Arizona Chickens

[City farm]

 
Please help !  If anyone remember who was on their way to Tucson for a visit and to pick up the SEED EXCHANGE BOX  please post or PM me.  I've gone back seven pages and can not find the post.  (humm maybe I am too late ?)

I'm not sure who was going to Tucson but I think Littlechiken said she was coming up to PHX soon. Maybe she is willing to get it from Gallo.

How do we get on the list?

 

[City farm]

Hey all I've been out of the loop for a while. I've been raising chickens for about 5 years now but I had a devil of a time starting up my first batch of 18 were supposed to be pullets and I wound up with 17 cockerels. my second batch was going great they were all hatched from some buff Orpingtons eggs that were given to me and I wound up losing them in their second year to the Wallow fire. the next spring I got another 20 and 18 of them were hens but this past winter I lost all but 6 to a neighbors dog. Today I lost one of my two turkeys due to a wound she got from a pecking battle with the other turkey(which was odd because they've never fought before). So I'm somewhat starting over. I'm located in Eagar(midway up the state very near the NM border). Its much cooler here than most of AZ(we are still getting freezing temps at night). Is there anyone else located in my area?

Edited for spelling

Not close, sorry.. Condolences from us...
Any time you drive threw let us know.. If we have any extra chicks or hens you are welcome to them..

 

[mnabity]

Not close, sorry.. Condolences from us...
Any time you drive threw let us know.. If we have any extra chicks or hens you are welcome to them..

How sweet thank you! I just purchased 15 chicks but I always have room for more. (LOVE chicken math) I am down in the Phx area quite often either to visit family or to go to the VA hospital. I will have to come by next time I am down.

 

[City farm]

My chickens have been cooped up for the last 2 weeks with no free ranging while I wait for new grass seed to come in. There laying hasn't been affected but it looks like the feathers around their vent and their tails are getting plucked out. Are they getting bored from being cooped up and pecking at each other?

I do not free range my chickens because I have big dogs that love chickens so mine are in a large coop. yes they can get bored so I make sure and add things to occupy my hens and Roo. I also have bare ends but I had 2 roosters in with 15 hens an I was told that was why. I built a dirt bath area and I have several different height perch areas in the "bedroom" area and I have put in a wooden bridge, some stumps and some large cut tree limbs in my coop. I also keep them busy with snacks for them. hanging lettuce etc and I throw seeds to them on the dirt so they have to look for them. They are also getting a mirror in their coop. I might also add a bale of straw at some point.

A mirror, huh, might just do that too?? Anyone else try that?

 

[City farm]

Not close, sorry.. Condolences from us...
Any time you drive threw let us know.. If we have any extra chicks or hens you are welcome to them..

How sweet thank you! I just purchased 15 chicks but I always have room for more. (LOVE chicken math) I am down in the Phx area quite often either to visit family or to go to the VA hospital. I will have to come by next time I am down.

Yes make time to pop on over for tea...

 

[a little chiken]

My flock was kept off mine for about six weeks while it germinated. When I let them loose, they cleared the sprouts clean. I was amazed at how thoroughly it was eliminated!

Have you or K9Dave ever tried Fodder? We are thinking of starting some for all of our animals. here is the website.

www.half-pinthomestead.com.

 

[a little chiken]

How do we get on the list?

i would like to know too. i have lots of broccoli seeds from my plants.

 

[Demosthine]

Have you or K9Dave ever tried Fodder? We are thinking of starting some for all of our animals. here is the website.

www.half-pinthomestead.com.

I did a few batches and they ate it well enough. Throughout the first winter and all of summer, I had more than ample grass in my yard, though, so I had no worries about fodder. This last year, I tried to overseed with the chicken pasture blend from Grow Organic, rather than overseeding with Rye grass. That was a bad idea. As soon as I know I get to the keep the house in the divorce, I'm going to try planting the remaining pasture blend that I have and establish it prior to buying a new flock. Since has such great weather for grass year round, fodder shouldn't really be necessary. I figure if you have the time and money to invest in a system for fodder, you should just grow a good sized patch of grass. The grass will give you far more benefits than the fodder will, including reducing the overall temperature of your backyard.

 

[K9Dave]

I really just wanted to play around with it. I'm changing my garden around and am going to use the pallets from last years garden to grow some crops for my chickens. Just gonna put some chicken panel on top and let it grow through.

 

[pipemum]

demosthine, sorry to hear about the divorce.

I'm growing some of the Grow Organic pasture blend in some wheat grass trays. This is not a very effective way to grow the stuff. The trays are about 24x12", so they'll be devoured instantly and are taking forever to grow, and it seems like only the rye grass and one other seedling is coming up. I did sow some in my grass patch, but it doesn't seem to have come up...plus I've since fenced the chickens out of my grass, so nada benefits. I've thrown a couple pieces of sod in the chicken area, and will continue to give them plenty of greens from my garden. I think I'll give up on the pasture blend for now.