Arizona Chickens

[pollo disco]

Just starting to get into the monsoon season here on the border. The girls are doing well. I have been taking pails of water and soaking the run for them to play in. Hot and muggy is not much fun. Still no eggs yet. But they are maturing into some big birds alright! What are you guys feeding these days? I am currently using some Multi-flock crumble mixed into some layer pellets. I had some scratch that was left over and since I really don't feed that much right now with the heat, I added that as well. seems to be getting along well. As for leftovers, spring salad and tomatoes goes over really well. Gonna look for some watermelon today. Hope all is well, Gravy and Din-Din my Rio Grande Turkeys say hi. Take care folks.

 

[desertmarcy]

It has been awhile since I have written anything but I have been in now and again to read. I came on today to ask you, Desertmarcy, about what that thing is that is hanging on my turkey and while I was catching up the pages I have missed while away I came to your post about pendulous crop! My poor, sweet BlueBell was showing that. She is 6 this summer and started to have this thing hanging off her neck. When I went to check her over she was skin and bones under her feathers! I had to put her down.

Now one of the meat turkeys has a big sack hanging. She still looks good and she is fat still. Is the meat still ok? I Processed soon if it is.

I am so sorry! That is strange that she would have that problem at 6 years of age. From my research, it is a genetic weakness, so you would think it would show up much younger if she was prone to it. I have 2 blue slates, mother and daughter, 3 and 2 years old respectively and they have never shown this problem whereas the ones I have had with the problem developed it the first full summer of their adult life after it got hot. But I did have a 2-year old get it this year in June, our most unusually hot month. I would go ahead and process that meat turkey but be very, very careful not to break the crop when removing it, it contains really nasty stuff

and you do not want any of that getting on and contaminating the meat.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I was just on a web site http://www.ic.org/ International Community's, a directory of communes, being established and established. I found it interesting. Dancing Rabbit, in Mo. is not in this directory, but it dose have quite a few subscribers.

 

[redrocketrooster]

I'm glad to be eaves dropping on this thread again....oh the interesting conversations and wheel turning thought starters!

You guys keep me busy my entire work shift. Even when I can't look at my phone. I spent this one thinking about AZ communes.

@pollo disco - I like to feed extra scratch and scraps during the summer. It keeps the girls occupied. On really hot days i like to freeze grapes/chopped fruit and throw them in the freshly clean water pails. It's really funny to watch the chickens try to fish the pieces out. Good luck to you and be safe It gets crazy windy towards the border.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Alright, I'm looking to see what y'all have to say about the sexes of these birds. All were hatched from eggs from Desertmarcy about 14 weeks ago.

New Hampshire Reds--all of them look remarkably similar:

bird 1:




birds 2 and 3:

 

[redrocketrooster]

Alright, I'm looking to see what y'all have to say about the sexes of these birds. All were hatched from eggs from Desertmarcy about 14 weeks ago.

New Hampshire Reds--all of them look remarkably similar:

bird 1:


birds 2 and 3:

Ok...so im rusty with Hapshires but...#2 looks like a ROO. I can't really see the legs of the other two well enough to judge.

 

[Timskins]

Was anyone else in the North Valley or West Valley looking at ordering the Omega-3 Chicken Foraging Blend from Grow Organic? I'm planning on doing my order this coming Friday and wanted to see about combining orders. We can save on the seeds themselves ($3.99 under 5-pounds, $3.60 for 5 to 10 pounds, $3.41 for 10 to 50 pounds...) and on shipping. I'm already in the 10-pound range, so it's discounted. Shipping is $7.99 up to 40-pounds, so we can save a bit there, too. PM me if anyone is interested.

If you are anywhere else in the valley and want to meet downtown for the order, my wife works near 19th Avenue and Southern Avenue, while I'm at 4th Avenue and Washington Street. Between the two of us, we can meet any day of the week.

Does that stuff grow through the summer?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

The Russian Orloffs are terribly difficult to photograph.

bird 1:




bird 2 (on right):



I think they're both cockerels.

 

[nwebber]

Question for everyone: Does anyone cut one side of their chickens wings so they can't fly to high up? My girls are just 3 weeks old and can get up about 3ft and it worries me. I've heard you can cut one side to basically lopsided them Suggestions would be helpful!

 

[Demosthine]

U

Does that stuff grow through the summer?

Supposedly, it will grow year round here. She said they are in Tennessee and her relatives are in New Mexico. It grows beautifully in both places. If it gets too close to a good frost, it will slow growing, but shouldn't die unless you get a long, hard frost.

I'll take a chance and see how it goes. I would love to have it year round!