Arizona Chickens

[MagicChicken]

I used a swamp cooler last year with mixed success. The birds definitely appreciated the cooler air, but the humidity in the chicken cabin rose too high and the fly population exploded. This year I'm sticking with window A/C units. So far they do help, but it's hard for the little buggers to fight off 115*.

I've been using Fly Eliminators from Arbico Organics. They're local (based in Catalina). The Fly Eliminators work well. I still get minor population booms when conditions change quickly, but it is nothing like the major fly swarms I had before I started using the Fly Eliminators. Fly Eliminators are tiny, predatory wasps that lay eggs in fly larvae. I have 50-60 chickens. All large fowl. I get a 1/2 unit of fly eliminators every 4 weeks, starting in early March and running through October. If you order for a whole season Arbico will send you bonus units of eliminators, usually during the hottest, most humid months. It's not a cheap program but in my opinion it is totally worth it. I hate flies.
Edited to add link: http://www.arbico-organics.com/category/fly-control-program

 

[FeatherPugs]

I use Arbico Fly Eliminators too. I didn't want to be a nuisance to my neighbors - even though we are on 1 1/2 acres and not totally next door to each other - I just didn't want to create a fly problem for them either. PLUS we have a group of horses about 5 acres away and they are not cleaned as I would clean. Thus even more flies! The fly eliminators take care of all this. I get a 1/4 unit every month, Mar - Oct and love the results. This year because we had such a warm Feb, we ended up with flies early - my sweet hubby said "when do those fly thingees start?". So it is noticed too!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Not a bad view for morning coffee!

 

[nicollee]

Not a bad view for morning coffee!

View attachment 1046243

looks like the area near Lost Dutchman state park...

 

[nicollee]

I usually wind up giving eggs to my broody hens too. My broody girls are determined. And they usually manage to hatch a chick or two even in the extreme summer heat. I have no idea how, but they do it.

Edited to add: I wonder if they go broody in the summer heat because it's less work than running around the yard...?

FINALLY she is off the eggs, and rooting up my garden (grr) I don't have to worry about her as much now...
But now she is mean.... We go to pick her up and she pecks at us... so sad, she was the sweetest.... will this pass? and how long till she starts laying eggs again?

 

[cactusrota]

Not a bad view for morning coffee!

View attachment 1046243

This has been ours the last few days...

 

[cactusrota]

FINALLY she is off the eggs, and rooting up my garden (grr) I don't have to worry about her as much now...
But now she is mean.... We go to pick her up and she pecks at us... so sad, she was the sweetest.... will this pass? and how long till she starts laying eggs again?

Maybe it's postpartum depression...

 

[DesertChic]

FINALLY she is off the eggs, and rooting up my garden (grr) I don't have to worry about her as much now...
But now she is mean.... We go to pick her up and she pecks at us... so sad, she was the sweetest.... will this pass? and how long till she starts laying eggs again?

Yes, it'll pass as the broodiness completely subsides. Just think of her as having PMS.

 

[DesertChic]

I've been using Fly Eliminators from Arbico Organics. They're local (based in Catalina). The Fly Eliminators work well. I still get minor population booms when conditions change quickly, but it is nothing like the major fly swarms I had before I started using the Fly Eliminators. Fly Eliminators are tiny, predatory wasps that lay eggs in fly larvae. I have 50-60 chickens. All large fowl. I get a 1/2 unit of fly eliminators every 4 weeks, starting in early March and running through October. If you order for a whole season Arbico will send you bonus units of eliminators, usually during the hottest, most humid months. It's not a cheap program but in my opinion it is totally worth it. I hate flies.
Edited to add link: http://www.arbico-organics.com/category/fly-control-program

OK...you guys have convinced me. I'm going to order some this week. The flies around my compost pile are INSANE!

 

[nicollee]

Maybe it's postpartum depression...

Yes, it'll pass as the broodiness completely subsides. Just think of her as having PMS.

I sure hope so....