Arizona Chickens

[DesertChickens1]

Ugh, pipes froze last night. I live in Arizona cause it's supposed to be warm, darnit! 

Oh no! I hope nothing broke! My hose to the water the animals has been frozen the last few days, had to walk out buckets of water from the house yesterday lol

 

[Tanichca]

Nothing broke, thank goodness. We left a drip on, but one of my brothers got up at 3am or so for a drink and turned it off.

 

[Annalog]

One of our Silkies, Arrowroot, went broody a few weeks ago. After I was sure that she was determined, I gave her two eggs from BC's flock (mostly hatchery NH and one BR) and one from Timmy's flock (BR/NH/EE mix). I left her in the nest; the other three Silkies are still sharing the coop and pen.

The eggs were due to hatch tomorrow. I had to be away today but I phoned DH before heading home to see if there was anything we needed from Tucson (about an hour away). He said that an empty eggshell was on the floor of the coop but that there wasn't anything inside. I asked if there were any chicks under Arrowroot but he hadn't looked. When I got home, I heard cheeping from across the yard. Inside the coop I found half an eggshell and a fluffy chick on the floor. The other three Silkies were in the opposite corner. I scooped up the chick, apparently a New Hampshire, and put it under Arrowroot who accepted the chick and pecked at me. I checked under her and saw a second fluffy chick, apparently mostly Barred Rock, and the third egg. DH and I added a short barricade across the front of the nest for tonight to keep the chicks in. (It was 26°F in the coop last night.) The set of three nest boxes are supported on concrete blocks. Tomorrow, when the other three Silkies are out in the pen, we will either move her, the chicks, and the nest to the floor or take out the two support blocks and lower all the nests to floor level.

I will check again before bedtime to make sure that all chicks are under Arrowroot.

 

[chicksurreal]

Yes, but it's okay. Have another beer! I just bought a combination bottle opener/ cigarette lighter, and I have some Guinness Extra Stout in the fridge. Can't let it get stale, ya know!

Maybe that's the problem. I don't have any beer right now. Lol!

 

[aviddamy]

Does anyone grow fodder to save money? If so, any recommendations as to where to get seed? I'm just looking into it for now.

 

[cyborg]

You don't have to do it that way if you use an immersion blender. But all ingredients need to be at room temperature.

YES! We never buy store bought anymore. Don't like the oils (GMO) in store bought. We make ours with olive oil. And of course, fresh eggs!

I made a batch last night (the immersion blender method) that came out very tasty, and very thick. Maybe because I used blue eggs?
Here's a tip for those of you wanting to use olive oil in your mayo, don't use extra virgin oil, it will give your mayo a bitter taste. Strange but true.
Now I have to go check to see if I still have any New Years ham left over, if not, I'll have to find another excuse to eat some of that mayo!

 

[ChuskaMtns]

not yet. I got some beautiful eggs from @ChuskaMtns today (shout out girly, it was nice to meet you, sorry I couldn't chat more, work was rough today!) They are golden cuckoo marans, English orpingtons and I forgot the other two. What were they? I am getting a couple more eggs from another guy tomorrow, Buff laced polish (squeeee, my dream chicken) so I will set everything tomorrow after I get the polish eggs. I got the turner in and filled up the water channels to bump the humidity, it was real low. We shall see where it sits later tonight and tomorrow as I had rocks in there last time I checked the temp, so I have to see where the temp goes now that I took out the rocks. (yeah, i know rocks?! they were holding the wire.) I am nervous to the MAX and I haven't even started! Disregard the tools and catnip, this is the catch all table, brooder table and the office storage dresser... My son should be excited on sunday when he sees the incubator and eggs.

It was nice meeting you! The terra cotta color eggs are from the RIR hen in with the Chocolate Cuckoo Orp roo. I bought her as a chick locally as he was my only hatch in a 4 egg batch. I've found the Golden Cuckoo Marans may not hatch until day 22 or 23 & they do like the humidity bumped up to 65% on those last few days. My last few hatches with them has been mostly pullets so I hope you have the same luck!

 

[DesertChic]

I made a batch last night (the immersion blender method) that came out very tasty, and very thick. Maybe because I used blue eggs?
Here's a tip for those of you wanting to use olive oil in your mayo, don't use extra virgin oil, it will give your mayo a bitter taste. Strange but true.
Now I have to go check to see if I still have any New Years ham left over, if not, I'll have to find another excuse to eat some of that mayo!

Very true! If you used Extra Light Olive Oil, not only will you not get the bitter taste, but your may also won't be green. (I always make my own mayo too!

)

My favorite way to use mayo is to mix it with a bunch of spices, salt and seasonings, plus some freshly grated parmesan cheese and coat one side of either chicken thighs or breasts with it. Bake for roughly 25 minutes (depending the meat variety and amount) until the coating looks brown and bubbly and enjoy! The chicken is super flavorful and very moist.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

One of our Silkies, Arrowroot, went broody a few weeks ago. After I was sure that she was determined, I gave her two eggs from BC's flock (mostly hatchery NH and one BR) and one from Timmy's flock (BR/NH/EE mix). I left her in the nest; the other three Silkies are still sharing the coop and pen.

The eggs were due to hatch tomorrow. I had to be away today but I phoned DH before heading home to see if there was anything we needed from Tucson (about an hour away). He said that an empty eggshell was on the floor of the coop but that there wasn't anything inside. I asked if there were any chicks under Arrowroot but he hadn't looked. When I got home, I heard cheeping from across the yard. Inside the coop I found half an eggshell and a fluffy chick on the floor. The other three Silkies were in the opposite corner. I scooped up the chick, apparently a New Hampshire, and put it under Arrowroot who accepted the chick and pecked at me. I checked under her and saw a second fluffy chick, apparently mostly Barred Rock, and the third egg. DH and I added a short barricade across the front of the nest for tonight to keep the chicks in. (It was 26°F in the coop last night.) The set of three nest boxes are supported on concrete blocks. Tomorrow, when the other three Silkies are out in the pen, we will either move her, the chicks, and the nest to the floor or take out the two support blocks and lower all the nests to floor level.

I will check again before bedtime to make sure that all chicks are under Arrowroot.

How cool! I am just waiting for the experience of naturally hatched chickss. I hope Arrowroot kept them warm last night!

 

[City farm]

[@=/u/292476/houdiniduck]@houdiniduck[/@] have you set egg's??

not yet. I got some beautiful eggs from @ChuskaMtns today (shout out girly, it was nice to meet you, sorry I couldn't chat more, work was rough today!) They are golden cuckoo marans, English orpingtons and I forgot the other two. What were they? I am getting a couple more eggs from another guy tomorrow, Buff laced polish (squeeee, my dream chicken) so I will set everything tomorrow after I get the polish eggs. I got the turner in and filled up the water channels to bump the humidity, it was real low. We shall see where it sits later tonight and tomorrow as I had rocks in there last time I checked the temp, so I have to see where the temp goes now that I took out the rocks. (yeah, i know rocks?! they were holding the wire.) I am nervous to the MAX and I haven't even started! Disregard the tools and catnip, this is the catch all table, brooder table and the office storage dresser... My son should be excited on sunday when he sees the incubator and eggs.

I'm excited to see what those dark egg's chickens will look like.. Keep us posted when you candle..