helpful. I might make a run up from Tucson to check it out.

Noel and I are going on Thursday the 31st

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Not sure why the attachment didn't show. Is at the AZ State Fairgrounds 19th Ave and McDowell enter at 17th Ave.

Noel and I are going on Thursday the 31st