Arizona Chickens

[carnivore]

Check this out, from a friend who laughs at my English:
"The white hen is not up on the roost, do I need to put him up there?"

No, he'll probably get verdigris.

 

[Sill]

They are cute! Ive noticing that quails are popular, do you keep them as pets or do they serve a purpose?

Eggs and meat, yum! I try not to name them.

Oh wow, so adorable.. What is your hatch rate? I am sure someone out there will take your extra's.

This was my first time hatching quail and had just over 50%. Of course everything went wrong; my incubator came unplugged for 6 hours, I had two temperature spikes to 104-105 degrees in the hottest spots in the incubator, and my hygrometer broke so I was guessing at humidity. I guess over half hatching isn't bad considering!

I would be happy to take some chicks off your hands.

I'll have plenty of extra quail! I'm planing on making two or three more breeding quintets and maybe an extra rooster, the rest will have to go.

Speaking of ants. Or talking antish, if you prefer.
When I got my truck home yesterday, courtesy of Eddies Towing, my driveway was flooded. Got the truck and bike situated for easy access to both, then went inside to dry off. Later, after the rain stopped, went out to hook up the battery charger to the bike. I WAS EATEN ALIVE BY PISSANTS! Apparently, their holes were flooded, so they ALL came out, and weren't in a GOOD MOOD! My legs were crawling with them, so I retreated to the yard. Leaning over the fence to hook up the battery charger, I soon discovered the fence was alive with ants also! Ever get pissant bites in your armpits?
This morning, went out and checked on the bike. Found multiple piles of ant eggs, where they apparently evacuated the nests. Boiling up a big pot of water right now to try out @Sill method!

Yikes! I hate when there's ants under clothing. Best to just smack the heck out of yourself to kill them before they can sting. Nice thing about them moving the babies is it's easy to kill the colony that way.

Yikes! I haven't had an ant attack like that since working in the swamps in LA. It's embarrassing to have to remove all of your clothes in front of your co-workers to get the ants off.

In addition to being flooded, another reason the ants are so terrible right now is the rains are triggering their nuptial flights. New queens emerge to disperse from the colony, mate and found new colonies of their own. When they do this, the other workers become hyper agressive about protecting the newly emerged queens. You can see the new queens with their wings, males will have wings too, but they're smaller.

Don't forget the termites are doing the same thing! A good hard rain and they swarm everywhere. Good food for birds though.

I rather deal with ants then all these god forsaken mosquitos we are getting out here, i think i got bit around 100 times yesterday evening while checking on my girls. We have the piss ants we call them pineapple ants because if you accidently eat one they taste like pineapple lol, we also have the big red ants, the big black ants and the red ants that have black butts lol. My girls take care of any that get into there coop just like the two scorpions they tore apart already lol and there only three weeks old.

I hate mosquitoes! Once the monsoons hit they are usually here until winter. I don't have anywhere for them to breed without them getting eaten because of my mosquito minnows and other fish so I think they come from the neighbors' yards but are attracted to the ponds, unfortunately.

Hello AZ chicken lovers! I am new to the chicken world and am enjoying my 3 babies so far. I taught Kindergarten and we hatched chickens every year, and this year I decided to keep a few. Sadly, I think I have 2 cockerels and 1 pullet. I'm looking forward to learning lots from everyone, and especially having the AZ group to turn to for desert questions. Here's a picture of my group:

Welcome!
The NN is a roo but not sure about the black one without better pics. The SL looks like a pullet.

what is it? a pullet with balls?

Yep!

 

[Sill]

Look what came in the mail today! It's my new thermostat, hygrometer and turner with quail rails. I'm hoping this will help increase my hatch rate.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Here's a question for all you chicken experts. Do you think chickens respond to baby talk? If they don't then I need to rethink my vocal nuances but if they do then I will continue in my idiotic ramblings while holding a petting my chickens. I know they recognize me and my voice and come running. Am I an idiot whispering sweet baby talk nothings into my chickens ears, or at them - whatever?

Jubilation - You are exactly what you're chickens need and want! You sound like a chicken whisperer to me. I hope to be moving up near to your area in the not too distant future. DH got a new job in the Clarkdale area. Is that near to your town?

 

[burbgirl]

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Hi everybody!

Is there anyone in AZ who has had issues with mold growing either in the coop/house or on the ground in the pen/enclosure?
The moisture is obviously terrible in monsoons. I am trying to keep everything as dry as possible but it is really tricky. Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[kacklinkelly]

Speaking of ants. Or talking antish, if you prefer.
When I got my truck home yesterday, courtesy of Eddies Towing, my driveway was flooded. Got the truck and bike situated for easy access to both, then went inside to dry off. Later, after the rain stopped, went out to hook up the battery charger to the bike. I WAS EATEN ALIVE BY PISSANTS! Apparently, their holes were flooded, so they ALL came out, and weren't in a GOOD MOOD! My legs were crawling with them, so I retreated to the yard. Leaning over the fence to hook up the battery charger, I soon discovered the fence was alive with ants also! Ever get pissant bites in your armpits?
This morning, went out and checked on the bike. Found multiple piles of ant eggs, where they apparently evacuated the nests. Boiling up a big pot of water right now to try out @Sill method!

Oh, I can relate. I was gardening and pulled out a dead plant. Well, beneath it were what appeared to be thousands of those "piss ants". I was covered in them in no time. My husband thought I was crazy when he saw me running in the backyard swatting myself and then jump in the pool fully clothed. I can laugh now but it wasn't too funny then. They are nasty. They return every year and in different places in the yard. UGH.

 

[kacklinkelly]

• burbgirl
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• Joined: 3/2014
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Hi everybody!

Is there anyone in AZ who has had issues with mold growing either in the coop/house or on the ground in the pen/enclosure?
The moisture is obviously terrible in monsoons. I am trying to keep everything as dry as possible but it is really tricky. Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Sounds like you may need more ventilation. I use wood shavings in the nest box & coop. No mold problem so far. Our coop is also covered by a tarp (for shade) so perhaps less moisture getting to the coop that way makes a difference also.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Happy that I got this puppy playpen for "just in case". Has a mesh zippered top and a solid zippered bottom. And two zippered door flaps. It also folds up and had a carry case.

Itty bitty (silkie) loves her food dish.

 

[FeatherPugs]

Jubilation - You are exactly what you're chickens need and want! You sound like a chicken whisperer to me. I hope to be moving up near to your area in the not too distant future. DH got a new job in the Clarkdale area. Is that near to your town?

Love the Cottonwood/Clarkdale area - it is a wonderful community. Hated leaving it in 1997 when we relocated for jobs. Weather is much more cooperative too!!

 

[Papas Chickens]

I'll have plenty of extra quail! I'm planing on making two or three more breeding quintets and maybe an extra rooster, the rest will have to go.

Just let me know and ill give you my address to send them or we can meet up some where.