Arizona Chickens

[BY Chicken Lady]

Well eggs to babies should happen this week    - right about the time we might get crazy rain again!  I'm attempting to design something that is much better at taking care of a broody and her brood while still giving the broody some freedom.  Yesterday momma got out to take a dust bath and eat some greens that I dumped in a pile for the kids to kick through.  A little to eat and drink then back on her nest.     I will be most anxious if we get big rains!

At least momma hen doesn't rely on electricity like an incubator...no worries about keeping your eggs warm in a power outage during these storms.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

ugh I also have 2 tabby kittens. we rescued a few cats and guess what.....duhn duhn duhn...kittens. If anyone wants any let me know as well. I have one boy and one girl

Don't tempt me, girlfriend. DO NOT post pictures of fluffy feline cuteness!

 

[chicksurreal]

Don't tempt me, girlfriend. DO NOT post pictures of fluffy feline cuteness!

Right! Lol! I love cats.

We are constantly getting cats dumped out here and they invariably make their way to my house. I'm glad for it, because the poor things are usually terrified and starving by the time they find us, and sometimes injured.

Sometimes people make me so mad.

 

[a little chiken]

I am good at picture if you need help.

AZ Spay and Neuter will fix the cats for 5.00 if you are on SSI Vetrans pension, or other government assistance.

really? I did not know that my Husband is a disabled vet. where is AZ Spay and Neuter? I will take the 4 we rescued and the 2 kittens and then find them homes. I have already neutered 5 other cats that I rescued. It starts adding up. I would rather fix and re-home because Pima is overwhelmed with kittens and Cats.

 

[a little chiken]

I tried putting the bunnies in with the chickens when we were cleaning their pen, but the chickens flipped out. You'd think they'd instinctually know they are not predators. I wonder if I could put youngsters in with the bunnies? The bunnies don't seem to notice anything but each other (two brothers).

The problem with putting pens on southside of the shed is that, well, it's the southern exposure and there isn't a shade tree. If I have enough money to buy wood for a larger shelter sometime later, I might. I might divide the current pen in two when the CCLs need their own space.

I don't want to use up the entire shed with chicken stuff, because clearly, we have stuff stored in there. I know my boyfriend is going to freak anyhow because his mattresses are in there and I'm sure he doesn't want them smelling like chicken poo. I suppose I could get some mattress storage bags.

Ventilation in the summer is going to be the big thing. To be truthful, I haven't tried opening all the windows, though. It is such a nice shed though. We are so lucky. Now if we could get the zoning changed so I can stow a horse in there, I'll be happy.

The chicken tractor is first on the list, though because it's most flexible. I can use it for so many things. I thought I could make it small enough that I could move it in and out of the shed, too. How wide is a normal door?

we added our bunnies to our chicken coops and it took a couple of days but all is great now. Just make sure they cannot dig out. Mine are loving the area to run and play in. Add screens to your shed and your windows should work fine. If you dont want shavings to blow use sand in your shed its very easy to clean. look on craigslist free for roosting materials. we have pool ladders and old metel desk frame etc and my chickens love them. I change them up from time to time so they do not get bored. Good luck.

 

[a little chiken]

Right! Lol! I love cats.

We are constantly getting cats dumped out here and they invariably make their way to my house. I'm glad for it, because the poor things are usually terrified and starving by the time they find us, and sometimes injured.

Sometimes people make me so mad.

These are all rescues. actually all 8 of my cats are rescues. I have even had a cat come in my doggy door and have kittens when I was not home. I dont know who she belonged to but I am almost positive she was dumped for being prego. she went to a nice lady to be a barn cat and she got one of her kittens as well (after they were fixed).

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

really? I did not know that my Husband is a disabled vet. where is AZ Spay and Neuter? I will take the 4 we rescued and the 2 kittens and then find them homes. I have already neutered 5 other cats that I rescued. It starts adding up. I would rather fix and re-home because Pima is overwhelmed with kittens and Cats. 

AZ Spay and Neuter is on Grant near Oracle.520-624-5005. The first Sunday of every month the Humane Society on Kelvin gives free pet food away if you show proof of spay and neuter. Both dog and cat food. Sometimes they have chicken feed too.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

How clever to use the old bed to make a hoop frame coop! I wish my brain worked like that. I can duplicate clever ideas like this, but to come up with them originally, not so much.

With regard to the fans and pine shavings...we had a similar delima when building my traveling chicken coop out of a tool trailer so I could bring my girls with me to our cabin. Driving down the road with vents opened would cause too much blowing shavings. We ended up putting our vents high and on opposite sides so it would create a draft only at the upper section and it allowed the heat to escape. We also used wood pellets like you would use in a pellet stove for the bedding/floor. You get them wet and they triple in size and break apart making EXCELLENT poop encapsulation and moisture absorption, and they are heavier than pine shavings so they don't get as flighty. Once complete I rode in the trailer while my husband drove down the highway, I know it's illegal but I needed to test it before I let my 'girls' ride in there. It worked wonderfully!

This might work for you in your application as well.

I have used pelleted bedding for horses and it works great, especially for horses who are in their stalls all the time or don't have run-outs. I usually take some dry pellets and put them right on the pee spot. The rest of the stall I would use them fluffed up.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Well eggs to babies should happen this week

- right about the time we might get crazy rain again! I'm attempting to design something that is much better at taking care of a broody and her brood while still giving the broody some freedom. Yesterday momma got out to take a dust bath and eat some greens that I dumped in a pile for the kids to kick through. A little to eat and drink then back on her nest.

I will be most anxious if we get big rains!

How exciting! We are only a week behind you.

I'm very curious to see what you get! Don't forget pictures!
My daughter and I candled last night (day 11). We took out 5 that had obviously done nothing, left in 3 that didn't look right but had at least done something, and saw 4 definite chicks!
I will be so happy if all 4 hatch! It's amazing that they are doing anything with the handling these eggs must get.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

I have used pelleted bedding for horses and it works great, especially for horses who are in their stalls all the time or don't have run-outs. I usually take some dry pellets and put them right on the pee spot. The rest of the stall I would use them fluffed up.

I don't have horses but I image their pee would puff those pellets up pretty easy, lol.