Arizona Chickens

[bunsnpupsnchick]

That's the thing with EEs, they can lay any color egg. I have one that lays true blue, another sage green. They do get paler as the season progresses so they can look almost white.

That's my concern...they just started laying. I think there were about 3/4 eggs before I took that pic for what's there, so they've been laying for a few weeks. They're about 6 months old. Would they go white that soon? I mean the kind of white that looks like it was painted over a color with the color barely bleeding thru. My brown layer today has white spots on its egg & the color is lighter.

I did change their food a day or two before this started....so I'm thinking it's that. I'm working on a grain mix to feed with the regular store feed. I just switched them to flock raiser pellets from the crumbles (had to change brands to do so). I'm going to switch them back to the crumbles & see what happens with feeding the grain mix. If it doesn't get better then I'll hold back the grain mix to see if that improves it.

I did some research & read that metabolically it takes more to produce the blue eggs. Also that it has to do with biliverin (think it's spelled right) which the liver produces along bilirubin. So, if they're short on protein, etc. that can impact the production...least from my understanding. I also read that the blue color is created during the shell formation while brown is laid after....that the green eggs are blue with the brown overlay. Least that's the simplest explanation I found on it. There was a study with a seabird that laid blue eggs which showed that the carotenoids influence the intensity of color. If eating more of those make the color more intense I would think the reverse could be true.

Basically, it leads me back to something is amiss with the food. I don't know if it's enough to show within a few days (eggs changed within 2-3 days of starting the grain mix), but I'd started the new bag of pellets about a week before I added the grain mix. That's why I'm thinking switch back to the other along with the grain & see if anything changes. If not, eliminate the grain & see. If nothing still then it's either an awfully short season for them or something else entirely. They're still healthy, active, & aren't showing any signs that I can see....so that's a plus.

 

[Banaynaychicken]

is anyone else haveing a problem with grain mites?

the last time I bought feed before this time, I began to have these little bugs that look like mini-termites in my large metal trash can that I use to hold chicken feed.

these little buggers.

The can is under the porch and out of the rain, so none of the food is ever wet. I bleach scrub, applevinegar scrub, soap scrub, and then pressure wash the can every time before I refil it and blow dry it to make SURE there is no moisture, and then let it sit in the sun for a day to assure im getting the dryness.

and yet I still get these little a-holes I swear im so done with them.

I've tried every way to kill them that in turn WONT kill my own birds, and yet they still thrive in my feed buckets.

This last time i even doused my feed with DE, and herbs that are said to detract the mites.

still there.

has anyone found an effective way to be-gone these little demons?

I read that they can't hurt my chickens, but they hurt my sanity and allergies like you wouldn't believe. and im worried my research isn't telling me all I need to know, and they will eventually affect my birds health as well.

 

[DesertChic]

I have fiberglass panels that let in some light, but they let in heat too. Metal would have been better.

That's the thing with EEs, they can lay any color egg. I have one that lays true blue, another sage green. They do get paler as the season progresses so they can look almost white.

He's beautiful! Is he mixed with Bielefelder?

Thanks, but no Bielefelder. He's actually half White Rock, half NN.

 

[BlueBaby]

I love living vicariously through your hatches. Its SO exciting!!!

Ok, I am about to help your "exciting" out again!

Just an update on my group 1, and group 2 hatches on my Blue Australorp chicks:

Group 1: All 4 that hatched out in that batch are active, and eating and drinking good. It was a 100% hatch rate.

Group 2: 8 out of the 9 eggs hatched out. The 9th one looked like it outgrew the egg, and suffocated inside. 7 of the 8 are now in the brooder with the 4 from group 1. The last one that hatched is still in the incubator resting and drying off.

I had a total of 12 hatchlings from both of the groups combined. They are the blues, but in various shades of blue.

 

[deserteggs22]

Is anyone interested in a baby call duck?

I hated her for fun. But, I cannot keep her because water is scarce in my area. If you are interested in her, please PM me. She is $5 or I will trade for something.

 

[BlueBaby]

Is anyone interested in a baby call duck?



I hated her for fun. But, I cannot keep her because water is scarce in my area. If you are interested in her, please PM me. She is $5 or I will trade for something.

She's cute, but I'm not doing ducks. I hope that your baby finds a good home with some other ducklings to keep it company.

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

Ok, I am about to help your "exciting" out again!

Just an update on my group 1, and group 2 hatches on my Blue Australorp chicks:

Group 1: All 4 that hatched out in that batch are active, and eating and drinking good. It was a 100% hatch rate.

Group 2: 8 out of the 9 eggs hatched out. The 9th one looked like it outgrew the egg, and suffocated inside. 7 of the 8 are now in the brooder with the 4 from group 1. The last one that hatched is still in the incubator resting and drying off.

I had a total of 12 hatchlings from both of the groups combined. They are the blues, but in various shades of blue.

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats. That's awesome. So happy for you.

 

[BlueBaby]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats. That's awesome. So happy for you.

Thanks! Now I have 12 newly hatched Blue Australorps for sale. I can also sell fertile hatching eggs. I guess that I'm good to go!

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

Thanks! Now I have 12 newly hatched Blue Australorps for sale. I can also sell fertile hatching eggs. I guess that I'm good to go!

Sounds like it. Hope you find good buyers quickly.

 

[BackyardMarana]

Does any one have hatching eggs for sale near Florence,coolidge,mesa,queen qreek,or gilbert ? I am looking for ameraucana (any color) ,marans(any color) ,cochins,and other rare breeds .
If you have anything please let me know thank you all