Arizona Chickens

[FeatherPugs]

hi im in s.phx. had mine RIR, Barred rock mix, and something else. Since March. they seem to be doing fine. just make sure they have shade, and put the water dish in the shade too. change the water every day, it gets hot toward the afternoon... i have 1 thats just ready to lay soon. . And i have 5 leghorn chicks now. about a month and half old now. . i still have them in the coop, im not ready to introduce em to the free range yet. They will probably beat em up.

Welcome!! Most times when the weather heads over the 100 mark I put a frozen water bottle of some sort in their water dishes. Mine love to stand in them and cool their feet! I got a baby pool because my niece said her chickens love it - we'll see. My leghorn girls are very cheeky. They both have clipped wings but have still figured out how to get out of the chicken yard when they want too!! One thinks she owns the whole free range kingdom and must walk it everyday - yes her name is Queenie. She doesn't like the nest boxes so she lays in one of the cat's safe place boxes which is just a storage container with a hole in it and a nice soft cushion!! I also have 3 leghorn youth - about 12 weeks old who are just as curious as their momma!! Enjoy those chicken babies..........

 

[FeatherPugs]

http://thefancychick.com/PoultryBiosecurity.html

I was reading this page above at the link I have posted, when I was looking up, ...courtesy of @ChuskaMtns my new orphington fancy chick's
and I thought it was particular helpful for those of us with small backyard farms on how to keep them safe from getting other chicken diseases.

Providing my memory hasn't failed me,

I remember our conversation about how you could use a cat litter tray to put a bleach solution in it for use as people go in and out of your chicken area. I think it's a great idea!

What do people think of using shoe covers as an option??
I used to use them in homes, when I worked for a part of Queens hospital in Oahu.

I like the idea of shoe covers - wonder if you can make some?? Usually its kids that want in my yard and I just put my DH socks over their shoes and roll them down. That works for them plus I just dump them in the wash. Now I have to think about this a bit - it would sure be easier if we could make washable ones..........

 

[Lynn77]

I have a question.. For people that are in the city how do you keep your feather kids in the yard? When I get some, I would like them to roam the backyard but not fly over the wall into other people's yard.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

http://thefancychick.com/PoultryBiosecurity.html

I was reading this page above at the link I have posted, when I was looking up, ...courtesy of @ChuskaMtns my new orphington fancy chick's
and I thought it was particular helpful for those of us with small backyard farms on how to keep them safe from getting other chicken diseases.

Providing my memory hasn't failed me, I remember our conversation about how you could use a cat litter tray to put a bleach solution in it for use as people go in and out of your chicken area. I think it's a great idea!

What do people think of using shoe covers as an option??
I used to use them in homes, when I worked for a part of Queens hospital in Oahu.

You can use a bleach or Oxine solution for people to step into before entering your chicken area. This was something I learned in the UK during the FMD crisis back in either '00 or '01, though if you were entering a confirmed FMD site you also had to don a bunny suit, cap, gloves, booties after walking through the solution, and mask.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

I have a question.. For people that are in the city how do you keep your feather kids in the yard? When I get some, I would like them to roam the backyard but not fly over the wall into other people's  yard.

Get heavier breeds that can't get enough lift to make it over a fence. I chose the English Orpington mainly for that reason, they're fluffy, feathered basketballs. When they try to fly they're basically skimming over the grass about 1" above but I don't let on to them since they seem to think they're soaring with the clouds.
There's other heavier breeds that have a problem lifting off the ground in flight and I'm sure others will chime in. My Golden Cuckoo Marans don't appear interested in the comings and goings outside of their area and stay put but my blue coppers are much more adventurous.

 

[aviddamy]

Yes, absolutely! .....but I love it because it's much cooler out and I can still get my gardening done that I haven't finished, lol!
my guess is going to be a black australorp with the dark legs/ beak with dark feathers give me that impression.

I thought Australorp too. Get this though. She's FULL GROWN. And about the size of a 4 month old large breed. Shes about a year old and lays eggs. Loves to be outside and forage for bugs. She has 2 toes on the back toe. I dont know what color eggs she lays yet. She's not really skinny, so i dont think she's going to change that much.

 

[Rhapsody1]

Hi Fellow Zonies,

I posted a picture on the RIR thread about one of my 12 week olds, but got no replies. I was trying to figure out if this RIR was a Roo or Pullet. It is slightly bigger than my other RIR, but... I just don't know. Can anyone here give a hand to a total newbie.

 

[azmike2047]

i would say rooster. because of the long tail feathers, mine started growing 3 row comb around 8 weeks.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Hi Fellow Zonies,

I posted a picture on the RIR thread about one of my 12 week olds, but got no replies. I was trying to figure out if this RIR was a Roo or Pullet. It is slightly bigger than my other RIR, but... I just don't know. Can anyone here give a hand to a total newbie.

I'm going to say pullet. I think a cockerel would have more comb by now. Here is a picture of mine about the same age:

 

[aviddamy]

I'm going to say pullet. I think a cockerel would have more comb by now. Here is a picture of mine about the same age:

I'm no expert. I've had maybe 40 chickens total, but i agree. That is probably a pullet. RIR should have more comb and be red by that old. Shes probably just more dominant and mature.