Arizona Chickens

[moms3cuties]

New Presidents' Day hatchlings!

....just came back in from camping and we just found these guys in our brinsea incubator!

.....I hope I have a leghorn barnyard mix in there!

e

 

[moms3cuties]

Hi, I am going to just build a new bigger coop instead of expanding the old one. But right now we have a net over the top of the old one, but it isn't big enough for the new one. So I need to make the fence taller. And I dont want to clip their wings, so How tall should I make the fence so that my hens and roos don't fly out?

This totally depends on your individual birds. And it is one factor folks should consider when choosing a breed. I started with several older, fat production red hens I got from a friend. My garden was enclosed with a 28" high fence originally designed to keep out rabbits. The original chickens respected the garden fence. Then I got some fayoumi crosses from another friend. Those birds were all over the place. Took them only a couple of days to get into and destroy my garden. So I covered the garden with remesh formed into a hoop, supporting a bunch of plastic poultry netting. Yeah. Guess how well that worked. The fayoumis taught the tubby old reds how to raid the garden through the mesh: Now I have different birds. The Black Javas I got from Duane Urch a couple of years ago respect the garden fencing. They will nibble leaves that stick out through the fencing but so far they haven't gone over it. A few months ago I got a different line of Black Javas from a local breeder. It only took those new birds a couple of days to figure out how to breach the compost pile fencing. They better stay out of the garden or they are stew. If you are having trouble with birds escaping you might consider replacing them with a larger, heavier breed that isn't so inclined to fly.

.....very helpful suggestions ! I'd like a couple black Java hens! Do you still know how to get in touch with that local breeder?

 

[moms3cuties]

I covered the garden with remesh formed into a hoop, supporting a bunch of plastic poultry netting. Yeah. Guess how well that worked. The fayoumis taught the tubby old reds how to raid the garden through the mesh: Now I have different birds. The Black Javas I got from Duane Urch a couple of years ago respect the garden fencing. They will nibble leaves that stick out through the fencing but so far they haven't gone over it. A few months ago I got a different line of Black Javas from a local breeder. It only took those new birds a couple of days to figure out how to breach the compost pile fencing. They better stay out of the garden or they are stew. If you are having trouble with birds escaping you might consider replacing them with a larger, heavier breed that isn't so inclined to fly.

........so how did the hooped arched netting over your garden? I'm quite impressed with that. How did you keep them from jumping on it and squishing it down? My chickens just walk over everything and squish my fences! I believe they think they're invincible I guess

 

[DesertChic]

Agh, the black one standing on the rock is my favorite!!!

LOL! That one's name is "Screech" and he lives up to the name. The little bird hasn't stopped talking since it first pipped inside the egg.

 

[DesertChic]

New Presidents' Day hatchlings!

....just came back in from camping and we just found these guys in our brinsea incubator!



.....I hope I have a leghorn barnyard mix in there!

Congratulations!!! So cute!

 

[City farm]

New Presidents' Day hatchlings!

....just came back in from camping and we just found these guys in our brinsea incubator!

.....I hope I have a leghorn barnyard mix in there!

e

It looks like you have one.. I see the black patch of feather's..

 

[pipemum]

All these baby chicks! So adorable!!

I've done my second dose of tapeworm medicine for my chickens. What a pain.

 

[moms3cuties]

Agh, the black one standing on the rock is my favorite!!!

LOL! That one's name is "Screech" and he lives up to the name. The little bird hasn't stopped talking since it first pipped inside the egg.   

...that's too funny @DesertChicthe black one(Screech).. is very nice looking!

All these baby chicks!  So adorable!!

I've done my second dose of tapeworm medicine for my chickens.  What a pain. 

....I don't envy you,
I'm trying to figure out how to organically raise my chickens and not give them any kind of medications. I'm not sure if eating the food grade diatomaceous earth will be enough for a preventive or if you just still have to do seasonal warming. I want to eat my chicks without having to worry about any kind of junk being in them and passing on to me and my body. At least it certainly my goal!

 

[moms3cuties]

1) will apple cider vinegar in your flocks water hurt your garden plants and grasses? Does anybody know? Here in the Southwest we Can use a high acidity vinegar to kill off grasses and unwanted plants. I believe the,"garden guy," sells a high acidic vinegar for killing off weeds in the yard.

2) who does probiotics for their chicks when their first born in little? does this mean you can skip on doing immunizations?

3) what research is there to say it's a good idea to immunize your chicks from mericks and fowl pox after they're born?
Does that mean they're not considered organic meat birds or layers any more once they get the immunizations?

@desertmarcy or @ChuskaMtns? Any other studied farmers here?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

1) will apple cider vinegar in your flocks water hurt your garden plants and grasses? Does anybody know? Here in the Southwest we Can use a high acidity vinegar to kill off grasses and unwanted plants. I believe the,"garden guy," sells a high acidic vinegar for killing off weeds in the yard.

2) who does probiotics for their chicks when their first born in little? does this mean you can skip on doing immunizations?

3) what research is there to say it's a good idea to immunize your chicks from mericks and fowl pox after they're born?
Does that mean they're not considered organic meat birds or layers any more once they get the immunizations?

@desertmarcy or @ChuskaMtns ? Any other studied farmers here?

For the first question, the ACV will likely be fine on your garden plants and grasses. You're mixing it at such a low concentration for the birds that it won't reduce the pH that much to have an impact on the plants. This would especially be true of plants in mostly native soil, which has a high pH.

You're likely to get all sorts of answers on the other two questions, depending on your needs and point of view. I think you can vaccinate birds for both Merek's and fowl pox and still consider them organic under the USDA rules. Some people strive to breed resistance for things like Merek's, which is a good thing, so they don't vaccinate. If you're not breeding birds then vaccination might be an option, especially if they are treated as pets and you plan to keep them for their natural lifespan. From what I've read, the vaccinations are very effective. There have been a few cases here on this thread of people having Merek's course through their unvaccinated flock and it can be quite heartbreaking. If you're raising birds to eat then maybe vaccination is not much of an issue since they'll soon be in the freezer.