Arizona Chickens

[mirasmom]

I'm glad to hear they survived the bitter cold temps we had. Heat lamp and tarping the coop was a great idea! Your coop is almost identical to mine and I have 4 chicks at almost 12 weeks old. Once they get bigger I think my coop will be a little too small. We are planning to extend the run another 2 ft x 8 ft on an "L" from the existing run over the Christmas holiday so they won't be so cramped during the day when they are confined.

It’s actually been warming back up again, so I think it’s not as bad as when I first posted.

The coop will be too small; I plan to add a second set of two nesting boxes on the one side when they start lying. I have a fenced yard so once I am sure they are fully aware of the coop as home and safe spot and a little bigger so my dog doesn’t lunch them they will have free run of the whole yard in the day.

 

[Demosthine]

My pomegranates never loses leaves like a decideous tree would.  It did grow like a tree until some ex-yard workers topped and trimmed it...when I had specifically told them to absolutely NOT trim it..

Oh really?!? What type of pomegranate? Sounds perfect!

 

[MagicChicken]

Quote:
Mine lose their leaves in the winter. I'm in Tucson. May be colder here than where you are.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

My pomegranates lose their leaves in winter too (Wonderful, Kasmir, Angel Red). I originally intended to prune them into single trunk trees but they became a favorite hiding place for the chickens so they become bushier every year with my neglect. The three trees produce more than we can eat even with the chickens getting every one within jumping height. They really like the fruits. I was originally inspired to prune them like the pomegranates in the back patio area of Caruso's restaurant here in Tucson (4th Ave). They've got a bunch of them back there in either one or a couple trunks for each tree. They make gelato from the fruits every year but I've never managed to get there for it.

Funny side story: For the first year the chickens did not attempt to eat the pomegranates. After returning home from running errands one day I ran out to check on the birds, which were free-ranging unsupervised. To my horror, the heads and necks of all the chickens appeared to be covered with blood. After a panicked search, we quickly ascertained that they had discovered the pomegranates and ate every one they could reach. We still call that event, "The Great Pomegranate Massacre."

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: I don;t know? It came up as a volunteer; probably from seeds from our neighbor's yard. I'll see if they know. If you look at Daves Garden, every variety I checked listed both evergreen and decideous. I don;t know why. There was one (I didn't know what it was at the time) growing outside my apartment when I was in college in Waco, Texas; it grew more like a very large, tall bush but it also never lost its leaves, and that was a very cold winter for Waco. I remember snow.

 

[Demosthine]

My pomegranates lose their leaves in winter too (Wonderful, Kasmir, Angel Red). I originally intended to prune them into single trunk trees but they became a favorite hiding place for the chickens so they become bushier every year with my neglect. The three trees produce more than we can eat even with the chickens getting every one within jumping height. They really like the fruits. I was originally inspired to prune them like the pomegranates in the back patio area of Caruso's restaurant here in Tucson (4th Ave). They've got a bunch of them back there in either one or a couple trunks for each tree. They make gelato from the fruits every year but I've never managed to get there for it.

Funny side story: For the first year the chickens did not attempt to eat the pomegranates. After returning home from running errands one day I ran out to check on the birds, which were free-ranging unsupervised. To my horror, the heads and necks of all the chickens appeared to be covered with blood. After a panicked search, we quickly ascertained that they had discovered the pomegranates and ate every one they could reach. We still call that event, "The Great Pomegranate Massacre."

Oh, the images that brought to mind! From the looks of what he had, they are well on their way to being leafless. I would absolutely love to have that much fruit, but I won't pay those prices at the store! I could sit there eating them all day, plus I'd love to juice and can them. Then there is the possibilities of jelly. I've never had gelato, but it sounds divine. Oh, the possibilities!

Of your three, which do you prefer the most? I'm sort of debating between the Angel Red and Wonderful. RSI doesn't have the Kasmir, but it sounds excellent. GrowOrganic has offerings for them, though. Plus, they have a video on planting them and trimming them to grow as a tree. I'm getting kind of encouraged...

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

My pomegranates lose their leaves in winter too (Wonderful, Kasmir, Angel Red). I originally intended to prune them into single trunk trees but they became a favorite hiding place for the chickens so they become bushier every year with my neglect. The three trees produce more than we can eat even with the chickens getting every one within jumping height. They really like the fruits. I was originally inspired to prune them like the pomegranates in the back patio area of Caruso's restaurant here in Tucson (4th Ave). They've got a bunch of them back there in either one or a couple trunks for each tree. They make gelato from the fruits every year but I've never managed to get there for it.

Funny side story: For the first year the chickens did not attempt to eat the pomegranates. After returning home from running errands one day I ran out to check on the birds, which were free-ranging unsupervised. To my horror, the heads and necks of all the chickens appeared to be covered with blood. After a panicked search, we quickly ascertained that they had discovered the pomegranates and ate every one they could reach. We still call that event, "The Great Pomegranate Massacre."

My chickens pretty much ignore mine; even when I give them the fruits. I have to break them open for them to eat them. DH got $$ eyes when he saw the prices in the store knowing how loaded our tree out back is; neither of us care for them. I like the looks, but the fruits are far too tart, and I haven't liked anything I've tried that has pomegranate flavour. Our youngest does like them.

 

[Phottoman]

Funny side story: For the first year the chickens did not attempt to eat the pomegranates. After returning home from running errands one day I ran out to check on the birds, which were free-ranging unsupervised. To my horror, the heads and necks of all the chickens appeared to be covered with blood. After a panicked search, we quickly ascertained that they had discovered the pomegranates and ate every one they could reach. We still call that event, "The Great Pomegranate Massacre."

Picture me sitting here sedately reading about the happenings of Arizona Chicken Lovers and coming across this ... I have been chuckling and laughing out loud now for several minutes.

Thank you for a much needed laugh.

Skip

 

[MandyFitch]

Picture me sitting here sedately reading about the happenings of Arizona Chicken Lovers and coming across this ... I have been chuckling and laughing out loud now for several minutes.

Thank you for a much needed laugh.

Skip

HAHH Me too!

 

[MandyFitch]

So sorry to hear about your dog, City. After losing m 15 year old mutt I thought I could never love another dog again. She was like my first child. It does get better, though. And now I have my fabulous chicken "guard dog / butt sniffer." Took a few years, though...