Arizona Chickens

[a little chiken]

Mine probably don't even need the extra afternoon feeding but it has become a habit. They race to the trough, take a few bites then are off and running around the yard eating grass and bugs. They manage to finish the whole thing before they head off to bed of course since they are spoiled rotten little piglets! Mine will never run into my arms. They are sweet girls but seem to only tolerate me handling them as much as I do.
The only thing I've ever added to the FF is some Black Oil Sunflower Seeds and that was during the winter. It helped with volume, adds to the protein content of the feed and the birds loved it. Now that the weather is warmer I don't add it anymore. Whenever I've given scratch they drink water like crazy so I also won't be feeding any of that again until about November.

Yeah I found out scratch is very hot. I never realized that but it makes so much sense. We probably will not add it during the summer so they dont get too hot. I was thinking of black sunflower seeds the other day. I used to add those to my dairy goat feed.

We cannot free range because I have large dogs that kill wild birds and I know they will my girls if I give them a chance. I have a Large coop for the girls though. They seem happy. 2 more coops to be built in the next month. ugh. But I am excited for my new birds so it should be fun.

 

[keckhart]

Hey there AZ folks

Im wondering if anyone has any frizzle babies or fertile eggs? If so please let me know, I'm interested in getting a couple.

Thanks!

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Looks like something I will need in my travels. When I am moving my girls will have water. I will have to make one up soon.

Here's a smaller waterer that I use in the day tractor where they hang out while free ranging. I also use it for chicks. I melted a hole large enough for two widths of 12 gauge wire to loop through the lid, bending back the tag ends to hold onto the lid. Hanging it this way makes it so it's always level, which might be helpful on winding roads.

Thank you I like both the style. I will have to make one up soon. I have eggs that will hatch next week. Hope to get a pullet from them and one from my 7 week old bunch. Only 3 to start, they need to learn to use it. Chickens seem to learn fast. They see one doing or getting something and then they all want it. Things are now starting to ramp up. I am getting all the medical stuff done, got my generators (honda eu2000i and companion), freezer, folding wagon, getting my bicycle fixed, got my camper, now I have to get a leak in my roof fixed before I leave. It seems that very little qualifies to keep. I made a list every item must pass to get packed for storage. Surprisingly little fits. I have a house full of junk and stuff, few treasures. The other things are fishing, hunting, camping, and cooking things are keepers, Tools is next, but I am keeping 1 or 2 of each the rest go. My bucket of nuts, bolts and miscellaneous stuff goes. (You know that bucket you throw that left over screw or nut in, or hing you took off something.) it is no wares as big as the ones I have had in the past but it is a nice bucket.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

This is my first year with game birds in the Phoenix area. I posted on another forum about our suddenly very big fly problem and am taking measures to reduce it. I lived in bliss from October, when I got the quail, until about 2 weeks ago, with no flies. Does it get too hot for the flies at some point and they will go away again? (Please tell me yes)

Cover the ground with diatomaceous earth and use an electric bug killer, that should help.

 

[noodlegirl]

ISO New home: Please don't think I'm one of those people who gets chicks & then does the "now what?" We have loved them but I just don't have the energy (for medical reasons

) to butcher them. I've mentioned several times that maybe I will try to and the family throws up their arms because 1. they are pets and have names and 2. not something I should be doing. I'd love to donate them to boy scouts, 4H, etc. or anyone who'd like them (even to butcher for the stew pot) but I'm not sure who to contact.

We have two barred rock that are just turning THREE years old

. Amazingly one is still laying. They have been trained on the treadle feeder & nipple waterer. They have been free-ranged and spoiled on organic greens in addition to the layer pellets. They let me pet them & pick them up. They have been very good with my kids too.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

noodlegirl, I'm so sorry to hear this! I hope you're o.k. and you find good homes for them.

 

[flower]

wow she seems young to go broody but I have heard Turkens like to go broody. I absolutely love my Turken/Ameraucana cross and cannot wait to see if they lay the colored eggs or not.

I wish you luck and hope you find eggs to hatch out. Happy hatching lil Turken.

The bird in the picture is a cross since the Standard of Perfection for Turkens IS A STRAIGHt COMB and she has a pointed type rose comb. Maybe she is crossed with a Wyandotte which do often go broody. I have Turkens mixed with Seramas and they also tend to be broodies. But from the information of the NN thread broodiness is not usual for Turkens (NN) unless they are not pure for NN.

 

[rockmissjess]

Todays Entry - I know i havent updated pics in the last two weeks so here they are.. the girls will be 7 weeks old tomorrow just took these.. not very good pics cause its rainy today and windy.. but it will do for now.. till i take better ones

 

[Joplus]

Hi AZ chicken folks. I've had hens for years but just decided to incubate. I don't have a rooster. I'm curious where you keep the humidity in your incubator at? And my hens do well in the heat, they have shade from a massive eucalyptus tree and the sprinklers go off. But what about chicks? They're due to hatch next week, then in the brooder for I don't know how long, the heat outside will practically be where the brooder should be. And are they more sensitive? I plan on keeping them til they're laying and decide which to keep. I put all the channels in the incubator with water to get 40% humidity but haven't added water and the channels are dry I think but the humidity still remains at 40%. Maybe the eggs are putting off moisture? Its definitely not 40% in the house with the a/c running.

 

[ChicksOfHazzard]

Is anyone (probably in the San Tan Valley) missing their chicken? This picture was posted on the San Tan Valley Queen Creek Pets page of Facebook. She says she found it and is trying to give her away for free. However, based on the way that chicken looks, I'm guessing she belongs to a backyard chicken enthusiast. And probably close to wherever it was found. Can you guys network and see if she belongs to anyone?