Arizona Chickens

[flower]

Demosthine I am happy to see that you will getting your turkey poults from Marcie. I was planning on telling you so and that I really do not need to order chicks but I just want them. ha ha

 

[City farm]

Hello all!
Just wanted to introduce ourselves. We are Larry and Kristy and we are brand new to backyard chicken raising. We spent a few month researching chickens and building our coop and finally were able to buy our girls last weekend. We are starting with a Buff Orpington (Valentine), a Black Astralorp (Charlotte), and a white Americauna (Sugar).

This website has been invaluable and is where we got almost all of our information. We've spent hours on here so we figured it's time to give back and start participating!

A bit about our coop. After much researching we based our design on a picture we saw online. We've never really built anything so the process took quite a bit of time and had it's moments of frustration, but was an absolute blast!!
We ended up with a 4x3 raised enclosure and a 8x4 run. We used 2x2 for the framing and 1/2 inch hardware cloth for the wire. We were able to score some cedar roof shakes from mom who just had her house redone. The rest of the run is covered in shade cloth to keep the ladies nice and cool,
There are definitely a few things we would do differently next time, but overall we are really happy with our first coop, and so excited to have our small flock in backyard.
Looking forward to chatting with all our AZ BYC members and learning a lot along the way!!

Heres a few pics of the coop and the girls

Sweet coop.. You guys did a great job.. So glad you are on board...

 

[City farm]

Our first 3-egg day! Blackie is our rockstar - she has laid 18 eggs in 19 days. The two "Leghorns" are evidently Leghorn Mutts and started laying over the weekend. I was hoping for white eggs from at least one of them, but I guess they are both mixed breed. Now, if Big Red, our 7-1/2 month old EE would start....... (and please lay something besides tan!!!)

Who cares if they are all the same color?? They are gorgeous! I am feeling a tiny bit of regret that I got all the same breed. Mine are 8 weeks. If I had found out about AZ chickens before I took the plunge I'd have gotten a variety and from a breeder instead of feed store. Mine are all RIR's. I love them already but my eggs will be identical. A few years down the road I can branch out. For starters my little flock is perfect!

You have plenty of time to get more breeds! Also, your eggs won't be identical. Each chicken's egg will be a little different. If you pay attention to who is in the nest box and the egg that results, you'll be able to tell them apart. I have 4 brown egg layers and can tell exactly who's egg is who's.

Yes, so true.. Some are pointed at the end & some are perfectly round.. Our girl blondie from Arizonachicken lays a beautiful round egg..

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
You should add the Desert Museum to your list.

 

[City farm]

I *really* wanted to go on the tour. But it just doesn't make sense to drive from San Tan Valley to Phoenix just to get a map to see the East Valley coops.

I sent an email a couple days before the tour asking if the tix were bought online if there was more than one pick-up/check-in location and never got a reply. It would be nice if they had a couple spots where you could pick up the map in each area of the valley.

Yes great idea.. I don't want to drive all over town.. We did a get to know your neighbor progressive dinner/drink/salad/desert party.
Our 2nd annul is in the spring.. Why a blast we all had.. We limited it to 1 hour per home.. The last was dessert/drink & was a bit longer..
We used our garden cart to hold all the drinks from house to house. Some people came only to their closest neighbor..

 

[City farm]

Love locally home grown fresh foods..

yep; that roo in the crockpot is mighty tasty ;-)

Oh yes I am sure.. It was better than the Coq AU Vin we made.. Next time I will make rooster in BBQ..
For some reason bacon & red wine don't sound good.. It was really rich..

 

[City farm]

Is anybody up to answer a quick question?  My chickens haven't learned to sleep on the roosts yet.  At ten weeks they all still sleep in a pile, or just spread out in the hay.  Now it's pouring rain and the dummies are still just sitting there when they could easily migrate to the second floor or at least to a couple of roosts.

Should I pick them up and put them in the second floor or will they just freak out. They do not like to be handled.

Added:  I don't think they're getting wet directly - there's a roof over their heads but only hardware cloth all around.  No walls on the first floor.

So funny.. I have gone out 2x to put the new babies & the momma hen back up in coop.. Augh.. She lets them just run around
with out keeping them warm under her.. One was hatched yesterday afternoon.. I put the baby chick from the incubator in with the
rest of the chicks at dark.. The new one was still alive & hanging with the rest.. If I did not have the momma hen I would put them in
the brooder.. But NA, they are doing fine.. One of the other hens went up to the coop to lay her egg, scared out all the chicks plus
the momma.. I just pick them back up & put them back in.. It is so muddy here & don't want to loose any little ones either..
It is cold but the babies are still alive.. I hope she keeps them warm when I am not there to feed & check on them..

How about put a brick with a roost right where they are? Crazy birds..

 

[City farm]

Thanks Flower. I finally caved and moved them up top. I had never touched sleeping chickens before. It was pretty funny. If I neglected to put them down carefully on their feet they'd just flop over like little drunks.They were none too pleased with me but no one bolted.  Are they just blind at night or is something else at work as well?

I know I'll sleep better now, except I have this obnoxious desire to get dressed again to make sure they're still all up there!  It's POURING.

Oh & yes if you want to be able to handle them when they are older, hold them as much as possible now.. I like it when the hens
come to see what I am doing in the garden or their run.. Plus if you need to check on them when holing them they will be more
relaxed while you investigate their feet or crop.. Redrocketrooster gave good advice on how to ROLL them in your hands..
You put them between your hands like you were going to, .. shoot it is hard to explain.. Ladydoria can you do a video and post?
If she over looks this post ask her.. She is good at doing photos & video.. The processing party was at her home & what a great
time we all had...

 

[City farm]

Wow, what a beautiful day.. If anyone comes this way let us know.. We have fresh KEFIR & kombucha babies..
Both are easy to make & heathy.. P.M. Us

 

[pastrymama]

Quote: Please let me know when you are going down. I know its next year, but I may be able to talk the fireman into a few turkeys. Afterall, I have sold 10 chickens this week. I am doing good!

For anyone interested, I have an adorable pair of 3-4 month old blue bantams with feathered feet that need a home. FREE!!!!