Arizona Chickens

[rhondita55]

They will steal a lot of the food, esp. the squirrels. Wild birds can spread lice and mites to your chickens.

So, guess make a coop where the other critters can't get in? small rabbit wire maybe?
There is an abundant amount of wild life. Just saw a Turkey Vulture eating, it looked like a ground squirrel in the neighbors yard, but only 20' from my office window.
was planning to put the coop close to the house with a shade screen.

 

[City farm]

How do you store your hatching eggs prior to setting?  My quail are starting to lay and are much more consistent layers than my chickens now that the heat is here.  They usually lay in the afternoon so I'm out collecting eggs often because of the heat.  I'll wait a few weeks while I separate out breeding groups from the colony pens but I'm not sure how to store their eggs until I set them and I think the fridge is too cold. Is ambient valley room temperature to warm?

We use tongs when collecting from the nest.. We store them inside on a table where we can see them & enjoy the pretty aray of colors.. We don't
want to disturb the natural barrier. "bloom" we keep our air sack up..

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

What types of ducks do you have? We are really enjoying our little guy/ girl... Glad to have you back.. Kep us posted..

I don't have ducks at the moment. I used to have Khaki Campbells, which were excellent layers (as advertised) and kinda spazzy (also as advertised). Before that I had Runners but a bobcat got to them before they matured, and Pekins as meat birds.

Next duck project will be Welsh Harlequins for sure. I understand they lay almost as well as Campbells, but are more mellow in disposition, which is important to me.

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

We use tongs when collecting from the nest.. We store them inside on a table where we can see them & enjoy the pretty aray of colors.. We don't
want to disturb the natural barrier. "bloom" we keep our air sack up..

I store hatching eggs in regular 18-egg cartons, unwashed, large side up, in a cool-ish location by the A/C vent. Then I elevate one side to about a 45 degree angle, which I understand keeps the yolks from touching the shells, then switch sides three times a day.

Edit: I clean and disinfect them with Tek-Trol as I set them in the incubator.

 

[carnivore]

It feels so good to finish something.. Can't wait to put the coop from lady in the run.. Love chickens that are lovable.. That is why we love our new duckling..

Yup, the run is finished, finally! Now I have a coop build to tackle, and it needs to house about 30, so it won't be a small project!

 

[K9Dave]

Lavender orpington, cool!  Wanted some of those when I saw them at McMurray I think it was.  Will you be hatching them often?

This is an ad that's on Craigsliat and is not mine. Just re-posting it. Sorry. The lavender seems cool so that's why I shared.

 

[MagicChicken]

How do you store your hatching eggs prior to setting? My quail are starting to lay and are much more consistent layers than my chickens now that the heat is here. They usually lay in the afternoon so I'm out collecting eggs often because of the heat. I'll wait a few weeks while I separate out breeding groups from the colony pens but I'm not sure how to store their eggs until I set them and I think the fridge is too cold. Is ambient valley room temperature to warm?

Can't speak about other species, but in the wild our native Gambel quail lay eggs and hatch through much of the summer. They lay every day or so and accumulate 10-20 eggs before they start to sit on them. Those eggs sit in the nest - outside - with no AC - in the summer - waiting to start incubating. They hatch just fine. Seems like it should be just fine to store most quail hatching eggs at ambient room temperature until you are ready to incubate them.

 

[City farm]

I store hatching eggs in regular 18-egg cartons, unwashed, large side up, in a cool-ish location by the A/C vent.  Then I elevate one side to about a 45 degree angle, which I understand keeps the yolks from touching the shells, then switch sides three times a day.

Edit:  I clean and disinfect them with Tek-Trol as I set them in the incubator.

We might have read her post wrong, I thought, how to store them for regular use. Not incubation..

 

[Macboat]

Macbot: I don't know. The mother is a medium sized white rabbit, and I don't know what breed the father was. I got them from Demo when he had to re home all his animals, and he got them for free off of craigslist. So I suppose that the short answer is "mutts"

Thanks Kat. I am looking for pure breeds so they are more predicatible.

 

[Syl in Tucson]

Hey y'all! I have a 5 month old polish that just started laying. And MAN, IS SHE LAYING EGGS! She has laid two eggs per day all week, only taking one day off. I'm sure its her...I've watched her sitting in the box , sing her song and hop out. Voila! Little bitty egg. I wouldn't be shocked if it was my RR or even the Ameracaunas...but a Polish? This girl is a keeper! And a rescue chicken at that!