Arizona Chickens

[pipemum]

I forgot to note--all 6 of my chickens are laying now. The last holdout was the smallest Polish/silkie mix. Found her egg yesterday. Huge for her size. Poor thing, the egg was smeared with blood. Bigger than her sister's egg, who has been laying for a couple of weeks now. They both lay the pretty ivorish/pinkish eggs.

In our temps, would a Brinsea Eco Glow work outside this winter? In the day at least?

 

[City farm]

Wow, what a beautiful day.. If anyone comes this way let us know.. We have fresh KEFIR

All these amazing invites.  We're going to have to make it down to see you one of these days.  You really do make life look attractive in your neighborhood!

Oh yes, please do... The only reason we have these gatherings is so others can meet..
We live in a humble neighborhood.. Some of the old retired professors do like flaunting
their education... It is pretty funny at times.. You don't get a word in, just have to stroke
their huge EGO.. Maybe that is all they have? The mix here is fabulous.. We like to share
so we open our home up...

 

[City farm]

There is so many of us that want the same thing, it is to bad it is not feasible. We all have influences that makes it so. Jobs, family, schools (kids), and so on.

It would be nice to think about it. Buying land as a co-operative unit. At lest 10 acres, or 2 acres per family min. Each has their own home, pool a X% of the land for garden and pasture for a couple of cows goats, and what ever. A nice Jersey, Guernsey, or Brown Swiss for cheese and butter, a couple of Dexter cows for meat and milk, the same with goats. The thing is work as a group, and when someone goes on vacation or visits family there is always people to care for our chickens.

A large garden with verity enough that we would not be eating a few different vegetables. If you want verity you give up quantity to can. With a large garden there would be enough to can. There was a time when community's would get to gather and can at a community center. We could do our own canning and possessing.

It would take communication and some structure. We have lost that in our. DNA of the 21st Century. But there are groups that are doing just that. To the point of setting up their own home schools for their kids. It is hard to picture a group of all ages, and all stages of life doing that.

It is a thought........ Or a wish.

I have talked about this with many of friends but none would be ready for a few years! Folks just can't let go of modern materialism. My grand folks own 40 acres in Northern AZ and would sell it to me with their house for only $150k which is half its appraised value, but I have bad credit & could a loan to save my life. In the meantime I keep dreaming & making the most of my lil backyard!

X2!...

 

[FeatherPugs]

X2!...

x3

Totally agree! Ah to be a few years younger!!

 

[City farm]

Oh

I held them tons when they were little but now, just try to catch them!  My six year old is good at it but I feel silly chasing after chicks. 

I did put them up on the second floor of the coop again tonight. Airheads kept trying to walk down to their spot again, in a corner that gets soaking wet through the hardware cloth.  I finally got them all in a good position then ran back to turn off all the lights and hopefully freeze them in place!  Feeling silly again...

Oh do I know about feeling silly, SO.. We always have young students that live next to the chicken run..they get to hear all of the them
laying eggs... So I figured I would talk to the chickens when I knew someone was out there.. It started when the last tenants were there..
They said they over heard a old neighbor that had like 40 wild cats that he would feed.. I guess he said something like " puky stop taking
food from patches, now you get away from her food!!!" & on & on.. You get this jist.... So I started as a joke talking to the chickens when
I knew they were listing... I was creaking myself up.. Finally I told them.. Now they are gone, have not told the other new tenants yet..
But I did say to them the other day when I was really talking to them.. "chickens understand English, But I think I am going to teach them
Spanish." I told them they could come by and check out the new babies once it dries up... Then I will tell them..
but really dogs & chickens do understand whatever language you choose..

 

[City farm]

Hi everyone, I finally have my coop and everything we need to get started (hopefully).  Now all that's left for us to get are our chicks.  I am located in N. Phoenix and am trying to get our birds from a local breeder.  Here is our wish list in proper order. 1.-Silkie (prefer buff or white)...2.-Buff Orpington...3.- Easter Egger...4.- Speckled Sussex... We want chicks and really want pullets (baby girls-right?).. I understand the difficulty in all of that and that's why it's our "WISH LIST" -lol.

I am not good with the computer and keep losing this thread on this site. Yes, I know it's me... If anyone can help me out it will be greatly appreciated. My 7 year old son and I just want friendly pets that happen to give us some eggs. These birds will be receiving tons and tons of attention.  I have been looking into this for so long I realized that I actually had hair at the beginning of our chicken/coop/feed/breeds/etc. research.  If anyone has some of these babies for sale please contact me on my email since I don't know how long it may be before I find this thread again-LOL.

My email is - [email protected].  I know that it's rare to be able to sex the chicks at this point in time but I see some places do it (somewhat).  If anyone has that ability we would love it.  Being new to this we are a bit leary about roosters although I understand that "poop happens", especially with chickens. I feel confident that the brilliant Arizonian breeders will come through for us.
Seriously though, Thank You All and God Bless.

              
                                                                                                                                                           Best R egg ards,

                                                                                                                                                                         Foghorn leghorn 9 -aka TD

Keep us posted.. &

 

[City farm]

That is a cute set up, and the space is similar to mine with the back patio being off the family room.  I don't have a house directly next as pictured on the right, but a 5-ft dividing wall between the houses.  My space is about 7-ft wide and extends out into the back yard.  I could use that place to place a raised deck/floor with a grill and all the amenities, but it would be nice to have my chickens closer to the house.  As long as the HOA (Home Owners Assassination) doesn't see it, I could probably get away with it.

Yeah, I could probably build a small coop with a small run, but that would diminish my hobby and not be much fun at all. It's still up in the air, but I may stick to my original scheme with all the surrounded raised planter beds to grow my own produce for me and the girls.

Sorry if I hijacked the thread, but I'm going off the ideas you all throw out here.  There's not a chicken on these premises just yet, but I take it seriously like designing a new home. It's in the planning stages of coop/run design, deep litter vs sand, fermented feed, fodder, brooder, and the list goes on.  I don't wanna be a lame chicken owner who just tosses out a few handfulls of cracked corn and walk away and have the nerve to expect eggs every day. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

Fermented feed is great!! We use dry regular feed for them at all times..
We have not tried the sand yet but want to.. Have you decided on sand or deep litter??

 

[City farm]

Worst of the worst in chicken news. Something dug into my broiler coop and all 8 are gone. Without a trace. The rain washed away any prints bit the hole was fairly small. I can't believe all 8 are gone. Whatever got them would have had to leap the fence repeatedly. Looks like they used a trellis i had on the adjacent wall as traction to scramble up, it was broken in a heap. We have a billion coyotes so i guess it was coyotes. I really hope the broilers were sleeping and relaxed when taken. It doesn't look like signs of struggle in the pen.

No way!! Condolence from us..

 

[City farm]

My girls seem to have made a truce with my youngsters. Very little chasing. All of them hange out on my porch. I put down straw, not for them but for me to help clean it up. The picking order is established. I'm sure as the young ones get older there will be a few power grabs.

I am getting a steady 3 to 4 eggs a day with an occasional 5 egg day. I'm looking forward to February, my youngsters should be starting to lay by them.

I am getting nerves again about my girls, their coops are not coyote proof. I have failed at chicken proofing my garden. I have only had one harvest of my Swiss Char...... They have figured out how to test the bottom od mt netting untill one gets her head under, then she is in. For a dum chicken, they are not so dum. I think they have been watching Ernie when he is ready to come in. Figured out tapping the glasse, I may come.... Then a nummy treat.

Maybe it is time for a outside guard dog?? Then you could back the dog up with a firearm.. Don't let those nevers get to you Bonnie...

 

[City farm]

Question: My chicks hatched the end of Sep. so they are about 8 weeks old now. I have a heat lamp outside for them as our low is in the low 30's. I have 2 red stars & a favarolle. Do they still need heat?

I do believe so.. Not sure on the exact tempeture they need. It has been a while since we had babies in a brooder..
I must say I am surprised at our new chicks.. They have been doing fine each time I go out
to check on them.. Running around with the rest, some are 1 week and a few are 2days..
1 more hatching in the incubator, hopefully a pip today.. When I pick them up their feet are so
cold.. But man, they are still alive.. I was surprised that the last chick made it..it was only in the
70's last week & that was the high.. So if I were you I would check a Fourm for more details..