Arizona Chickens

Howdy Folks!

I know I know - it's been a while.

To coin a metaphor, I've cut it in half and am now burning all 4 ends.

However, the control tower has approved getting a few (she said ten, it may be a few more, like 25) new peepers.

So here I am!

Anyone have any Appenzeller Spitzhaubens?

You're alive!!!! With school winding down we should be seeing you around more often eh?
 
The building of the new coop continues.  I have to create a name for it, though.  I'm at quite the loss.  Since it's at the end of my side yard, walled in by two fences and the house, I was thinking the "Dead End Henhouse," but that's got a bit of a dark side to it.  And then there's the Coop-de-Sac, but it just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Anyway, I dug out the flooring so that it goes about a foot below the lower frame of the front wall.  That should be more than enough space for the deep litter method.  Now, to go out, cut a few more pieces and complete the cross braces for the roost.  Oh, and I ordered the pressure reducer today from QC Supply, so that I can run it directly from my water main to the nipples.  No more buckets in the main coop.  It's adjustable from 3psi to 10psi.  Since it'll be mounted down near the floor and the water line will run upwards, that'll reduce the water pressure roughly 1/2psi per foot.  Currently, my nipples are lopsided.  One set is at 12" above the coop floor, while the other set is at 18".  I plan on having the main coop at 12", 18" and 24".  That should reduce my pressure by 1psi, 1/2psi and 2psi.  Since the coop floor will vary by roughly 6" over the year, I need to have several options.  Besides, that will better accommodate the chicks, Silkies, and full size chickens.  Not everyone drinks at the same height.

Guess I better get back to it.  I'm burning daylight here.


I love the idea of the nipples, my DH & i are not that mechanically inclined.. I might need to come and check out
your set up for that with our neighbor that has those skills..
 
I love the idea of the nipples, my DH & i are not that set up for that with our neighbor that has those skills..


It's really quite simple. Basically, you just use a 11/32" drill bit to put the holes in the pipe and then hand thread the nipples in. I went slightly more detailed because I have a tap-and-die set, so I threaded the holes in the pipe first, instead of having the nipple do that. But you're always welcome to come check out our stuff. Or, when you're ready, we can get together and I can come help you do it at your place.

My biggest recommendation is to buy the good ones from QC Supply, though. They are less than half the price of the ones at Pratt's and the Stock Shop, but are far better quality. I use the Poly/Stainless Steel 360 Degree Poultry Nipple. The push in type is very solid for bucket setups, too.

I can't vouch for the other online stores, but the local stores were complete cheap arse junk for far more money.
 
City farm, check out chickenfountain.com they have the whole thing built for a reasonable cost. I could waste a lot more $ attempting to make it or just save myself the frustration and buy it from them ready to attach to my faucet.
 
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City farm, check out chickenfountain.com they have the whole thing built for a reasonable cost. I could waste a lot more $ attempting to make it or just save myself the frustration and buy it from them ready to attach to my faucet.


Now that is a very nice product. I'm spending half the amount of that mini-kit on just my adjustable regulator. If I wasn't such a do-it-yourself person, I'd have to buy one! Heck, if I hadn't just completed the order yesterday, I might still have done it.
 
Quote: OK here we go!

5 gal Homer bucket with a good quality swamp cooler valve inside (the $12 one, not the $5 one) set to as low as it will go.
(So the bucket doesn't fill up with more than 3 - 4 inches of water)

3 - 4 watering nipples in the bottom and plumb it directly to city water.

Hang it by the handle (that's why you don't want it full of water)

Done!
 
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City Farm: I was kidding about doing it.  Well, mostly kidding.  I would love to take that on as a project, but roos aren't a realistic thing for me for the forseeable future, and I don't have the thousands of dollars laying around that it would take to import a bunch of Langshans.

Jeepgirl: Eggs that are a pinkish brown aren't uncommon, is the egg pink all the way through?

Mikey: Good to see you back!  My Pet Chicken has Appenzeller Spitzuhauben, they are supposed to be pretty hardy.

 

Well, ok.. I did get egg cited for purple! Since I only opened and sent the link to my email to read later, I would only
want a hen.. It sounds like it involves to much breeding.. Our chickens are for eggs, not to breed.. We just ended up having
a new batch to help out a school project & for one of my dearest girlfriends. She lost about 4 hens last summer..

I have found 3 laying hens for her.. But seriously nothing is like raising them from day old chicks..
We might ave 4-7 left by Monday. So if anyone wants some cuties maybe even 1 polish, PM us...
 
I'm right there with you, I'd love to have a chicken that laid purple eggs! Pink would be awesome too! If I lived on several acres in the country, and had several thousand dollars to invest in importing the birds, I'd be all over this :D
 

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