Arizona Chickens

[Sonoran Silkies]

I don't know what to say about all the egg slackers...

I know I'm not quite as hot up here as you guys down south but it's still been high 90's, almost 100 for days...

I am still getting an egg every day from every single one of my big girls. My new pullets aren't old enough to lay yet. I get 5 eggs every day, 1 each from the following breeds:
RIR - brown
2 Barred Rocks - light brown
EE - green (every once in a while, maybe 1x a week, she doesn't lay)
White Silkie - creamy white (today she gave me 2!)

I got a bunch of new pullets to help when my others might slack off during hot summers or cold winters but geesh, these girls aren't taking any breaks yet! I am overrun with eggs! Need to start selling!

Chickens lay less when stressed. In many parts of the country, that is during winter; in the hot summers of Arizona desert, it is summer that is "low egg season."

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Two eggs today. I have been doing a little math as to the book and expected egg prediction. I am short about 6 eggs a week. Whinny (2 yrs old), and 3 others I think are giving me 1 to 2 eggs a week. The blue ones are easy, 5, 4, & 4 a week, leaving my RIR, Lucy as me best layer, 5 med eggs a week. So everybody is laying. Every other day I get a large egg, that is what was confusing me. I still need more eggs to meet the demand from my family. I'm happy with my girls, but it would be nice more eggs.

I have really missed spending time with them now that they are penned up and I have been so busy inside. After tomorrow I will be spending more time in their pen, just hanging out. The misters the way I have it seems to work. They were panting but every time I looked out there they were moving around and they are eating pretty good. I put a black Home Depot cement mixer under one of my misting nosils. It is cross threaded to it drips. It gives them fresh water and a constant refill.

But I am going to worry about them. can't help it. I will be back before noon, but I do not know just how active I will be. Have to be at the hospital by 5:30 AM. Feed and water the girls before I go. And the mister turns on.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

it happened again.

 

[MaddBaggins]

take a pic of it (if you can), next to something so we can see its size. Or maybe grab video when you release it & the chickens hunt it down?

Of course, I just read this and it's too late.

That was quite a good show. It gave me some laughs for a couple minutes.

 

[Arizonachicken]

Hi all, Thus far my 2 hens ( 15 months-standard bred good shepherd barred rocks) and 2 Super Blue Egg Layer pullets ( 6 months old- hybrid cross from true ameraucana and white production leghorn) are still laying almost daily...averaging 3 a day from 4. the eggs are nice sized and excellent quality...so, I suppose they are being real troopers with the heat and all...they may slow up some by late July though I figure...cumulative heat stress by then...i believe lots of fresh spinach, meal worms plus quality organic grower mash and being on a good wormer regimen 3 times yearly I think is tilting the scale in my favor. who knows? sticking with it though

what a difference the misters make and frozen 16 oz plastic water bottles in their water buckets make for their comfort in this Hell's Kitchen Heat! New Chick report: I hatched some english blue and some chocolate orpingtons today....adorable! a few real nice quality Buff Orps hatching Friday....Buff Rocks in 9 days...I have the new hatchlings in my garage...no brooder light from mid morning until 10pm...my garage stays around 97-100 mid late afternoons....if it gets over 100, I turn the fan on to take a few degrees off and add ventilation...wierd brooding chicks without a heat lamp...they have a 125 watt on at night... I will try to post some pics of them tomorrow or Friday...figure everyone enjoys chick pics!!!

Hitting the proverbial sack now...Peace Out, Cindy

I'm curious...what is your worming regimine? What do you use and how do you administer it? And please post chick pics! Will you be selling any of those little beauties? I have 4 broodies and 2 are sharing 7 eggs...I might need more chicks. They are due tomorrow. I only gave them 4, but someone has apparently been sneaking eggs under them so I don't know if they'll all hatch at the same time.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

it happened again.

What happened?

 

[Sheof3Angels]

Not sure what's up with your waterer. I've got two and have never had a problem with either one. I dump the water out of the base to swish the dirt and crud out and let it refill with clean water a couple of times a day. I haven't had rust issues, either. My birds go through most of the water in 2-3 days. Sounds like your waterer may be on the large side for the number of birds you have. Could be all you need to do is swish the waterer out more often.

It looks like your waterer is close to ground level. I elevate mine so the water level is about the same height as my birds' backs. It is sitting on a concrete block to keep it above the litter. The elevation helps keep some of the grunge out of it.

In the top picture we have actually put the watering can on top of cinder blocks too. I'm really thinking it's just because the canister is pretty old. I'm on a mission today to get a new watering system. Crossing my fingers, don't really want to spend too much.

 

[Sheof3Angels]

it happened again.

Please don't tell me it is what I think it is????

 

[lmckeiver2236]

We are new chicken owners, having inherited the start of our flock from our friends who sold it to us. We currently have 8 hens and 2 roosters. How much should I feed and what do Arizona chickens seem to do the best with. Should they be wormed? Anything else? We are remodeling the chicken coop this weekend and are going to add misters to help keep them cool. Thanks.

 

[Menmyrc]

itsredcandy raises quail

Thanks! I will try and contact itsredcandy!