Arizona Chickens

[carnivore]

For those of you who have large fowl ducks... How big is your water source, how often do you clean it and refill, and what do you do with all the water? I'm down here in Vail, considering getting some ducks for eggs. There's a large mesquite tree right next to the coop, if I dumped the dirty water near there, would it be too much for the tree?

Are you prepared for your mesquite to take over? Mesquite can take all the water you can give it.

 

[Tanichca]

Quote: We water the thing with the hose every other day, and it's big and leafy, providing lovely shade for the southwest corner of the coop. So if I use the water from the ducks (is a kiddie pool a good size?) I won;t have to water it with the hose anymore, would I? And a kiddie pools worth of water wouldn't be too much?

 

[K9Dave]

BOSS
I went out a few days ago to the local PetSmart and bought a 40# bag of black oil sunflower seeds. Ultimately, I want to grow as much feed as possible. In the Tucson climate, sunflowers grow like weeds anyway. To make sure the seeds would sprout, I put a handful in a bowl and covered them with a wet paper towel. After 3 days, SUCCESS! they are all sprouted. Since my growing area is not yet prepared, I just removed the paper towel and put the bowl in the brooder. OMG! You would think these chicks had never seen food before! Now I have to prepare some ground (where the chickens can't get to 'em) and get with the program!

I bought a bunch if these myself but have just thrown a few to them. I want to sprout them but also haven't gotten with the program. What are your plans as far as placement in the yard? I've been leaving them in the run all day (I usually free range) so I could walk on the back porch without walking on poop. I may start doing this and growing some seeds. Thanks

 

[pipemum]

We water the thing with the hose every other day, and it's big and leafy, providing lovely shade for the southwest corner of the coop. So if I use the water from the ducks (is a kiddie pool a good size?) I won;t have to water it with the hose anymore, would I? And a kiddie pools worth of water wouldn't be too much?

You're probably overwatering right now. You run the risk of creating shallow roots and a top-heavy tree by watering so frequently and shallowly. These top heavy trees are the ones that end up uprooting during monsoons and windstorms. If you're dumping kiddie pool water in there every other day--yes, too much. The tree will look great!!! but will have a really weak root system. Dumping water every couple of weeks--perfect!

I never thought about growing my BOSS from the feed store. This spring, I tried planting a sunflower room garden for my daughter, and it's underperforming, ha. Everything was growing well, and then the quail and bunnies ate all the seedling down to nothing. Tried seeding again, built up some barriers, and only a few sunflowers are coming up, though all the mixed flowers seem to be growing up well. I'll try throwing in some of the feed store sunflower seeds.

 

[a little chiken]

Yes, I have pullets for sale right now, Black Coppers. Young ones, but old enough I can tell their sex. They are layer quality, not for breeding because most of them I'm selling don't have enough feathers on their feet. I've hatched out more than 100 of them so far---it is a project to get show quality birds that lay dark eggs as well.

I am looking for hens that lay the chocolate eggs and to mix with my Ameraucanas to get the olive eggs. I won't be ready for a few more weeks, probably in June. Will you have some available in June?

 

[desertmarcy]

I am looking for hens that lay the chocolate eggs and to mix with my Ameraucanas to get the olive eggs. I won't be ready for a few more weeks, probably in June. Will you have some available in June?

Probably, because I hatched quite a few and sell the pullets as I identify ones I don't want to keep for my breeding program. PM me when you are ready, I don't always keep up with this thread.
I did what you want to do last year. The hens turned out beautiful, black with nice green sheen and all lay large olive-colored eggs. But they are broody as all get out, which I don't like. That comes from the Ameraucana side--the hen I used to breed to make the olive eggers. She was so broody, I ended up selling her.

 

[City farm]

And to think I was actually encouraging it's growth! I was looking for something low-growing to fill in the spaces between my flagstone, and figured since it was already there and happy, why not? SOOOO glad I asked!

I have those evil little seeds everywhere in my yard, I just didn't know where they were coming from. My yard must have been infested at one point. My poor dog steps on one or two every day.

So, anyone have any thoughts on something low-growing that would look nice between flagstone? In the NW, we'd have used moss. Obviously NOT a very good choice for Tucson.

I would use dicondra seeds or chocolate mint! if I remember tomorrow I'll show you pictures of the chocolate mint growing between my flagstones an invading my backyard grass. And it smells wonderful when you trim it. on the other hand with dicondra grass, it's an old grass that you never have to mow. It fills in the space, it almost looks like a round clover but its not a clover and you just give it a sprinkle everyday in the hot summer and it should be fine.

I hope you do post photos.. I love dicondra, we just can't get it going..it requires a ton of water to get going.. Chickens love it

 

[City farm]

Water Cup Saga:  Logged in to mention that I spread peanut butter on the yellow tabs.  Then, I worried that wasn't' enough, so I dropped a couple of sunflowers in each of the cups to encourage pecking.  Still worried they wouldn't quite get it, I left some dried mealworms in each cup.  That'll get their attention!  I took the regular gravity waterers out, so this is their only source.  Freaking out a bit, as I'm at work all day.  I did leave 1/2 a watermelon in their runs so that they have something with moisture. 

One of my brahma meat cockerels started crowing on Friday.  I butchered him last night. 13 weeks old,  2lbs, 6oz all prepped, and he was one of the bigger ones.  I hope to fatten up the others before they start crowing. 

The high is only 84 today. They'll be fine and it's a nice break from the heat, this should help with their acclimation to the heat. I've started a compost pile in the run and leave fruits and stuff in it for them to dig out. Then in the morning I drench it and it in the heat of the day they are laying on it cooling off. The straw hold water and moisture inside their shoots too I believe.

Watermelon is such a great treat
Your chickens look so happy..

 

[a little chiken]

Probably, because I hatched quite a few and sell the pullets as I identify ones I don't want to keep for my breeding program. PM me when you are ready, I don't always keep up with this thread.
I did what you want to do last year. The hens turned out beautiful, black with nice green sheen and all lay large olive-colored eggs.  But they are broody as all get out, which I don't like. That comes from the Ameraucana side--the hen I used to breed to make the olive eggers. She was so broody, I ended up selling her.

I


I was told Ameraucanas hardly ever went broody....hmm I was really wondering because I have a blue setting eggs as we speak. I was not sure but she has been non them 3 days now. Im trying to date eggs when I feed she goes and eats but she keeps getting a pile. She is sly. And why do all the hens want to lay in her nest only???

 

[City farm]

For those of you who have large fowl ducks... How big is your water source, how often do you clean it and refill, and what do you do with all the water? I'm down here in Vail, considering getting some ducks for eggs. There's a large mesquite tree right next to the coop, if I dumped the dirty water near there, would it be too much for the tree?

Don't have ducks, depending on how many you have you would need a baby pool for them. 3-4.. Our friend had a pump hooked up to it, changed the water 4-7 days.. It goes into their garden.. A mesquite does not need much water once established.. Check out ducks & clucks on F.B. they have a ton of info about them..