Arizona Chickens

[MaddBaggins]

Very cool that your dog doesn't view the chickens as chew toys!

That was the first time she's been free to roam with them. I was concerned because she kills pretty much everything that gets in the yard. Many rabbits and doves have met a dire fate in the 8 years we've had her.
I won't be leaving her alone with the chickens just yet.

 

[desertmarcy]

I have been feeding this since last fall. I happen to ferment my feed so no waste there. On the first order I ran out and had to buy the junk from the feedstore (they were out of purina and only had krouse, which looks like it is nothing but corn and soy and of course not organic) My birds wouldn't hardly eat it, even tho they had had it before, they were looking at me like "what the h*ll is this cr*p?" While I haven't done a side by side test my birds reaction to the other feed tells me a lot. They really seem to do better and look better on the organic feed.

I will also say that I have been hatching a lot of eggs this month and they are 99% fertile with 90% hatches of big healthy chicks. My eggs have nice big bright yellow to orange yolks that stand up well in the pan. I love this feed.

I was talking to Scott Brown, the coordinator, at the last pick up and he says we are almost at a full truck load for the Tempe drop. But to get monthly delivery we would have to double the order we have now, since with a monthly drop people would only order half as much.

I feed the 17% layer with fish meal to all my adults and feed the 20%broiler grower as a chick starter and grower, even small day olds are able to handle the cracked grains in it since I ferment it and it's soft.

I am not surprised the birds turned up their beaks at the non-organic as opposed to this feed. What I wonder is comparison between this and Modesto, which is organic. The Modesto feed I get is about the same price, although I do have shipping charge on top of it. Their corn-soy free layer pellet does contain canola. Also, they do not have a turkey feed whereas Big Sky does although I'd like to see the percentage more like 28% not 26%. For the convenience of having a pallet dropped right here, I think I will stick with Modesto.

 

[pollo disco]

Just picked up my 2 Rio Grande turkey chicks last night. They are just amazing. One difference I noted. They sing ALOT. Not like chick peeps but a whistle that is a quad stuccato. Cute but gets old when the house is quiet. Lol. My friend picked up 2 more (4total) so in the hopes of a couple of toms and some good hens. We will see.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I have a song fest going on right now, 3 girls are doing egg song. Just goes to prove, Beware of what you wish for. e but breakfast delivered fresh......

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: By breed standard, toulouse are supposed to have the dewlap. Not having it means that if you entered them in a show they would not place, or might be DQed (I don't have their written standard to verify whether it is considered a fault or a disqualification).

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Kukupecpec, a house goose will make for one big diaper!

http://www.thegoosesmother.com/id47.html This is the diaper information; the whole website is facinating, nd has a LOT of information about house geese and ducks.

 

[kukupecpec]

I tried a couple duck diaper places (one very expensive) and this is was my favorite AND least expensive... I also got wonderful chicken saddles.
http://www.chickensaddlesanddiapers.webs.com/

I actually make these =) This is the pattern I modeled mine after. I LOVE it for my serama, but I'm afraid it won't keep the mess away from my gosling since their poop is so watery. Might be great once she is full grown though!!!

By breed standard, toulouse are supposed to have the dewlap. Not having it means that if you entered them in a show they would not place, or might be DQed (I don't have their written standard to verify whether it is considered a fault or a disqualification).

Ahh ok. Well I don't show any of my animals. They are all pets or for food ha. I think I prefer the Toulouse without the dewlap. Kinda makes them look like saggy old lady chins hehe

http://www.thegoosesmother.com/id47.html This is the diaper information; the whole website is facinating, nd has a LOT of information about house geese and ducks.

I love this site! I actually have been emailing her some gosling questions. Great information! I wasn't able to buy a gosling diaper from her though as they are just too expensive for me.

 

[countrygirl74]

I actually make these =) This is the pattern I modeled mine after. I LOVE it for my serama, but I'm afraid it won't keep the mess away from my gosling since their poop is so watery. Might be great once she is full grown though!!!

Are geese poos more watery than ducks?? Just curious because by doing ff with my ducks, their poop is pretty solid. When I had one in the house with a diaper on for a short time, I could just empty the diaper by turning it over and it just plopped out - no water mess. Although, on occasion, with certain treats, they will get some watery ones. Have fun with your gosling! I can't wait until I move someday and get some more land as I want to get a couple geese.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: I beleve one of her books has the pattern, which would allow you to make your own. The Goose Mother passed away from lung cancer several years ago; she used to be a regular at the Renaissance Festival. Also, Ruth of chickendiapers.com now lives in Arizona, so sending work her way would help out one of our own

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I got my first 8' section of my chicken run up... Kind of. I have been working on it all day. I have enough material for one side. I should have enough to start building the second side. Will not be able to put it up until some time next month. I plan on putting a door on that side, you know all coops have 2 doors or it is not a coop. The clamps is still on it because I have to wait until dark to finish it. My bees were fine with me working in their corner this morning, but, now I am a little ripe after a little over 8 hrs. I didn't get stung, but at 4' to 8' from their hive I was something of true interest. So I retreated.

the bee hive intervene is about 6" from the corner of the shed and the first block. Blondie when she was a couple of months old thought they would be good to eat. . . when still alive. The other girls pick up the dead ones. Now Blondie leaves both dead and alive alone.

My nephews bees will be here in a few days. I will be keeping them on my property. that means he will have to come over more often. I will be able to ask him for help putting on the lintel and setting then corner posts. The white posts leaning against the shed are going to be my corner posts. Sadly, physics gets in my way, you know that gravity thing, plus having only two hand as well as vertically challenged. Sometimes you just need help to make a job go better.