Arizona Chickens

[kpgoldstar]

My continuing egg saga... my sitters were getting an egg in the morning (which I have NEVER had) and a couple in the evening. We got home from a couple days away Friday evening and found 2 eggs! One in the nest box and one under the roost. This morning I went out to feed breakfast hoping to find that elusive morning egg. NOPE! I didn't get one. But then I went out again around 10 before I had to leave for town and there it was! A morning egg!

The best part of the story though is we got home around 4:00 today and wouldn't you know it?? There were THREE eggs in the nest boxes!! WOOOHOOO!! That means all 4 of my girls are now laying. One of them for sure was a first egg, just as small as the other first eggs we've gotten so far. Well, of course that is assuming that no one laid 2 eggs today LOL!

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

So true. Mine will be 34 years old this summer. He came to live with me at 4 months of age, from captive breeding. Probably will still outlive me. So many people get these long-lived parrots without really thinking it through, or on a whim, just not sure why, many reasons I am sure. Then life changes, kids come along, moves, etc and suddenly the bird has to go, or they are not equipped to handle problems that might arise with the bird, behavior issues and so on. My neighbor runs Tucson Parrot Rescue http://www.tucsonparrotrescue.com/ . She loves birds and is doing a good service helping people with their birds.

Then you understand why I couldn't accept the offer. The lady that owned the bird pet story said she know I was the right TYP of person to have one of her parrots. I am not ready for the commitment, but want one so badly, and don't for the best of reasons. I did buy a water song canary, Larry. We had about 5 years to gather, he stopped eating & singing in 24 hrs he was gone. I still miss his song. All the way from Florida to AZ he sang to me, inches from my head in my S-10 pick up. That is to close. When I stopped to eat, I role down the windows so it didn't get to hot, when I left the restaurant I could find my car by his song. Did not know how old he was, I was his second owner and he had a fully developed songs. Anyway it turned out to be a good thing I didn't buy the Blue Macaw, in 2000 I had some problems, i started to drive a truck over the road. I would have had to make a hard and difficult decision.

 

[roostereggs]

I have 21 week-old chicks in the brooder, which I incubated for my neighbors. They have a coop ready. When is the soonest they can go outside? I know they don't fully feather until 6 weeks or so, but would 2-3 weeks be ok if I loan them my brooder lamp until the weather warms up more? I checked their coop-the bottom half is solid plywood/ block wall, so there won't be any issues with them being small and getting out between wire or anything. It is in the corner of their lot, with a LOT of wind protection from the corner block walls.

TIA!

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I have a service dog. They are tax deductible, food, vet and grooming, not toys treats and fancy beds. I came across this:
Farm Dogs
A farmer or shepherd who uses a dog to herd or guard cattle, sheep, pigs, or other farm animals can deduct the cost of keeping the dog as a business expense. The cost of the dog itself must be depreciated over seven years or deducted in one year using IRS Code Section 179.

Some of you BYC might qualify. Chick it out. Can't hurt.

 

[desertmarcy]

Then you understand why I couldn't accept the offer. The lady that owned the bird pet story said she know I was the right TYP of person to have one of her parrots. I am not ready for the commitment, but want one so badly, and don't for the best of reasons. I did buy a water song canary, Larry. We had about 5 years to gather, he stopped eating & singing in 24 hrs he was gone. I still miss his song. All the way from Florida to AZ he sang to me, inches from my head in my S-10 pick up. That is to close. When I stopped to eat, I role down the windows so it didn't get to hot, when I left the restaurant I could find my car by his song. Did not know how old he was, I was his second owner and he had a fully developed songs.

Anyway it turned out to be a good thing I didn't buy the Blue Macaw, in 2000 I had some problems, i started to drive a truck over the road. I would have had to make a hard and difficult decision.

You are one of the unselfish people, thinking of the bird's welfare before your own, good for you

Maybe you could look at adopting an older rescue parrot? I know a lot of them have problems, but some can overcome with love. At our age, it is not good to get a young bird, we know they will have to be passed on to someone else way too soon. BTW, I recently finished reading the book "Alex and Me". What an awesome story about that African Grey that used to live right here at the U of A.

 

[kpgoldstar]

I have 21 week-old chicks in the brooder, which I incubated for my neighbors. They have a coop ready. When is the soonest they can go outside? I know they don't fully feather until 6 weeks or so, but would 2-3 weeks be ok if I loan them my brooder lamp until the weather warms up more? I checked their coop-the bottom half is solid plywood/ block wall, so there won't be any issues with them being small and getting out between wire or anything. It is in the corner of their lot, with a LOT of wind protection from the corner block walls.

TIA!

I put mine out at 4 weeks in early November but it was still quite warm. 2-3 would be pushing it in my opinion but also depends on where they live. 3 weeks they should still have access to 80 degrees on a regular basis.

 

[Timskins]

I am finding a yellow liquid inside one of the nesting boxes and I was wondering what if anyone knew what it is from? It kind of looks like raw egg yolk.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I am finding a yellow liquid inside one of the nesting boxes and I was wondering what if anyone knew what it is from? It kind of looks like raw egg yolk.

Ummm...egg yolk maybe? You might have had a hen lay an egg without a shell, which could easily break and you might not notice the membrane. About a month ago I noticed a very similar thing in the nest box over a couple days and I wondered if one of the hens was eating eggs. Then one day I heard the ladies sounding the alarm around the coop and I discovered a rock squirrel inside eating an egg. It was eating the shell too.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

BTW, I recently finished reading the book "Alex and Me". What an awesome story about that African Grey that used to live right here at the U of A.

For many years I worked down the hall from Alex. His caretakers would take him out for walks and I thoroughly enjoyed his visits to our lab. The work Irene did with him was incredible.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Lorenzo is looking for a group of girls to court. He will be 6 months old on the 21st. He is a sweet boy. I got him as an egg from Christie Davis. on Arizona Backyard Farmers (FB) I do not know what breeder she got her eggs from but I am told his bloodlines go back to France. I am asking $25. Please no stew pot for him.

Pm me if you are interested. Thanks