Arizona Chickens

[kacklinkelly]

You have far more patience than I do!! If Big Red doesn't start laying by the end of the month, I don't know that I can justify the cost to feed her. Yesterday, she was in one nest box while Blackie was in the other one actually laying an egg (12th in 13 days), so I got my hopes up, only to have them dashed yet again!! But, her personality does seem to be changing, getting friendlier, and this morning when I touched her back, she dropped right down into "the" position. Just knowing I'm not the only one will a slow EE from Pratt's makes me feel better! Next spring, we will probably add a couple more pullets to the flock, but I won't be buying them from Pratt's!!!!

I have lost patience waiting. Luckily we have two other hens who take up her slack. My DH, who wanted nothing to do with having chickens, is the one who is giving her the pardon. She is nice to look at and has a fiesty personality so he likes her regardless of eggs or not. He says she's pretty much just like the cat and the dog that we've had for over 13 years. Their not doing much of anything at this stage either

and we continue to keep them around.

At the same time we got our EE (who was labelled an Americauna) from Pratt's, we also got what was labelled a black australorp. Well, I'm told that's not what I have because mine has yellow on the bottom of her feet. Regardless, she is a good layer. She gives us about 4 or 5 eggs/week. The RIR I got from Petfood Depot is the best layer. She gives us about 5 or 6 eggs a week. When we build our next coop or add on, I would like to try a couple of heritage breeds. I originally only got the chickens for the eggs so we really don't need more than 2 good laying hens. But as everyone knows, the chicken math is really hard to resist.

 

[MandyFitch]

Is anyone's coop going to be in the Tour de Coop tomorrow? I'm volunteering at one of the coops displayed

My neighbor and I are going with our kids. How will we know you to say hi?

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Hi, I'm going to try to make it to morrow for tour de coop. I will have a service dog, Ernie.

I give all my girls now fermented feed, plus greens, plus treats. I no longer give them scratch with corn in it, and no corn treats. I found out that to fat they stop laying. My first batch from Pratt's, only 3 laid. Lucy gives me 6 eggs a week. My second group I got 1 from Pratt's, 2 from Desert Marcy, and the 4th on line. In the 3rd group, (about 2 months) I got from Pratt's and Stock Shop. I forgot the hatcheries that they use, I think one is Ideal. The girls I girl I got from the Stock Shop was not what I bought, there is less mix up at Pratt's in Glendale, the one in El Milage is a problem, people return chicks to the wrong tank.......

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

. Just got home a few min. Ago. Checked on my girls. The coop was empty! Checked on the little coop....... It was full. It is big enough for 6 chickens, or 8 bantams. All! Of them were in it. It was very warm in that coop. Moved the big girls to their coop. I was worried because of the wind, but they are alright. And kept warm at the same time. I checked the chicks, t looks like the big girls didn't beat them up, they got along in the tight quarters. If it is by chose I guess it is alright, they could leave anytime. We will see, on really cold nights, 12 girls in a house for 6.

 

[City farm]

Just in case not everybody knows, the Tucson Poultry, Pigeon and Fancy Fowl Club will hold it's 43rd Annual Winter Show November 23-24 at the Pima County Fairgrounds, Thurber Hall. Show is free and open to the public. There will be about 1000 or more birds entered, and birds for sale.

Doors open at 6:00 AM on Saturday, judging begins at 9:00 am. There will be lots of activities going on all day, lots of raffles and lunch available to buy. In addition, the Rosecomb Bantam Federation will hold their National Meet on Saturday and there will be an American Game Fowl Show as well, so expect a lot of birds to see.

Doors open at 7:00 AM on Sunday. Junior Show at 8:00 AM, Serama Show at 8:00 AM. Awards Ceremonty at 10:00 AM and Grand Raffle at 11:00 AM. Grand Raffle is a 4' X 6' wire cage made of aviary wire and wood frame with door & latch. The cage can be taken apart and transported. This was built by the Boyer family; they built one for last year's raffle and it was VERY nice.

Hope to see you there!

Boy does that sound fun... We have family friends coming into town so our schedule is packed.. Thank you for posting..
Next year..

 

[MandyFitch]

. Just got home a few min. Ago. Checked on my girls. The coop was empty! Checked on the little coop....... It was full. It is big enough for 6 chickens, or 8 bantams. All! Of them were in it. It was very warm in that coop. Moved the big girls to their coop. I was worried because of the wind, but they are alright. And kept warm at the same time. I checked the chicks, t looks like the big girls didn't beat them up, they got along in the tight quarters. If it is by chose I guess it is alright, they could leave anytime.

We will see, on really cold nights, 12 girls in a house for 6.

So funny! As soon as I let my birds out in the morning all twelve of them cram into my old coop (also built for six.) I think they like the way the roost is one long pole where they can face out instead of several shorter ones where they face each other. They are going to be sad when I finally sell the old one.

 

[pollo disco]

Finally starting to cool off down here on the border. I feel almost guilty with the mild weather and sunny skies.

The birds are still laying in good order. Some days they slow down with 1 or 2 missing. But usually 6-7 eggs a day are the norm. With the sun rising later, I usually leave the outside light on in the morning when I leave for work (4am). This gives the girls who are already up and begging for food some light to see in the run. Some other "chickenheads" told me that with the extra light, the birds tend to lay farther in the season. Daylight effecting laying I Guess. Women and their hormones....SHeesh. lol. Now its gonna eventually really chill down here on the border, any extra plans made for "winterizing' your flock? The ladies all have molted and put on a winter coat you could call it. They are all sporting the fuzzy butt appearance and are thick in the legs as well.

 

[MagicChicken]

Finally starting to cool off down here on the border. I feel almost guilty with the mild weather and sunny skies.

The birds are still laying in good order. Some days they slow down with 1 or 2 missing. But usually 6-7 eggs a day are the norm. With the sun rising later, I usually leave the outside light on in the morning when I leave for work (4am). This gives the girls who are already up and begging for food some light to see in the run. Some other "chickenheads" told me that with the extra light, the birds tend to lay farther in the season. Daylight effecting laying I Guess. Women and their hormones....SHeesh. lol. Now its gonna eventually really chill down here on the border, any extra plans made for "winterizing' your flock? The ladies all have molted and put on a winter coat you could call it. They are all sporting the fuzzy butt appearance and are thick in the legs as well.

No winterization necessary if they have been exposed to the weather all along. The extra fluff that insulates them in the winter also helps to insulate them from the summer heat. The only way they are going to develop the feathers necessary for insulation is to be exposed to the elements.

 

[kpgoldstar]

So funny! As soon as I let my birds out in the morning all twelve of them cram into my old coop (also built for six.) I think they like the way the roost is one long pole where they can face out instead of several shorter ones where they face each other. They are going to be sad when I finally sell the old one.

Mandy, if and when that time comes and you are considering selling, please let me know as I would be interested.

 

[City farm]

Hope ya all have fun on the tour.. Our neighbor david on 12th Street in Tempe is doing t..
I am at work till 5:30.. Hoping to do a fire this evening.. 7:30pm Roasted marshmallows by the fire,
under the full moon.. Ya all are welcome..P.M. us & I will email you directions... I wont check
for P.M. Untill 5:30.. I only have a moment in between clients...

Oh and 2 new little baby E.E. mix.. So adorable...