Arizona Chickens

[Macboat]

Yes, that setup is essentially what I had. Each adult had their own space, and I had a grow out pen that I moved the little ones into after mom's cage got too crowded. The bottles did not last the whole day, unfortunately, but it was close, because the water was still cool when I got home. Not cold, but cool. I only put one bottle in each cage, so I was only working with 6 bottles total. Three that were in use, and three in the freezer. Luckily I had an extra freezer in the garage, or space would have been an issue. I experimented with several waterers and didn't like any of them. I think the problem was the volume. They were all too small to keep the water at a comfortable temperature. If you can do something with a bucket or larger volume of water, it will be easier to keep it cool.

Thank you and everybody who had chimed in! I now have a pretty good idea of set up and daily routine in the summer now! time to get some wood and chicken wire!

 

[Macboat]

and just because we need a laugh everyday

rofl! I am going to post this on my FB....

 

[Macboat]

I miss the Bayou so much. That's where I'm from.

@Flowers. Your flowers are amazing. My soil here is horrible so that's what is taking all of my attention first. Any suggestions for a yard that was uncared for, for quite a while? Compact dirt but the chickens are helping with that. Hoping to plant Buffalo Grass. I stopped watering what Winter grass grew from seeds I threw last year.

No expert here but I have quite success in mixing manure and gypsum with soil. If the dirt is dry, wait till the monsoon (or their new name hubbub?) rainfall to thoroughly wet the area, or you can spray it but that waste a lot water. Wait about a day or so after a heavy rain and start to dig/till to about 12" deep. If you start right after the rain, it will be very muddy. They mix 1/3 of gypsum and 1/3 of manure (any organic matter will do) then you are good to go.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

What breed are they? I am interested. I currently have a flock of 7; 3 EE, 2 RIR, 2 barred rock. They are all very spoiled and spend the day free ranging in my back yard. Are your 3 flighty? If you don't mind me asking, why are you rehoming them?

Lucy, Rhode Island Red; Lisa, Pencil Partridge Barred Rock; Typsy, Production Red from DesertMarcy; and Rosa, was bought as a Minorca but lays brown eggs.

I have 3 straight run chicks hatched 12/25/13. 2 Half Marans and LegBar, 1 half Lemon Marans and Blue Marans

 

[carnivore]

Lucy, Rhode Island Red; Lisa, Pencil Partridge Barred Rock; Typsy, Production Red from DesertMarcy; and Rosa, was bought as a Minorca but lays brown eggs.

I have 3 straight run chicks hatched 12/25/13. 2 Half Marans and LegBar, 1 half Lemon Marans and Blue Marans

LOL!!! In that 3rd pic, Typsy looks like a 3-headed chicken!

 

[a little chiken]

I'm the cook here for my wife and I and basically can only cook rustic Cajun dishes. They call for a lot if celery, bell peppers and onions. I tried growing my I onions but they died. Red and vidalia all grew shoots but ten the shoot dried up and died. Maybe I water too much or not enough. Prob too much with me. All were in 1 gal containers. Now I have some peppers going, corn is prob 18" high, squash is sprouting already and it's very small. Should I clip the fruit until it gets bigger. Only like 5" tall. Some big was eating on my beans (only maybe 6" tall) so I sprinkled DE because I didn't know what else to do. Thanks for the gypsum tip. I've started a compost pile in the run so I can hopefully jeep the chickens happy for the month I'll have them cooped up while I let the grass grow. Just keep adding stuff at night and they spend the day digging through it. I already asked but again has anyone used Buffalo Grass here?

I have a beautiful garden and beautiful flowers. Even my trees have put on fruit way earlier than I thought. I dont add gypsum but all we do is a very mixed compost....I have horse, goat, cow, chicken rabbit dog and guinea pig poo mixed with hay straw and wood shavings. I let that mix and compost I add to everything I plant (I do have a more loamy soil) and I till into the garden. I plant directly in the ground. I just got my garden in (late this year) but I have really nice looking plants so far. I do a drip line on an automatic watering system set for 9pm to go for 20 min. When it gets over 100 I will set to 30 min. If you still have issues use wet newspapers on top of everything make holes for plants or use straw both I have used in past and did great. This works for me.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Yes, they can. It depends on hte number of chickens vs the amount of space in your lawn. I don;t think the grass species makes any difference.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
*I* wouldn't purchase from a hatchery with known salmonella problems. ESPECIALLY when it has been going on for three years!

 

[a little chiken]

*I* wouldn't purchase from a hatchery with known salmonella problems. ESPECIALLY when it has been going on for three years!

I have never ordered from Mt. Healthy, but all I've heard about them is good. According to that CDC Bulletin, they have had salmonella problems for at least the last 3 years. About a week ago, I was thinking about starting a thread for feedback or reviews from different hatcheries, but didn't want to pi** off any sponsors or moderators. What you all think?

I have not ever ordered from a hatchery. I try hard to support local breeders but I thought it was worth mentioning. I know many people do order from a hatchery based on prices and they do not research where they are getting their animals from. I think a hatchery thread is a great idea especially for people that are new to raising chickens. Heck I would be interested in it too as I am looking for specific geese and I have only found one breeder in AZ and they are not good at responding to my emails. I would join your thread Carnivore if you make one just let me know. I think any info that gives people factual information is good and should not P*** off sponsors or moderators because we all want healthy and happy flocks. I wish their was a training or informational page that gave the basics on animal and poultry husbandry. Like no matter what animal you have you must WASH YOUR HANDS after messing with them and before eating. Because Common sense is not so Common. I try to keep up on all the chicken sites that are local on FB and this site because chickens can carry diseases. I think a lot of people have gotten on the urban farming band wagon and are not sure what it really involves. (not meaning any disrespect to anyone) That being said a lot of those people have a genuine interest in raising their own livestock and they want to have good helpful information available to them to do this. I think BYC offers this and I again think a hatchery feedback thread is a great idea.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

My four girls, 1 head each. They are waiting for a treat.