Arizona Chickens

[MaddBaggins]

The polymer crystals in that stuff really helps (at first anyway).

I've been thinking that we should have a special AZ Coop page or thread where we could have virtual tours to share. It would be great to have a bunch of AZ coops in one easily accessible spot which would be especially helpful to new people planning their coops. Would anyone be interested?

Sure. I have a ton of build pics and could easily take a bunch of detail shots of the finished product.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Yes, Gallo said it perfect.. Along with maddbaggins.. We have also lived in Arizona
since 1975.. Outdoors all the time.. Bees constantly are buzzing round.. I let them
land; take a snff or lick if you will or whatever they do.. Off they go when they are done.
As long as you DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT start to smack them & get all upset
by their presents you'll be fine..

I am always amazed by the number of people who run from bees. Maybe it's because I haven't been stung. I do all our yard work and have two bushes in particular that are typically full of bees. I usually try to trim them when the bees are not so active. However, even going at the bush with the electric trimmer hasn't been an issue. So far, luck is on my side. Our dog tries to eat them. We must have the friendly version of bees.

 

[kacklinkelly]

...

I don't know why I'm sharing all my personal business with you, but you "Chicken Folk" seem like Family folk, and you all have stories to share. I appreciate you and all the knowledge that you have shared. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

Bobby, this forum has had the same effect on me. My family is so surprised at me because I am not a facebook or social media person. However, they know that at some point in the day/night, they will find me talking about or with my AZ Chicken Forum Friends. You all have provided some great knowledge and also some great laughs. It's nice for someone like me whose not a social butterfly.

And MaddBaggins, the Phoenix coop tour says they have a beer garden at the starting point. I'm just sayin, your house/coop could be the most popular on Tucson's tour

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
I know, I would find it hard to open my private world to the public. On the other hand, I did meet a LOT of really fun people on the tours I went on in the past. Your coop would be a good one for the tour too.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
Awww....I had to look up Mayer, I had no idea where it was. If you were closer, I'd even drive him half-way.

 

[flower]

Gallo del Cielo I had the same experience with a beautiful rooster who posed a double problem with his very sweet personality. Too many roosters though and he had to go. It was sad to process him but eventually I got over the crime, sort of anyway.

Bobby I have met lots of friends on the internet. I have know a couple in Canada and have visited them three or four times. After you exchange ideas and talk for a while it is not difficult to learn if you appeciate people. Somehow you can decide if your personalities jive by the exchange of ideas.

 

[City farm]

We are having our BLOCK PARTY.. SATURDAY 6pm.
We will be grilling chicken. Bring a favorite dish of yours
to share... P.M. Us & we will give you directions...

 

[Phottoman]

For the record, it's just a song and I don't condone any of the activities depicted therein.

Hmmm ... I listened to the song several times, even had it playing as I made coffee for My Beloved this morning, then returned to the computer to play it again and went looking for the words to the song (http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/ely-joe/gallo-del-cielo-2259.html) and listened a couple of more times as I read the words along with humming the music.

I have been a country music fan for more years than I care to remember but I have never heard of Joe Ely before, so along with the explanation of your name, and the song you provided, thank you for this, it was a MOST interesting start to what may become an overwhelming day.

As the chairwoman of the County Fair committees, My Beloved is being sued (along with the Association) by a man that parked blocking several other cars at the County Fair in a place where he was specifically told NOT to park. After several hours of public announcements the car was finally towed, on a Saturday, which meant the guy couldn't get his car until Monday, so towing fees and storage fees were added together and he is taking her and the Association to court (Small Claims) for the sum of $2500. The first mediation is this morning, and no one with the Fair seems to understand that this IS SERIOUS, and don't seem to want to "get involved." That may leave My Beloved open to paying the entire $2500 plus costs, so yeah, I would say "overwhelming."

In the meantime I am off to listen to and find more of Joe Ely music. (and maybe listen one more time to this beautiful song)

Skip

 

[City farm]

Thanks so much, pipemum. I know I can easily build one, but just being lazy. I've always been mechanically inclined and can deal with tools with no difficulty, as you can see in my previous ad nauseum postings about old audio equipment. I'm kinda starting backwards, getting my run established first (height issues=HOA issues) then going from there. I'm in no big hurry, and gonna try to hang in there for another 3 years to get my 25-year mark which will boost my retirement another $500/month. I wanna have some type of planter boxes around the whole perimeter, not brick, but some 2x6's treated with some type of weather seal varnish to prevent wood rot. The hardware cloth will extend half-way up the sides and completely under the boxes, with the upper half using something like aluminum screening for screen doors to keep out wild birds. The top will also be done with hardware cloth. Depending on the price, I could probably do the whole thing. Like that old hymn..."A Mighty Fortress Is our God, A Bulwark Never Failing." (Sorry, had a Gospel Moment there..LOL) Having those boxes around the perimeter gives me plenty of options for planting/composting/climbing vines options, and it would be nice to have everything there in one area. I would be content with something about 5' tall, and since I'm about 5'8", and maybe 12x12 or 15x15, and I only plan on have 6 hens max, since some places require that you buy that 6-chick minimum. More than enough eggs for one person. I really want to get in it for the entertainment and companionsip. Ace Hardware on South Houghton is selling Delawares and Araucanas (fake EE's?), and they only get a small batch of 25 sexed hens every week, and do reduce the price of the leftovers to move them out. I can't remember, but they may come from Privett Hatchery. I'm reading a huge Delaware thread right now, and the majority are touting that these gals are SUPER-FRIENDLY, and that's exactly what I want. I don't wanna go into a run where I have to watch my back and carry a shovel, rake, broom, pitch fork, 45mm, just to beat my way in there to feed a bunch of aggressive heffa raptors. There's no big hurry for this, maybe at least another year down the road, but I think the planning stages are more fun than the actual building. Call me Cecil, the Civil Servant, a slave to paperwork...just gotta see it on paper first. I'm horrible about saving money unless it comes to a SPECIFIC project or goal, then I get busy. I managed to spend $4,000 to furnish to bedrooms and had them paid off in less than 2 months...and got eight $50 gift certificates for Best Buy. That will pay for the new flat-screen to fit ontop of my new fireplace in the master bedroom. I don't know why I'm sharing all my personal business with you, but you "Chicken Folk" seem like Family folk, and you all have stories to share. I appreciate you and all the knowledge that you have shared. --BB Bobby Basham Tucson, Arizona

I love the planters that surround your coop.. My favorite look.. I have about 150 potted plants threw out our property... My kids see me with another plant or a pot they are so With that said I feel I have to hide my new plants when I bring them home.. Ha!! Along with any mew chickens... That is another favorite sentence, "we might have a plant that needs a good home" I will get in my car & be over in a jiffy... So planter boxes are on my list of things to do... Love, love, love them.

 

[ctroyer]

So work has been really crazy the past couple of months and I have not been able to check out things on here. Way behind. Our three girls made it through the summer just fine and last night we got our first egg. Hard to believe just around 6 months ago we got them as day old chicks. We were starting to think it was never going to happen as each week passed. Here are some updated pictures.


Our first egg last night
Phoebe our Americauna interested in the camera phone.
Monica our Barred Rock keeping watch over the yard. Pretty sure she is the top of the pecking order.

Rachel our Rhode Island Red out strolling. I think she was the first egg layer as when I found the egg they were all roosting for the night and she was in the middle with her wings over the other two. Not sure if that means it was her but since it was a brown egg it was either her or Monica.