Arizona Chickens

[Demosthine]

I just bought my first four broilers Saturday, so I'll be on the same learning curve as you. I am leaving them on the same feed as all my other birds, which is slightly lower protein than the broiler food, so they'll mature a little slower. That's fine by me. I wound rather have healthier birds.

My reading so far says they poop a LOT, but if you ferment feed, it helps immensely with the smell. Mine will be free ranging with the flock, so no free-loading from me!

These were $1.99 each, though. I think they are first weekers, 'cause I chose the smaller, best developed ones at the store.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Purple eggs are quite rare; come from croad langshans; there are a very, very few langshan breeders in the US that may have birds that lay a pale purple. I haven't kept up with it, so you probably need to check out the langshan threads.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I just read the egg color link and wanted to say i have seen pink eggs! One of the hens at the ranch lays them. i thought this was normal as she has a ton of mixes up there.

Most "pink" eggs are actually a light brown hue. You have to look at the INSIDE of the eggshell to know that the shell itself is pink.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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.

Walley Coop or
Side-Wall Coupe (you'd have to paint it white, like the old 50's and early 60's tires, give it two doors and maybe decorate with tail fins)

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:

Thanks for all the welcomes peeps!

I do miss this place but busy as busy can be.

In addition to teaching @ MCC 2 nights a week I'm taking an AutoCAD class during the other two.

Hahahahahahahaha! done with the remodel? ha!
It is 93% done but you know me...

We bought the house behind us and fixing it up makes our remodel look like a weekend project.

Also spun a bearing in Lil'blue's engine so we're going to splice a 30 year newer engine / drive-line into it.

We got the crew-cab swap onto the duce & a half about finished, just needs the interior.

On the bright side I've made a deal with a buddy to finish the galvanized coop/tractor monstrosity.

And we's gonna get some peeps!

I'll be on the roof tomorrow so I'll snap some picts of the stuff.

I'm down to 8 cluckers:

Dot (AKA Fat Dot) red broiler that I'm still in love with
Meow and Dash - Red layers
Both Gretchens (barred rocks who are friendly as all get out)
Princess's sister (Wellsummer) Princess passed away and her mean step sister survives
Gisselle (GSL - also darn friendly)
Fuzzy (the Silky cochin cross who brought death to my flock (Lost 20 birds))

The Control Tower said if the fish pond goes I could have ten more.
ten - 25 whatever it takes...

I really want some App Spitz.
I'd like blue egg layers.
And a couple black Australorps to replace the ones I lost & maybe some splashed or spangled cuties.

That's ten, right?
Of each, right?

 

[countrygirl74]

I just bought my first four broilers Saturday, so I'll be on the same learning curve as you. I am leaving them on the same feed as all my other birds, which is slightly lower protein than the broiler food, so they'll mature a little slower. That's fine by me. I wound rather have healthier birds.

My reading so far says they poop a LOT, but if you ferment feed, it helps immensely with the smell. Mine will be free ranging with the flock, so no free-loading from me!

These were $1.99 each, though. I think they are first weekers, 'cause I chose the smaller, best developed ones at the store.

We are just leaving them on the same feed as well so I guess we'll wait until closer to 10 weeks?? I showed my sister how to ferment the organic mash before I left so they will be on a good ff. The reason ours were .75 is because the store just wanted to get rid of them as they were already 3 weeks old. One of them has spraddle leg so my daughter wanted to bring that one home to nurse it. She named it too - somehow she can do that even knowing that it's going to be processed. I can't - I don't want to spend much time with anything I know I'm going to kill.

 

[pipemum]

Quick question: do cochins and wyandottes do okay in our summers? I have full shade, but I won't be going to extraordinary lengths to keep chickens cool. I'm not sure about the fluffy breeds and the heat.

eta: by "our" summers, I meant Tucson heat.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quick question: do cochins and wyandottes do okay in our summers? I have full shade, but I won't be going to extraordinary lengths to keep chickens cool. I'm not sure about the fluffy breeds and the heat.

eta: by "our" summers, I meant Tucson heat.

For the most part, a chicken's ability to deal with heat seems to be more of an individual trait, rather than a trait characteristic of the breed (there are exceptions of course). Lots of people here in southern AZ raise cochins and wyandottes. Oh, and

 

[pipemum]

Thanks for the welcome!

 

[City farm]

Quick question:  do cochins and wyandottes do okay in our summers?  I have full shade, but I won't be going to extraordinary lengths to keep chickens cool.   I'm not sure about the fluffy breeds and the heat. 

eta: by "our" summers, I meant Tucson heat.

I hope so, we have a partridge Cochin.. She will be one in July.. We kept a fan going all day & night.. We plan on doing
the same this summer. Along with misters & more free range..