Arizona Chickens

[Gallo del Cielo]

On a side note...I HATE living by the reservation. They started burning their trash or something nasty about a week ago and the smoke is coming right over my house. My whole family has been sick since the fire started. You can smell the plastics and garbage. I can't open my windows and have to limit time outside in this nice weather. I even wake up at night because I'm so stuffy and coughing so badly. Ok, end rant.

Yuk! That would drive me insane. It has to make you wonder how bad the stuff is that you're inhaling.

 

[Arizonachicken]

Great idea TWINKLIN! Thanks!

GALLO, I know! My little children are breathing this stuff in! Let me put it this way, if ANYONE else was burning what they are burning, the EPA would be all over it with fines and they'd have to put it out. But because they are a sovereign nation, the EPA has no jurisdiction. They can burn plastics and tires all day long (or all week long, in this case) and there's not a thing anyone can do about it.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

I'm curious as to what type of feeders you all use. I get the feed from the co-op and it's very powdery. There seems to be a lot of waste with the hens scratching it out. Tempe Feed and Tack has a treadle feeder for $60, but I'm hesitant to get it if there's another way I can reduce waste for less $$. I'd like to see what you guys have. I have 12 chickens in the main coop right now. Thanks in advance!

I get the co-op feed too. I use a hanging bucket feeder that I made myself. There is a picture of it hanging in the coop in "my coop" to the left. I used a food grade bucket that I got used from the deli at Basha's ($.50). I drilled a few holes in the side at the bottom and then attached it to a planter dish(I don't know what you call those things) that was a couple inches wider than the bucket.
I can put a few days worth of feed in there, but I can't fill it all the way because it pushes the feed out at the bottom if it's too full. The powdery stuff is last to get eaten, so when it's all powder left I just mix it with water and the chickens love it.
I thought about using a treadle, but I was worried about ants. We have a lot of them.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:

I'm very intrigued by the feeder ideas in the video below. I've seen various refinements on the basic design to further reduce billing out of feed and you can find them out there on youtube. I'm a bit doubtful that it would keep sparrows out but I'm tempted to make one just to find out. The big benefit is that you could hang it and limit ant access, plus it would be pretty darn cheap and easy to make.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:

I'm very intrigued by the feeder ideas in the video below. I've seen various refinements on the basic design to further reduce billing out of feed and you can find them out there on youtube. I'm a bit doubtful that it would keep sparrows out but I'm tempted to make one just to find out. The big benefit is that you could hang it and limit ant access, plus it would be pretty darn cheap and easy to make.


That's pretty cool but only one chicken can eat at a time. Mine like to all eat in groups. I guess you could put a hole on each side to increase access.
It seems like it would also discourage sparrows. If you try it, let us know how it goes!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

That's pretty cool but only one chicken can eat at a time. Mine like to all eat in groups. I guess you could put a hole on each side to increase access.
It seems like it would also discourage sparrows. If you try it, let us know how it goes!

I agree, it is a drawback to the concept. I was envisioning using either a 5 gallon bucket, which should have enough space for at least four ports (maybe even five) or a five gallon square bucket, with a port on each side offset to one side. I'm always on the lookout for feeder ideas that help keep wild birds from eating the food. Not everyone has the time, skills or money to make or buy a treadle feeder but everyone could benefit by keeping the wild birds from eating their chicken feed. That, plus the problem of the treadle feeder and ants. I do get a special thrill when I see my treadle feeder in far-flung parts of the world. I have to wonder how much chicken feed they've saved. Anything we can do to increase that number is an ecological victory.

 

[Chicken Feat]

We got 2 hens a couple of months ago from a neighbor who's dog just loved to reduce their flock from 9 to 2. I would like to know exactly what breed or cross breed they are.

Lucy is definitely a Polish but is she a true Polish or a cross? She is larger than our other Polish with a smaller headdress. I'm thinking she's a buff or maybe a RIR got into the Polish run.

Squawk is a Wyandotte but I can't seem to find photos of others that look like her. Deep blue/black collar and penciled feathers.

Any opinions?

 

[Twinklin]

We got 2 hens a couple of months ago from a neighbor who's dog just loved to reduce their flock from 9 to 2. I would like to know exactly what breed or cross breed they are.

Lucy is definitely a Polish but is she a true Polish or a cross? She is larger than our other Polish with a smaller headdress. I'm thinking she's a buff or maybe a RIR got into the Polish run.



Squawk is a Wyandotte but I can't seem to find photos of others that look like her. Deep blue/black collar and penciled feathers.



Any opinions?

Lucy looks like a possible silkie polish cross.

Squawk looks like a Barnevelder to me, dark neck and double laced instead of the wyandottes usual single lace.

I'm not chicken expert though, I'm more of a newbie. I've only been keeping for like 6 months, though I do a TON of research but those are just my opinions.

 

[Chicken Feat]

WoW!!!! A Barnevelder! I've never heard of that breed let alone pronounce Barnevelder, and after a little research I belive you are correct! She's very glossy and lays medium light brown eggs and I've found tons of photos just like her. Thanks so much!

Ya learn something everyday.

Lucy is a different story. I think she's too big and too feathered to have silkie in her. She's not furry in any way like a silkie and she acts like and hangs with the other Polish. Whatever she is she's a nice chicken, quiet, calm, and a little dittzie like a polish. She reminds us of Lucille Ball with that red top.

This site is great.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

She reminds us of Lucille Ball with that red top.

This site is great.

Phyllis Diller!