Arizona Chickens

[ChuskaMtns]

While checking my eggs tonight I found an egg with a hole in it. There was a light dust like covering over it that collapsed when I touched it. I've noticed that the egg color has gotten lighter in the last week or two as well. :/ Has anyone else experience this before? I feed them layer pellets, black sunflower seeds, and oyster shells freely as they need them. I'm hoping there is nothing wrong with her...

Looks like a rodent was gnawing on it. I had that problem too but a couple of barn cats solved it.

 

[NicolettesChick]

I have a cross beak Bantam Frizzle EE and she does very well, despite her beak. If there is a local feed shop in your area, see if they will take her.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

The heat has been horrible for me this year and has me seriously thinking about getting out of poultry. Tried of being stuck here with no break.

I have never been able to hatch in the fall because #1 I haven't thinned out the birds I've hatched in the winter through spring enough to have room to set up breeding pens
#2 I'm usually tired from the heat of summer and need a break and not ready to start in to hatching again so soon. BUT I think fall hatching is a good idea because, as you said, they will mature before summer heat hits. Also, the snakes will not be active, so you won't have to worry about them eating the chicks. Depending on the breed and how long it takes them to come into lay, fall hatched chicks may be ready to lay in spring when they naturally will lay better. Spring hatched chicks, you may not get many eggs until the following spring if they are a breed that is sensitive to the shorter day length. Then again, if you want to hatch in the fall, the birds may not be laying as well then due to molting and the shortening day length. So you may need to put them on supplemental lights to keep them laying but I wouldn't do that until after their molt. You will have to provide more supplemental heat for fall hatched chicks if you want to put them outside young, so that can be a disadvantage. I usually start hatching in January after I've had a break, had time to thin out birds, and after the holidays are over. I process turkeys for people for the holidays and that keeps me busy enough. If you are hatching to sell chicks, I've found people don't buy poultry as much during the holiday season. These are some of my thoughts.

I can't imagine you without poultry. Do you have a good neighbor that can watch over your birds while you get away? I have an arrangement with my neighbors, I take care of their cattle when they go out of town, bring in the mail, water the plants and they take care of my chickens and watch over my place when I need to get away.
There's also professional animal sitters and maybe another member here living closer to you might be available to watch over your poultry while you get away for a vacation. Everyone needs some down time.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

Hello, everyone. I am looking for someone with more experience than me willing to take a EE pullet with a cross beak. It's not as severe as some I've seen pictures of, but I know I am not giving her the extra help she needs. Location: Globe, AZ. SAVE A LIFE! (Hilda the Easter Egger pullet: age 14 weeks)

There's a rescue group on Facebook that may be able to help you. I can't remember the name but I can pm you when I find it or post your info on there for you.

 

[cyborg]

Well, I am stuck at work until midnight, but the DW called about 4:15, and it sounds like I lost the back 10 feet of the chicken palace to a windstorm. She had a good time trying to round up about 90 chickens before my dogs got them. The really bad part is I ordered a couple boxes of earth auger type tiedowns, and they arrived about an hour before I left for work!

 

[NicolettesChick]

There's a rescue group on Facebook that may be able to help you. I can't remember the name but I can pm you when I find it or post your info on there for you.

I have a cross beak Bantam Frizzle EE and she does very well, despite her beak. If there is a local feed shop in your area, see if they will take her.

 

[flower]

Well, I am stuck at work until midnight, but the DW called about 4:15, and it sounds like I lost the back 10 feet of the chicken palace to a windstorm. She had a good time trying to round up about 90 chickens before my dogs got them. The really bad part is I ordered a couple boxes of earth auger type tiedowns, and they arrived about an hour before I left for work!

Sorry for your bad time. sometimes it seems that when things are going pretty good something happens like a broken washing machine.

Plus I love you comment do something about world hunger, eat her ! No matter how skinny, it is still a meal huh ?

 

[Sill]

I don't even really ferment the feed during these hotter months, but merely soak it for 1-2 days. Anything beyond that and it actually seems to grow mold.

I was having the same problem. Soaking overnight or a day longer works best in summer.

 

[City farm]

Our beautiful new girl's Faith & Faithful from DF @Sill
Thank so much for them.. their combs are a bit red, e

They were curious when i went out. . Came & hung around me..
Their dad is a bielefelder, mom E.E. can't wait for their beautiful egg's. .
We got so much rain here last night. .that was a crazy storm

 

[azchickens14]

Looks like a rodent was gnawing on it. I had that problem too but a couple of barn cats solved it.

thats no good. It seemed to look like it was laid that way when I found it :/ have you had them chew on them without leaving cracks or teeth marks?