Arizona Chickens

[Angelray]

Hello everyone!

I have been a long time lurker and wanted to say hi. A little history, I grew up raising chickens in Washington state and moved to Arizona about 8 years ago. I grew up mostly taking care of road island reds, ameraucanas and a few other hybrids. Since living in Arizona, I have always wanted to get chickens again and recently moved out to Litchfield Park and built my first coop. 

I am about to get 10 pullets later this month so expect to see some pictures on here! My wife has never had chickens so this will be an exciting experience for her. It sure is nice to have an Arizona specific thread so I know what to be aware of in terms of predators and other challenges! I look forward to getting to know everyone here.

Welcome & thanks for sharing. We love pix so can't wait to see your chicks! What are you getting?

 

[Angelray]

This gal of mine is now 7 months old and still hasn't laid an egg. Should I be worried?

I'm no expert but I have 2 EE's. The oldest is 29 weeks & the other is 25 weeks. Nothing yet from either & both have bright red combs...oldest one even squats! All 11 of my chickens are over 25 weeks & only 2 are laying??? Maybe winter weather. Not sure.

 

[Angelray]

Just put a turkey in the oven for the chickens. Been in there since Thanksgiving & the family says "Please no more turkey!". You would think they had eaten 4 turkeys in the last 6 weeks...lol. These chicks are spoiled!

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Thanks for all the response. I have some one only 4 blocks over. So close. I can now relax. I hate not being able to say I am going to do something then not do it. My word is all I have. It is old fashion but some things that are old fashion are to good to change. We all on this BYC seem to agree on that point. Such as dignity of life and knowing were your food comes from. It all feels good. It feels very good.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Hello everyone!

I have been a long time lurker and wanted to say hi. A little history, I grew up raising chickens in Washington state and moved to Arizona about 8 years ago. I grew up mostly taking care of road island reds, ameraucanas and a few other hybrids. Since living in Arizona, I have always wanted to get chickens again and recently moved out to Litchfield Park and built my first coop. 

I am about to get 10 pullets later this month so expect to see some pictures on here! My wife has never had chickens so this will be an exciting experience for her. It sure is nice to have an Arizona specific thread so I know what to be aware of in terms of predators and other challenges! I look forward to getting to know everyone here.

You have come to the right place, there are a lot of very good people here.

As for predictors, you have a verity of hawks (Harris Hawk like to work in teams), eagles (usually passing thru seen 1 golden and 3 immature or golden eagles in 27 years), horned owls, coyotes, cats (domestic, bob cats and cougars), skunk, a very few raccoons & possums (imports and very rare as yet), and of course dogs. We have scorpions that are on the chickens menu but once in a blue moon one dose get stung. Chicken in on everyone's menu. Ferrets are not an issue, a few are out there that have escaped, I have seen them, but as of yet do not know of any attacks on chickens. Anyone wish to add to list? I am pretty num to things going on around me, but I tend to see animals.

Summer heat is the biggest problem. I gave my girls corn as a treat, bad idea here. They got fat, very fat. They do not need corn to keep body temp up as in cold country. If you were West Washington you had mild winters. If high up or east of the mountains cold winters and higher calorie winter feed. I was very stupid by giving them corn.

Also many of use purchases organic feed (non-soy) from Big Sky. It is delivered every 2 months. We usually will help each other out by taking turns picking up for our neighbors that live close to us sense we are all over the state. [email protected] is the coordinator of the feed.

One last thing as you are about to inter into chickens you must be made aware of the dangers: [VIDEO]

If you still want chickens good luck and happy to hear from you.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Just saw this. Need to share. Never ever feel sorry when sending one of our chickens to camp freezer. Know they have never experienced anything but joy of being a chicken, and when the moment came it was human. We can all be at peace we are not contributing to buying eggs from girls that are suffering as these girls had. I wonder if the greater public know,..................
[VIDEO]

 

[Stynch]

This gal of mine is now 7 months old and still hasn't laid an egg. Should I be worried?

Is she exhibiting laying behaviors (squat when you touch her back, investigate the nest box, talk and sing more than before)? She looks very similar to my Big Red, who is nearly 9 months old and still hasn't laid. The weirdest thing is she went all broody - waiting for the other 3 girls to lay so she could sit on their eggs, and she'd stay there until I nudged her off so I could collect them. It seems like a lot of EEs are late-developers. We are going to give her a couple more months, but her clock is definitely winding down!!

 

[nwebber]

She is absolutely stopping and squatting when we stand near her. She has become MUCH more vocal then ever before. My other girl has been laying for two months but this week is the first time I've caught her in there while the other is laying. I love her and we only have two so I'd hate to get rid of her for not being productive. If she is a broody will she never lay her own?

Is she exhibiting laying behaviors (squat when you touch her back, investigate the nest box, talk and sing more than before)?  She looks very similar to my Big Red, who is nearly 9 months old and still hasn't laid.  The weirdest thing is she went all broody - waiting for the other 3 girls to lay so she could sit on their eggs, and she'd stay there until I nudged her off so I could collect them.  It seems like a lot of EEs are late-developers.  We are going to give her a couple more months, but her clock is definitely winding down!!

 

[Stynch]

She is absolutely stopping and squatting when we stand near her. She has become MUCH more vocal then ever before. My other girl has been laying for two months but this week is the first time I've caught her in there while the other is laying. I love her and we only have two so I'd hate to get rid of her for not being productive. If she is a broody will she never lay her own?

Your guess is as good as mine, since I'm also a newbie!! We think we broke her of the broody behavior by nudging her off the nest consistently (I am so fortunate to work from home where I can coop-stalk to my heart's content - LOL). We also removed the fake eggs, and she tore both nests apart looking for them!! It's been a couple of weeks, and she no longer seems interested in the other girls' eggs. I just wish she'd lay!!! The other three are a month younger and have been laying since early November. Maybe, just maybe, one of these days we'll get that fourth egg!!!! Good luck with yours!

 

[Stynch]

Hello everyone!

I have been a long time lurker and wanted to say hi. A little history, I grew up raising chickens in Washington state and moved to Arizona about 8 years ago. I grew up mostly taking care of road island reds, ameraucanas and a few other hybrids. Since living in Arizona, I have always wanted to get chickens again and recently moved out to Litchfield Park and built my first coop.

I am about to get 10 pullets later this month so expect to see some pictures on here! My wife has never had chickens so this will be an exciting experience for her. It sure is nice to have an Arizona specific thread so I know what to be aware of in terms of predators and other challenges! I look forward to getting to know everyone here.

Welcome from another former Washingtonian!