Arizona Chickens

[LadyKotaDoria]

This is Lucy, she is now a hen 1 yr and 4 months old.

it has been only a few months that she looks like this. I look at pictures in August and her comb was not quite as nice as it is now. What people have been saying is true, it takes about a year to finish developing. I do not know what changes are yet to come. But I think she is done now. She is not that dark, red mahogany but she is beautiful in my eyes. That is what matters. You are going to have fun looking back at your RIR and com pairing the pictures. Have fun.
This is Lucy several months ago, I thought her comb was done growing and forming.

It is not much but you can still see it, in the fullness and size.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

How's going to the meeting? Maybe we could meet up and go as a group.

PM ME

-------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
Has any one ever had a day when things just zip right past you?

A lady promised pound cakes for the church bake sale on Sunday. She had been running behind and asked her husband if he could help her by picking up a few things at the grocer . He was just getting ready to go golfing, but being a good husband he a greed if he could use the express lane.
1) dozen eggs
2) 8 oz pure Vanilla
3) 1# butter
4) 5# bag cake flour
5) gallon of Milk
6) 1 gal vanilla ice cream
7) 6 pack of coke
8) 5# bag of sugar

The quick trip took over an hour, when he got home he was all red in the face and sweeting, carrying one bag. He left to get a second and third bag.

As she started to unload the items there was
1 dozen eggs, 2 8 oz bottles of Vanilla and 3 1# butters.
In the second and third bag was was 4 bags of 5# cake flour

As he struggled with 5 gallons of Milk, he answered the unspoken question on his wife's face. "Yes, I figured it out as I was paying for it."
She could not stop laughing as he brought in the last of the list, 8 5# bags of sugar.

 

[pipemum]

I remember a few weeks ago I "laughed" at Twinklin for giving her chickens frequent baths for poo butts. I was checking the coop for mites and such, and noticed my barred rock doesn't just have little white 'dingleberries' on her fluff, but a LOT of poo on her fluff. I will not be bathing her, but there is such a big clump of poo that I'll have to cut it out. I tried last night, but she, of course, roosted the farthest back and I couldn't reach her with my scissors. I grabbed her and the poor thing squawked like I was going to eat her, so I'll keep checking her at night till she's in a place where I can cut the giant lump of poo out. High maintenance chickens. Her vent is clear but I wonder what created the cluster in the first place.

Well, I'd forgotten that I'd put in an order of CX long before the last coyote kill. The post office actually delivered them to my house on Friday. I was a bit shocked. 12 healthy CX suddenly at my doorstep. Also, Ideal Hatchery put in 7, SEVEN!!!! freaking packing peanuts. All healthy and alive as well. They are super cute, but what the heck, that's a lot of extra chickens. I think the extras are cochins. The broody is doing a great job caring for them in the brooder. I'm using both her and the Ecoglow in the brooder this time because she is too tiny to keep 19 flipping chicks warm. I'm terrified about moving them out to the pen, though the pen has been super reinforced. I'm definitely not feeling mentally ready for this chicks. Oh, two of the CX were dead under the Ecoglow yesterday. I think they were suffocated in the corner? They were big, healthy, and thriving 1 hour before I found them dead, full crops and no pasty butt.

Because I wasn't prepared for the chicks, I totally messed up the timing of getting the broody into the brooder and getting her prepped for chicks. I ended up just throwing her in there and letting her figure it out. She took to them beautifully.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I am sorry that you lost 2 CX, just keep in mind you were not prepared.

My Sylvia is in the nesting box. A few weeks I found a shelless egg, then about a week later an egg with part of a shell. All of my Aug 28 - Sept 5th chicks old enough to start laying any day. They have been molting over about 2 months so they she all be done now. Soon I should be getting 8 eggs a day on average. Mary, my BO mama, should be done caring for her brood in a week or so. She is already letting them far from her, and they are showing there in dependence.

 

[Billiam]

How's going to the meeting? Maybe we could meet up and go as a group.

PM ME

I'll be going, but I work only 15 minutes away from there so I'll just be leaving from here around 1:30.

 

[desertnewbie]

Hi everyone! I'm new to his forum and I would like to attempt to have some backyard chickens. I'm in Tucson. I'm sure this has been answered before but there are too many posts to look through in this thread, even when I use the search option.

I'd like to know your opinions on the best type of coop for the desert. I would like to have about six or seven hens. We live in an area where there is a lot of wildlife. We have just about everything come through our yard including bobcats, mountain lions and javelina. We also see a lot of hawks around here.

I'd like to build the coop myself.

I think that letting the hens roam during the day would mean death to the hens. So that is definitely a consideration when making a coop. We have just over an acre, so I do have the space to build a large coop or have a coop that we can move around our property. All of our yard is natural desert landscape. We don't attempt to have any grass. Is a stationary coop a good option or is it better to rotate around the property?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Hi everyone! I'm new to his forum and I would like to attempt to have some backyard chickens. I'm in Tucson. I'm sure this has been answered before but there are too many posts to look through in this thread, even when I use the search option.

I'd like to know your opinions on the best type of coop for the desert. I would like to have about six or seven hens. We live in an area where there is a lot of wildlife. We have just about everything come through our yard including bobcats, mountain lions and javelina. We also see a lot of hawks around here.

I'd like to build the coop myself.

I think that letting the hens roam during the day would mean death to the hens. So that is definitely a consideration when making a coop. We have just over an acre, so I do have the space to build a large coop or have a coop that we can move around our property. All of our yard is natural desert landscape. We don't attempt to have any grass. Is a stationary coop a good option or is it better to rotate around the property?

Thanks in advance!

Greetings from a fellow Tucsonan. I would build a permanent structure rather than a moveable coop. The work of moving a tractor around wouldn't outweigh the benefits gained in our landscape. Most importantly though, a permanent structure is easier to make predator resistant. I'd recommend using at least 14 gauge welded wire with 1" X 2" openings or even smaller. To prevent digging predators, make an "apron" of welded wire that extends out 90 degrees from the edges of the coop and run, some people have them on the surface of the soil, mine is slightly buried to keep it out of the way. A covered run is also essential at keeping predators at bay.

Make sure your coop has plenty of ventilation and place it in a shady spot if possible, if not, you'll have to make shade for them. Heat can be a challenge to raising chickens here and cold temperatures are not an issue as long as they can get out of the weather. The cooler you can make their enclosure the more successful you'll be. Look at the "my coop" link just under my avatar and others on the thread for ideas.

 

[City farm]

Hi everyone! I'm new to his forum and I would like to attempt to have some backyard chickens. I'm in Tucson. I'm sure this has been answered before but there are too many posts to look through in this thread, even when I use the search option. 

I'd like to know your opinions on the best type of coop for the desert. I would like to have about six or seven hens. We live in an area where there is a lot of wildlife. We have just about everything come through our yard including bobcats, mountain lions and javelina. We also see a lot of hawks around here. 

I'd like to build the coop myself.

I think that letting the hens roam during the day would mean death to the hens. So that is definitely a consideration when making a coop. We have just over an acre, so I do have the space to build a large coop or have a coop that we can move around our property. All of our yard is natural desert landscape. We don't attempt to have any grass. Is a stationary coop a good option or is it better to rotate around the property?

Thanks in advance!

So good to have you on...
I looked on the coop fourn section before we built.. We do have a tractor, but it is just for them to go into if they need extra care..
With that much wild life you will defiantly need a secure location... I did see a run someone posted that was detached from the main
coop. It ran the length of their wall.. It was just bent 1/2 inch hardware cloth, about 3 feet from the ground in a half circle. Like what
you would domto cover youe winter gargen, very ingenious. Not at all safe from a coyote or Mountain lion.
But if you planned on being out with them doing your yard work.. When friends come over that are interested in
acquiring a flock, we set up a seating area when they free range & have a cup of tea.. It is like chicken television.. Very relaxing..
We love to be outdoors with our animals.. They all come to hang out with us.. Cat,dog & chickens... Got to take advantage of our
lovely weather.. Keep us posted on what you decide & what breed of chickens do you want?

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Hi everyone! I'm new to his forum and I would like to attempt to have some backyard chickens. I'm in Tucson. I'm sure this has been answered before but there are too many posts to look through in this thread, even when I use the search option. 

I'd like to know your opinions on the best type of coop for the desert. I would like to have about six or seven hens. We live in an area where there is a lot of wildlife. We have just about everything come through our yard including bobcats, mountain lions and javelina. We also see a lot of hawks around here. 

I'd like to build the coop myself.

I think that letting the hens roam during the day would mean death to the hens. So that is definitely a consideration when making a coop. We have just over an acre, so I do have the space to build a large coop or have a coop that we can move around our property. All of our yard is natural desert landscape. We don't attempt to have any grass. Is a stationary coop a good option or is it better to rotate around the property?

Thanks in advance!

Lesson to Gallo, the only thing I would add I'd not to build your own coop, get a 8X6 or what ever size you can afford. Modify it as a coop. Easy to clean, if you need to lock them up you have room for water and feed. All they need are roosting rods. Nesting boxes in side or hanging on the out side, access for chickens from the inside and ofcourse an egg collection door ether way. I ended up spending as much on my coops as I would have on a shed and its conversion. Also if chicken math strikes, you will have the space. It probably will strike. Once you start you can't stop.

:yiipchick

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I learned something new today. I was on the NN thread, and I learned there is a Madagascar Game Chicken, also ahas necked neck chicken. It sent me to look them up. They are almost if not as big as the Malay Game Chicken that can reach 3' tall. [VIDEO]

I think Turkens are prettier. On the other hand it could fight off any predictor. Average 26"-30" still tall, leggy.