Arizona Chickens

[DesertChic]

I think you should write the sequel to this book..."Free-Range Chicken Gardens in the Hostile Desert".

Seriously, look at all the green on that cover. I've never gotten that much green to grow out here...not even weeds!

 

[City farm]

Dory Update - So it has been a long, hard, emotional 2 1/2 weeks, and I have come to a painful coclusion.... Despite my efforts, I don't believe my Dory bird is going to get better. I have hand fed her from day one of sickness, and I think improvement from this point would only be a miracle. She cannot support her own weight at all on her left leg, is constantly drowsy, and can't even fight me when i feed her. She is bone skinny, as if she isn't absorbing anything she eats, and she just isn't making any forward momentum in his illness. I'm giving her until Wednesday o prove me wrong, but I am not going to prolong her suffering more than then. Hard times ahead.... this is my first bird I will/would loose. I can't imagine life without this sweet little polish. No chicken can replace her spot in my heart. I do hope she proves me wrong, and miraculously gets better.

Very sorry to hear about your bird. It's hard to lose any animal that you're responsible for. I always feel like I had a hand in it even when I had nothing to do with it. Featherpugs is spot on with her comments.

I'm giving her until Wednesday o prove me wrong, but I am not going to prolong her suffering more than then. Hard times ahead.... this is my first bird I will/would loose. I can't imagine life without this sweet little polish. No chicken can replace her spot in my heart. I do hope she proves me wrong, and miraculously gets better.

Sometimes its the painful reality of having a flock of birds. Some just don't make it. A Necropsy (sp) would be most revealing. I don't know if anybody does them your way. It might give you great insight and you'll realize it's not how you took care of this girl - it was life. Sorry you have to go through this - my heart aches for you.

It is crazy how a little ol' chicken can take your heart..

 

[Banaynaychicken]

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I'm so sorry. I know how much you must be hurting, loosing any living being that you care so much for is hard. She's no longer hurting & went peacefully. That's really the best any of us can ask for when the time comes. It still hurts, is disturbing, and doesn't help ease your sorrow. However, as your grief subsides and time passes you'll come to see what purpose Dory's life had in your life, what you learned from her, & that she was a happy, well loved chick. I'm certain that she knew how much you loved & cared for her. You both did the best you could & showed remarkable strength. Unfortunately, some lives are completed much too soon. Perhaps, when you're ready, you could plant something near Dory in her honor. I bet that it would become a beautiful addition to your yard just as she was.

Thankyou everyone for your care and concern for Dori. We have buried her in the middle of a ring of prickly pear, so predators wouldn't get to her, and have an ocotillo watching over her. I will probably plant something over her that the javelina wont eat... that's a huge problem in our neighborhood. (Any suggestions on a plant that is both beautiful and the herbivores will avoid?)

SAo Far I have heard that Oleander, Sacred Datura, and Texas mountain Laurel are something that the animals will leave alone. I'm allergic to Oleander, of course :/.

A Texas Laurel would be beautiful, and since Dori is buried behind our brick wall on a seperated part of our property, the other chickens will not be able to eat the poisonous flowers.

Though we have one growing at my school, I don't know If we could get it to grow.

 

[BlueBaby]

Banaynaychicken, I found a link that may be of interest as far as desert plants go. It is pretty interesting. http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/sites/default/files/hosa-a-desert-place.pdf

 

[Sill]

I've been wondering about a way to combine the treadle feeder with the pvc or bucket feeders. I'd love to be able to just put the whole bag in to a storage container & have that feed to the chicks. I'm curious how the buckets hold up in the heat...how long before they get brittle, or in a coop is that enough protection? Have you had an issue with rain getting the food wet or do you have completely out of the way of rain?

It's not the heat that is the issue with plastic buckets, it's the UV rays. If you paint the bucket with white paint it will keep the feed cooler and keep the UV rays from degrading the plastic so it will last much longer. Also keeping shaded most of the time will help.

Our experience with a treadle feeder is that it takes 3 doves to stand on the treadle to open and they just take turns before flying off!! We just did the buckets this year so I don't know about the sun yet but I'm betting I'll get 3 plus years - they are heavy duty buckets. I haven't gotten water in them because they have lids and the elbows are down so very little would get in that hole. I also keep them under the shade as extra protection but if your coop is large enough it could go into the coop. We are very happy with the bucket feeders.

Chickens are much bigger than doves. If you extend the step of the treadle out and take out the part of the step close to the opening the doves won't be able to reach the feed with their shorter necks.

Dory -

She has officialy passed on. Peacefully in her sleep last night, happy after a formula crumble meal, we will bury her thismorning on our property.

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

It's not the heat that is the issue with plastic buckets, it's the UV rays. If you paint the bucket with white paint it will keep the feed cooler and keep the UV rays from degrading the plastic so it will last much longer. Also keeping shaded most of the time will help.

Chickens are much bigger than doves. If you extend the step of the treadle out and take out the part of the step close to the opening the doves won't be able to reach the feed with their shorter necks.

Thanks! Never thought of the paint. Definitely in the shade is the plan...right now food & water are on the patio to be certain of shade & no rain. Just working out ideas for moving into the yard/coop & no need for daily feeding/fill up (just for the few times I'm home late or out of town).

For the treadle step...would that still work for the bantam breeds? Including the smaller bantams like old english?

You guys are so great!

 

[FeatherPugs]

@Sill I did not think of that! I'll dig mine out and see what can be done - thanks so much!!

 

[deserteggs22]

I missed a lot while I was away! People are writing books, and a beautiful Polish pullet passed (sorry about that). Anyways, I've been busy lately! On the 4th, I went raccoon hunting in the pecan grooves by my house, then I just got home from a big trip to northern Utah. We were up here because we had a family reunion, and my dad got a big job offer up there, and he wanted to check it out. So, there is a chance that I might be leaving AZ!

 

[BlueBaby]

I missed a lot while I was away! People are writing books, and a beautiful Polish pullet passed (sorry about that). Anyways, I've been busy lately! On the 4th, I went raccoon hunting in the pecan grooves by my house, then I just got home from a big trip to northern Utah. We were up here because we had a family reunion, and my dad got a big job offer up there, and he wanted to check it out. So, there is a chance that I might be leaving AZ!

Yes, I was wondering what happened to you... lol How many chickens are you going to have to take up there with you, if you move?

 

[deserteggs22]

Yes, I was wondering what happened to you... lol How many chickens are you going to have to take up there with you, if you move?

Depends on how much land we get. I would probably have to sell all but 5-10 hens. (I have over 70 right now)