Arizona Chickens

[Demosthine]

Is this the film you are describing...or is this mold? This is what it looked like this morning and usually when I start over. Am I starting over just as it gets "good"?

Yup, like everyone else said, that's the good stuff nd it's going well! I think Mary mentioned the key to recognizing the difference. The mold will be fuzzy, the mother is more like a layer of scum, per say.

Depending on your city water source, tap water can be fine. Ask for the annual water testing results from your company to find out your chlorine levels. When I was in Phoenix, I could smell the chlorine straight out of the tap. Here in Peoria, it's non-existent.

 

[pipemum]

Speaking of adding new chickens to a flock, I need to re-home my "old" chickens, but I want to do it responsibly?

My chickens, a mixed flock ranging in age from two months to four years, has picked up some annoying sniffles thing along the way. It is not serious. But, it keeps showing up in each batch of new chicks, once they come in contact with the adults. Some of the adults must be carriers. Darn it.

So anyway, I want to start over, but I don't think this justifies killing the flock? They lay well, and about half the flock have never shown any signs of illness. If it was really serious, that would be a different story, but mostly it's like a cold where they sniffle for a while and then it passes. Very rarely, one will pass. Like the batch of 15 chicks, one died when they got it. That's not huge numbers. And that is without medicine. I used to treat for it, but I stopped, and it actually seems to be getting better since I stopped treating them. It gets more and more mild as time passes so it's either on the way out, or the flock is building an immunity. Pops up about twice per year.

I was thinking of advertising on Craigslist to offer them free, to right home, but I have reservations about possibly unscrupulous people who may try and re-sell or not take good care of them?

I want to hatch out a TON of chicks in May (like 100-200) clean the coop, and start again, fresh. (That seems to be what all the web sites out there are suggesting?)

Here's photos of some that would need new homes:




They are laying like CRAZY. I'm getting about two dozen eggs per day right now! If I only wanted pretty backyard chickens that were good layers, these would be perfect. But people keep asking to buy my older chickens, and I feel if I'm going to sell started stock, they should be as "clean" as I can offer them?

If anyone knows of a good home for 10-12 hens and a rooster, (FREE) please message me. Would like to keep them together if possible. Or could maybe break into two flocks of 5-8 hens with one rooster. And note, I probably would come over and screen the home personally. (If your neighbor who wants chickens would think that's weird, give them a heads up. I really care about these chickens a lot.) Would be looking to re-home them next month after I've collected my own eggs for hatching.

Your chickens are gorgeous. I hope you can find a good home for all of them. Some day, I'd really like an aloha. Like, just one, hahaha. I had thoughts of setting up an incubator and buying some eggs from you...but it looks like the incubator thing won't be happening this year.

 

[a little chiken]

Hello my AZ friends. I am in the Verde Valley and we are getting our first set of chicks this week. My dh works at Olsen's and we are getting them from there. I just got the lumber to start our coop today and we are super excited.

welcome

. Chickens are sooooooo addictive and if you are like me you will start dabbling in other fowl too. I am semi new to this site but the people are amazing and so nice.

 

[a little chiken]

They are Aloha chickens, you can see more here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/600281/the-aloha-chicken-project/1770

And yeah, not ideal for most BYC'ers? I think the perfect home for them would be a chicken person who lives out somewhere with not a lot of neighbors who isn't quite as "involved" in chicken raising as we BYC'ers are! Someone who just wants a nice coop of pretty chickens in their backyard, but doesn't want to sell, swap, collect a bunch more, etc. Like when I was a kid, we had chickens on the farm, but they were just our backyard hens, for our own egg production. So it was a "closed" flock as we didn't show or sell started pullets or anything. Someone with a nice safe coop or yard who is OK with just having these for a couple more years. Until they die of old age or need to be culled for fresh stock. (Just not now while they are still happy and productive!)

There is someone here in Tucson looking for chickens to start an egg selling business for her son. here is the info from craigslist. It might be what you are looking for. I know its not in your area but if it helps get them a good home?

here is the post
"
got unwanted chickens?

​

We will take any unwanted chickens and offer them the very best home. My 10 year old son wants to start his own business with his chickens. He has been in 4H for poultry and dairy goats.
My son designed and built his chicken coops. With the help from us of course. he is a very responsible and reliable young man. he asked if you can do this is a business and sell the eggs to pay for his flock. I did not hesitate to tell him yes. he's working on his new chicken coop now we will offer home to any unwanted chickens. thank you for taking the time to read this post. hope you had an eggsting day "

497h8-4402027926%40sale.craigslist.org (this is the contact info. just copy and email to that email.

I hope this might help you find them a good home.

 

[a little chiken]

ok I know nothing about fermenting chicken food and why everyone says its a good idea. I am kinda new but it sounds like it causes a lot of healthy aspects for the chickens? I free feed lay crumble and I mix scratch in. I also give vegetable/fruit scraps and sometimes old bread. My chickens are all healthy and doing great. I would love any information on why fermented feed is good. Some of the other forums are hard to get all the information because everyone has so many different suggestions and ideas. raising animals in AZ is a lot different due to our weather so I never know what to take from them when it comes to coops and feeding. My chickens are not free range but do have a very large coop. TY in advance.

 

[Demosthine]

ok I know nothing about fermenting chicken food and why everyone says its a good idea. I am kinda new but it sounds like it causes a lot of healthy aspects for the chickens? I free feed lay crumble and I mix scratch in. I also give vegetable/fruit scraps and sometimes old bread. My chickens are all healthy and doing great. I would love any information on why fermented feed is good. Some of the other forums are hard to get all the information because everyone has so many different suggestions and ideas. raising animals in AZ is a lot different due to our weather so I never know what to take from them when it comes to coops and feeding. My chickens are not free range but do have a very large coop. TY in advance.

The best source of information I found is on the Natural Chicken Keeping blog. She does a fabulous job of adequately describing everything without having to read 30,000+ posts like the fermented feed thread on this forum. The only disagreement many of us have is that we don't seal the containers like she does, but rather use the open air method. Everyone I have talked to locally that does the closed container ended up with actual mold, so this is quite possibly part of that regional difference that you mention.

 

[BakinInAZ]

Alohachickens-

I think your hens are beautiful. Our next project is building the coop & attached run. We have a structure to add the nestboxes to, some of the lumber & some of the wire, & know where we want to place it. We live very rural & I was wanting 4 hens & a rooster to keep a small flock going-mostly for our own consumption & to help out a few neighbors, but I am taking my annual trip to visit my sister in Oregon next week & for a week, DH will probably be working on the coop while I'm gone, so I'm hoping we're ready before the end of the month. I definitely do not want to start w/young chicks, as I've had mixed flocks for years back in CA & just got used to always having broody hens that made the chick raising so easy.

If you think our time schedules might mesh-I read the thread every couple of days or so & will check on an answer. Thank you!

 

[a little chiken]

The best source of information I found is on the Natural Chicken Keeping blog. She does a fabulous job of adequately describing everything without having to read 30,000+ posts like the fermented feed thread on this forum. The only disagreement many of us have is that we don't seal the containers like she does, but rather use the open air method. Everyone I have talked to locally that does the closed container ended up with actual mold, so this is quite possibly part of that regional difference that you mention.

Thank you so much. It is a wonderful source for information. I feed Nutrena lay crumble and Nutrena scratch. does it make a difference on the brand of feed I am using? can I free feed it like I do now or do I need to feed a certain amount 2x a day? How do I get the girls used to it?
Thank you so much for your information.

 

[kpgoldstar]

Is this the film you are describing...or is this mold? This is what it looked like this morning and usually when I start over. Am I starting over just as it gets "good"?

You got good answers from everyone here. I have been doing ff in the same bucket for over 6 months and live in the hottest part of the state. I don't keep a layer of water over mine and I don't refresh every time I feed. Mine is simply feed and water from my tap. No starter, ACV, probiotics or yogurt. I only have 4 hens so I keep mine in an 8 qt foodgrade bucket and make enough of each batch to last 4-5 days.

Mine is the consistency of thick grout. I feed twice a day from this (large portion in the morning and a small snack in the afternoon) and don't have dry food available. They also get occasional kitchen scraps, usually just veggie trimmings. When my bucket starts to get low with only one or two feedings left, I fill with water and feed to make a slurry. By the next morning most of the water is absorbed, it is fluffy and has a ncie sour smell. The smell gets stronger (like pickles) as I feed out daily but never enough to be offensive. I keep it in a corner of the kitchen so it can reach temps in the 90's. I have a lid that I sometimes leave set on top and sometimes snap down. It can still breathe even with the lid all the way on.

Since I don't keep it covered with water, I get more of a foamy greyish-white film over mine that I just stir in. I have never washed or bleached my original bucket. I keep the sides scraped down every time I feed and stir.

 

[kpgoldstar]

Also, as I mentioned above, air is very important. You should not have a closed bucket or inhibit air circulation. If you are concerned with bugs getting in to it (chickens eat bugs, so who cares, right?!?), then you can cover it with a towel and secure it. Lack of air circulation is the primary reason that true mold will begin to grow.

Oh, if a towel won't work I have heard of others using an old stocking or pantyhose to cover the bucket. Keeps unwanted things out and lets air and good stuff in!