Arizona Chickens

[K9Dave]

I found it - sounds like a great plan for those of us who can't raise our own beef/pork.  I'm just getting started with chickens and rabbits.  I also need time to get a freezer.  Sounds like we will have time given how long it takes to raise the animal to butcher weight. 

We will raise our own for the future split I'm sure, given all of the interest shown for it. Once I get settled in the new place, I will for sure be raising at the very least a hog and will prob increase the chicken numbers. Since I'll be working from home it will be a breeze.

Until then would you like me to put you on the list for this go round? If so both or which particular one? Thanks

 

[ChuskaMtns]

Oh, so you know where it is!   We're about 7 miles in.
Yes, it has some water year round, but nothing like this! Our chickens usually love to go down there and scratch around. Ours don't like to get wet either, except for the Cuckoo Marans roo who stayed out there through the whole 2 inches of rain we got today. The others stayed in until a break in the rain and would run back in when it started again. Sillies.

I have Golden Cuckoo Marans too & they were the only ones running around in the rain today. All the others were sitting on their roosts or scratching around their coops looking miserable. My Marans roo was so soaked he looked awful but happy!

 

[K9Dave]

I need a month as well as it's like buying your meat for half a year at 1 time. I need a freezer too. There are some for free in CL sometimes but they're all far away from me, and you have to be FAST.

OK, let's try making a list here and see what route everyone wants to go, once the list has been comprised.

All of our decisions will be made later but I think I can speak for everyone when I say that the meat should be Organic GMO free. Also ideas for where/what (I.e. @a little chiken)we purchase and what it's fed, decided later as well.

Add your name to the list please if you are INTERESTED in splitting any of the following.

K9Dave - Pig, Cow
@moms3cuties- Cow
@a little chiken- Pig, Cow
@Billiam- Cow
@kpgoldstar- Pig, Cow
@City farm-Cow
@kevs-chickadeesPig, Cow
@BeckyhsinglscCow
@flowerPig, Cow
@AZKatCow
@kacklinkellyPig, Cow

Bump

 

[Sill]

HORNWORMS HAVE ARRIVED!

While topping off the sump tank in my greenhouse yesterday, I spotted what looked like mesquite seed pods floating in the water. On closer inspection, they turned out to be drowned caterpillars of the tomato hornworm species. BUT, these were 5 and 6 inches long and about 1/2 inch diameter! Did they just swell up in the water? I did a quick search and only found one live one, about an inch long and 1/8" diameter on the bottom of a tobacco leaf. Will post a pic in a minute......

The one on the right really looks bloated. They sure do get big but that one is starting to decompose.

Doggy door trained Chicken.

Oh that is too funny! Moved right into the bigger coop!

Thank you for making me smile! Lost my first chicken today. Never would have imagined they would grow on me as much as they have. Had 3 and only 2 layed eggs. She was our best layer and layed the biggest eggs. Not sure what the cause was, just slowed down laying this week. Layed a smaller egg than usual two days ago, became listless today and layed under a bush. Her comb and waddles were light in color. I brought her in the house and tried to get her to drink some electrolytes. She had a little bit, The color started coming back, she got a little feisty but was gone within an hour of bringing her in. I was glad I was holding her when she passed. I know that's more about me than her. Thanks for listening.

Sorry for your loss. It is amazing how attached you can get to a chicken and how hard it is when they pass.

uote:

Today has been one of the worse days I have had in a long time. A dog we took in that was abandoned at my kids school last year around Christmas time. she had been shot in her front leg with a pellet gun and had been hit by a car along with being severely emaciated. we have worked on food aggression issues and her fighting with my sons dog. we got her cleaned up, healed and healthy and my oldest son Christian loved this dog. she would even play ball and tackle football with him. A while back we brought home 3 birds from a feed store, stuck them into a crate and we had to go somewhere when we got home the 3 chickens had been killed. we caught her in the area and we worked on rehabilitating her. it seemed it worked, no more issues. Then last night I get some new chickens and put them out in the duck run so that they can all be treated this weekend (a just in case I do with adult birds) and this am 2 of the roosters were fighting. we threw one in a kennel as I had to take my DH and the boys to work and school.

I get home and the neighbor ran over and said we have a serious issue, your dog got into the garden then into the duck run and started killing chickens, she also ran chickens out so you have some dead in your yard too. then she goes on to say she saw the whole thing and tried to throw rocks to stop it.

it was obvious it just happened. I found 2 cuckoo Marans, 1 Delaware, and 1 BCM along with Rufus my Blue wheaten AM rooster dead in the run. well Rufus was not dead yet he died in my arms (he was one of my favorite roosters) then I found the 6 EE and an Ancona and another cuckoo Marans dead in my yard. none were eaten, no blood just killed. The neighbors said even though I had 5 big dogs in my yard only Noel was killing the chickens the others were barking at her.

we took Noel to the pound and thankfully there was a rescue there pulling dogs and they are willing to take her in. My son has been crying since I picked him up and frankly so have I. to lose 13 birds and my dog all in one swoop I just don't even know what to do.

So sorry for your losses.

 

[Sill]

Our chickens had to find another place to play today. No going to the creek for them!

Yeah that creek would be a bit dangerous for chickens to play around.

Half my crazy chickens stood looking miserable in the rain today and the others ran into the coop to get out of it. Not sure why they didn't all go into the coop since the ones in the rain didn't look like they were enjoying getting wet.

 

[City farm]

lurking to subscribe!

Now, now, now.. You can do it.

 

[City farm]

Thank you for making me smile!  Lost my first chicken today.  Never would have imagined they would grow on me as much as they have.  Had 3 and only 2 layed eggs.  She was our best layer and layed the biggest eggs.  Not sure what the cause was, just slowed down laying this week.  Layed a smaller egg than usual two days ago, became listless today and layed under a bush. Her comb and waddles were light in color.  I brought her in the house and tried to get her to drink some electrolytes.  She had a little bit, The color started coming back, she got a little feisty but was gone within an hour of bringing her in.  I was glad I was holding her when she passed.  I know that's more about me than her.  Thanks for listening.  

Sorry for your loss.

How old was she?
Condolence from us

 

[City farm]

I don't know how big that valley is but you have a neighbor that's a member here.

It's a real big valley, with lots of chicken peeps. The guy that told me to come here is called carnivore (not his real name). We both have the same kind of chickens (Black Jersey Giants). Unfortunately, mine are all starting to get dry pox, so I'm looking for pox vaccine at the local feed stores.

Oh boy that does not sound fun. Hope they all get better..

Today has been one of the worse days I have had in a long time. A dog we took in that was abandoned at my kids school last year around Christmas time. she had been shot in her front leg with a pellet gun and had been hit by a car along with being severely emaciated. we have worked on food aggression issues and her fighting with my sons dog. we got her cleaned up, healed and healthy and my oldest son Christian loved this dog. she would even play ball and tackle football with him. A while back we brought home 3 birds from a feed store, stuck them into a crate and we had to go somewhere when we got home the 3 chickens had been killed. we caught her in the area and we worked on rehabilitating her. it seemed it worked, no more issues. Then last night I get some new chickens and put them out in the duck run so that they can all be treated this weekend (a just in case I do with adult birds) and this am 2 of the roosters were fighting. we threw one in a kennel as I had to take my DH and the boys to work and school. 

I get home and the neighbor ran over and said we have a serious issue, your dog got into the garden then into the duck run and started killing chickens, she also ran chickens out so you have some dead in your yard too. then she goes on to say she saw the whole thing and tried to throw rocks to stop it.

it was obvious it just happened. I found 2 cuckoo Marans, 1 Delaware, and 1 BCM along with Rufus my Blue wheaten AM rooster dead in the run. well Rufus was not dead yet he died in my arms (he was one of my favorite roosters) then I found the 6 EE and an Ancona and another cuckoo Marans dead in my yard. none were eaten, no blood just killed. The neighbors said even though I had 5 big dogs in my yard only Noel was killing the chickens the others were barking at her. 

we took Noel to the pound and thankfully there was a rescue there pulling dogs and they are willing to take her in. My son has been crying since I picked him up and frankly so have I. to lose 13 birds and my dog all in one swoop I just don't even know what to do. 

Oh, dear, how tragic... Praying for your family..

thank you all for your thoughts. It was so hard coming home and she did not meet us at the gate like she always used to. It is very hard and we talked and Christian has decided he wants a puppy so we can train it from day one. I have been working with a puppy I got to possibly be a service dog for me and she has been going into chicken coops and goat pen when I go to help her get used to them. He wants to do the same thing.  I explained to my son that maybe we were meant to get Noel healthy so she could have another chance at a forever home and that sometimes people and and animals only come into our lives for a short time and we dont know why but we have to trust that God knows best. hopefully things start looking up. between my grandad having a stroke last week and this I really could use some positives. 

You are so blessed to know that God is in charge...

 

[chicksurreal]

I have Golden Cuckoo Marans too & they were the only ones running around in the rain today. All the others were sitting on their roosts or scratching around their coops looking miserable. My Marans roo was so soaked he looked awful but happy!

Lol! That's funny. I wonder if they just don't mind getting wet or what. Our CM roo was just parading around out there even when it was pouring down. The Hamburgs definitely do not like to get wet, maybe it's a breed thing.

 

[chicksurreal]

Yeah that creek would be a bit dangerous for chickens to play around.

Half my crazy chickens stood looking miserable in the rain today and the others ran into the coop to get out of it. Not sure why they didn't all go into the coop since the ones in the rain didn't look like they were enjoying getting wet.

Interesting. Are they all the same breed?