Arizona Chickens

[chicksurreal]

All you guys in the Phx., Tucson, etc. area seem to be able to get chicks all year long from your local feed, tractor, etc. stores. We can only get chicks for a couple of months in the spring up in our area - April & May and maybe the first couple of weeks in June and that's it. Can't get any new chicks until next year, not that I need more chickens but I would have to drive all the way to Phx. if I did want some more this year.

We order chicks through the mail when we want them. I know that it doesn't work for everyone, but it's the only way we can get the breeds we want, when we want them.

We just got 27 chicks about 6 weeks ago from Murray McMurray Hatchery, exactly what we wanted, when we wanted them. All arrived in good condition and are thriving!

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

All you guys in the Phx., Tucson, etc. area seem to be able to get chicks all year long from your local feed, tractor, etc. stores. We can only get chicks for a couple of months in the spring up in our area - April & May and maybe the first couple of weeks in June and that's it. Can't get any new chicks until next year, not that I need more chickens but I would have to drive all the way to Phx. if I did want some more this year.

Our feed stores in the Phoenix area start carrying hatchery chicks in September/October and carry them until about May or June. The hottest summer months are too hot for shipping so they don't have them then. They do occasionaly have local chicks in the summer, though.

 

[cyborg]

All you guys in the Phx., Tucson, etc. area seem to be able to get chicks all year long from your local feed, tractor, etc. stores. We can only get chicks for a couple of months in the spring up in our area - April & May and maybe the first couple of weeks in June and that's it. Can't get any new chicks until next year, not that I need more chickens but I would have to drive all the way to Phx. if I did want some more this year.

I just got a newsletter from Murray McMurray, and they are still shipping chicks. Not in the market right now, so I didn't look to see what they had in stock.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Just a drive-by posting here. Loved the stories and pictures of the giant tortoise, the Tucson Banded gecko and the Navajo Curro sheep.

I did not know that we have a native gecko.



We went to the fine city of Mesa last weekend for the first youth rock climbing competition of the season. My daughter took first place! Here's a pic of her at the last minute on the finish hold of the route that won her the competition. It was very exciting!

 

[Sill]

are these mealworms? They are in my compost, and they look like mealworms to me. But before Sill had said that there possibly from fly larva.
Any ideas anyone???

Yes they are black soldier fly larvae. When they turn from cream colored to black they are "mature" and ready to pupate for two weeks before turning into adults. Chickens love them! You can google how to make a BSF culture or harvester to produce larvae for your birds to consume regularly. They will harvest themselves with the right set up and give you handfuls of treats for your birds.

That stinks! We live off the Sun Valley Parkway, so the East Valley is a loooong way to go for an unknown! Maybe @K9Dave can share this concern with the rest of the committee!

It would be nice to know the general cross streets of the coops but I think they want to keep people from showing up early and it might be a way to keep the numbers down. How many people at a time can you have in your backyard? Just the thought of hordes trampling my winter grass would keep me from being a hosting coop.

Just a drive-by posting here. Loved the stories and pictures of the giant tortoise, the Tucson Banded gecko and the Navajo Curro sheep.

I did not know that we have a native gecko.



We went to the fine city of Mesa last weekend for the first youth rock climbing competition of the season. My daughter took first place! Here's a pic of her at the last minute on the finish hold of the route that won her the competition. It was very exciting!

Congrats to her!

 

[ChuskaMtns]

Just a drive-by posting here. Loved the stories and pictures of the giant tortoise, the Tucson Banded gecko and the Navajo Curro sheep. I did not know that we have a native gecko. We went to the fine city of Mesa last weekend for the first youth rock climbing competition of the season. My daughter took first place! Here's a pic of her at the last minute on the finish hold of the route that won her the competition. It was very exciting!

Congratulations to your daughter! That looks like a scary sport to me! I just noticed she's not wearing a safety harness - she's real brave & a good climber!

 

[moms3cuties]

Just a drive-by posting here. Loved the stories and pictures of the giant tortoise, the Tucson Banded gecko and the Navajo Curro sheep. I did not know that we have a native gecko. We went to the fine city of Mesa last weekend for the first youth rock climbing competition of the season. My daughter took first place! Here's a pic of her at the last minute on the finish hold of the route that won her the competition. It was very exciting!

How exciting! You had to have a SLR camera to have taken that good picture! Feel free next time let me know you're in town as I'm in Mesa area and some of us East Valley people may be able to meet up and say hello! @Sill ....thank you for the further teaching on black soldier fly larvae!!

 

[a little chiken]

Um ... sorta ...? He knows there is a red glow coming from the shed, which is confusing to him because the incubator chicks haven't hatched yet.

"Why is there a light on in there?"

"It's a chicky thing ..."

So, it's lockdown day for my remaining 11 eggs! I'm trying desperately to get that humidity up.

1. Put the eggs in a cardboard egg flat.
2. I filled the bottom channels.
3. I put one bowl with paper towels. It got up to 60%.
4. Just put in another bowl with four tampons in it (unused ... LOL).
5. Waiting to see what the humidity does ...

I am so nervous.

Also, I gave Pepito a dose of epsom salts per someone's suggestion on Tucson CLUCKS in case it is botulism. No change as of this morning. He still can barely lift his head.

I am so sry Pepito is not feeling better. I was hoping the antibiotics and the surgery would help. That is funny about your BF. wonder what he will do when he sees all those chickens lol.

Ah geez, I thought this was gonna notify me as soon as someone replied, but it didn't work out exactly like that.

In any case, I'm in Mesa, I'll go all over the valley but Tucson is a bit far :-(

I'm on my phone so it's hard to read all the replies @_@

@a little chiken , what's your estimated hatch date, and are you more in my area? :-D *crossing fingers*

i am also in Tucson :/ I am not sure if we will be going to Phx this month but I can keep you updated if we do. They are supposed to hatch on the 13th.

Just a drive-by posting here. Loved the stories and pictures of the giant tortoise, the Tucson Banded gecko and the Navajo Curro sheep.

I did not know that we have a native gecko.



We went to the fine city of Mesa last weekend for the first youth rock climbing competition of the season. My daughter took first place! Here's a pic of her at the last minute on the finish hold of the route that won her the competition. It was very exciting!

Congrats Gallo. Your daughter did awesome.

 

[City farm]

are these mealworms? They are in my compost, and they look like mealworms to me. But before Sill had said that there possibly from fly larva.
Any ideas anyone???

I think these are the black solder fly.. I would love to have some.. We had them take over our un maintained compost one year, forever ago, when I had no idea what they were.. SO, one day it started to rain, I had to put up a huge tarp over our shop, I climbed up the 6 foot wall to attach, no shoes on, of course,.. Jumped down to find my shoes, in the dark with the rain coming down.. Could not find my shoe, so off I go to dump the container.. ON MY WAY, those gross, creepy things, literally came alive out from the compost and were slowly moving on the ground, up the walls, in the trees, up my legs.. YES, yuck. Totally freaked me out.. So I stopped doing compost.. but now that I have chickens & ducks, I know to just say the word "treat" or "bug" & they come running.. & they eat fly larva.. So if you have extra will you save me some.?

 

[City farm]

@a little chiken
Yes, that is a great idea.. I will vent sex tomorrow and hopefully we can work out transport.. I keep talking about a mini vacation that way.. Soon, very soon