Arizona Chickens

[Mahonri]

10 minutes to 2AM and it's still 78 degrees out there.... I usually have the windows open with a fan blowing the cool air in by now.

I suppose summer's upon us.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

10 minutes to 2AM and it's still 78 degrees out there.... I usually have the windows open with a fan blowing the cool air in by now.

I suppose summer's upon us.

We finally gave in at 10pm last night and put the AC on for the first time this year. I suppose you're right, summer is upon us.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

The top chick looks like it has some curled toes.

I noticed that too from the photo. I need to make a "boot" for the little peeper. Should I give it any special vitamins? The egg was very tiny so I am sure the poor little thing was squashed inside.

 

[MaddBaggins]

You buried hardware cloth around your coop? Laser drops? Are you referring to what is left after lazier cuts? I'm not familiar with laser drops. How deep did you go? I'm putting cinder block around my run. My nephew thinks I am foolish to worry about coyotes. Just because we're I am. WHERE AM I? In coyote county. . . I haven't seen or heard one for some time, but I know they are around. They haven't found my girls yet. I like the idea of hardware cloth under the ground. How often do you need to replace it? Our soil is hard on metals. What I wanted to do is put a 18" footer under my run wall. That is not going to happen, but that is much more doable. I like it.

I buried hardware cloth appx 6" down and lined it all with block. If they start digging, the block will cave in.
If you haven't already, look at Gallo's coop. He did an awesome job of dig proofing his coop and there's good pics of it.
Correct, laser drops are whats left of the sheet of metal after everything is cut. They're pretty cool for various projects. I use them for tomato trellis in my garden and my friend used them to make a gazebo. He planted all kinds of climbing vines around it. It turns into a green room in the summer. Lots of fabrication shops sell them. In Tucson, Ballistic Fabrication sells them 4'x8'x1/4" for $20.

 

[MaddBaggins]

We finally gave in at 10pm last night and put the AC on for the first time this year. I suppose you're right, summer is upon us.

I finally turned ours on a couple days ago.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote: You buried hardware cloth around your coop? Laser drops? Are you referring to what is left after lazier cuts? I'm not familiar with laser drops. How deep did you go? I'm putting cinder block around my run. My nephew thinks I am foolish to worry about coyotes. Just because we're I am. WHERE AM I? In coyote county. . . I haven't seen or heard one for some time, but I know they are around. They haven't found my girls yet. I like the idea of hardware cloth under the ground. How often do you need to replace it? Our soil is hard on metals. What I wanted to do is put a 18" footer under my run wall. That is not going to happen, but that is much more doable. I like it.

Back just before our first coyote attack we saw where something attempted to dig under the fence to the chicken run. It was stopped by the wire apron buried just below the surface. I really didn't think that the coyotes would spend much effort trying to dig under the fence but now I'm hearing stories from other people that indicates otherwise. Desertmarcy relayed a story about an acquaintance that had a coyote dig under the fence and get to the chickens. So, now I'm pretty glad I spent the time on the apron around the run.

For our skirt we used old 20" wide strip of 2" X 4" 14g welded wire salvaged from another project. I was planting some flowers over top of it last week and I examined the wire for degradation and it seems to be holding up fairly well for being buried for three years.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I buried hardware cloth appx 6" down and lined it all with block. If they start digging, the block will cave in.
If you haven't already, look at Gallo's coop. He did an awesome job of dig proofing his coop and there's good pics of it.
Correct, laser drops are whats left of the sheet of metal after everything is cut. They're pretty cool for various projects. I use them for tomato trellis in my garden and my friend used them to make a gazebo. He planted all kinds of climbing vines around it. It turns into a green room in the summer. Lots of fabrication shops sell them. In Tucson, Ballistic Fabrication sells them 4'x8'x1/4" for $20.

Ha! I guess we were thinking alike this morning. I'm very curious about these laser drops. I think I've seen them around the neighborhood. Do you have any pictures of one?

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
I haven't actually done it before. I just learned (after one of my hens ended up with a limp from curled toes) that you should take care of it early. I'm sure a BYC search would find how to treat it.

In other news: Opal still isn't able to roost with the others but she is much perkier, eating again and establishing herself at the top again. She still waddles but not as bad as before. I wonder what's up with her and if she is going to be able to pull out of it. How's Button?

 

[MaddBaggins]

I

Ha!  I guess we were thinking alike this morning. I'm very curious about these laser drops.  I think I've seen them around the neighborhood.  Do you have any pictures of one?

I'll take some pics tonight.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I culled Button this morning. She looked pretty bad last night and very lethargic this morning. She could barely stand. I did it before I woke my daughter. I'll tell her tonight. She'll probably be ****** at me because she didn't get to say goodbye.