Arizona Chickens

[SonoranChick]

Anyone here have any experience with the dreaded tapeworm? I have been reading the forums all night and day, I'm sure I'm seeing evidence of them in their poo. I'm really bummed...I adore my flock and keep the coop and run spotless and very dry, but apparently they can get them from eating bugs? Which I can't really prevent. Any suggestions from experience? Thanks in advance, and sorry if you're eating lunch lol.

 

[K Has]

I live rural outside of the city of Maricopa. I don't live too far from the Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino. I sell my hatching eggs for $1.00 each, or $10.00 for the dozen. I don't ship, so they have to be picked up here.

Can you send me your address and if you will be available this weekend. I would like to buy a dozen of those eggs.
[email protected]
Thanks.

 

[BlueBaby]

@K Has I replied to you in your inbox.

 

[meetthebubus]

Anyone here have any experience with the dreaded tapeworm? I have been reading the forums all night and day, I'm sure I'm seeing evidence of them in their poo. I'm really bummed...I adore my flock and keep the coop and run spotless and very dry, but apparently they can get them from eating bugs? Which I can't really prevent. Any suggestions from experience? Thanks in advance, and sorry if you're eating lunch lol.

Diatomaceous earth should deworm, and then prevent, it's in most organic feeds or you can buy food grade separately like in tractor supply, I put it in their feed and use it in the dirt so they can also bathe with it too. It's supposed to dry out worms or bugs without an exoskeleton

 

[Parront]

I know this is totally left feild, but I'm raising my first batch of French Bresse right now, and even though they are only 8 weeks old right now I already really like them. Enough so that I'm probably going to keep a few for breeding, and will probably sell a few hatching eggs and chicks for alot cheaper than they usually go for.
They are "supposed" to be excellent layers and foragers in addition to being really good for meat, which makes them a great dual purpose breed. Mine so far have shown great easy going personalities, they aren't flinchy or anything. I'd say they are on par with my sweeter Naked Necks. And I think they are alot prettier than leghorns. I want to cross breed some with my Naked Necks to increase the meat quality, but I'm thinking it's totally worth it in the long run to keep some pure breeders too.View attachment 1163894

Are they OK with the heat in AZ? Here in Prescott it's not a problem, but I was wondering how they do in the desert?

 

[SonoranChick]

Diatomaceous earth should deworm, and then prevent, it's in most organic feeds or you can buy food grade separately like in tractor supply, I put it in their feed and use it in the dirt so they can also bathe with it too. It's supposed to dry out worms or bugs without an exoskeleton

Thank you! We've got some in the garden. I'll sprinkle in around the run and food area tomorrow.

 

[DuckMochi]

Thought I'd hop on here to ask if anyone else was having horrible scorpion problems? We've had SO MANY this year it's so bad. My duck died because of one and we go out to find them and spray them every night but it's still so bad. What do you guys do for scorpions? Do you just spray or do you have other methods? At this point we're thinking about stuccoing our entire wall so they can't live on our side at least.

 

[cavemanrich]

Thank you! We've got some in the garden. I'll sprinkle in around the run and food area tomorrow.

You may already be aware, avoid breathing DE dust. I'm not writing this to scare anyone, rather to inform. Same way you wash your hands after you handle chickens and before you eat lunch.
I personally use food grade DE in my coop and pigeon loft. Place a thin layer first. Cover with a layer of Sweet PDZ. Finally I cover with hay/pine chips/straw. (whatever I have at the time of cleaning) I do use a dust mask as a precaution. When DE gets wet, its inhaling danger is gone, as well as effectiveness on the targeted bugs.

 

[igorsMistress]

Sorry about your duck! I've heard the scorpions are bad this year. They feed on other pests so people use bug control to help. If you have crickets, ants or roaches, scorpions eat those so get rid of them if you can.
Unfortunately if you have bark, leaves or detritus in your yard they can hide there. Even your yard decorations, the kids toys, bird feeders, etc.
Also, keep an eye out around any water sources. I'm sure you've got a pool or a pond with ducks. Any hiding places near that I would check regularly.
Chickens supposedly eat scorpions. I've seen mine with lizards, don't know about the scorpions.
Use a caulk to fill all cracks and crevices in and outside. Look around spigots, windows, doorways, anywhere you might have gaps. We used this foam stuff that set rather quickly.
Your other choice is squish with a boot. A park ranger once told me people THINK they don't have scorpions, they just don't know they do. Good luck!

Thought I'd hop on here to ask if anyone else was having horrible scorpion problems? We've had SO MANY this year it's so bad. My duck died because of one and we go out to find them and spray them every night but it's still so bad. What do you guys do for scorpions? Do you just spray or do you have other methods? At this point we're thinking about stuccoing our entire wall so they can't live on our side at least.

 

[BlueBaby]

Sorry about your duck! I've heard the scorpions are bad this year. They feed on other pests so people use bug control to help. If you have crickets, ants or roaches, scorpions eat those so get rid of them if you can.
Unfortunately if you have bark, leaves or detritus in your yard they can hide there. Even your yard decorations, the kids toys, bird feeders, etc.
Also, keep an eye out around any water sources. I'm sure you've got a pool or a pond with ducks. Any hiding places near that I would check regularly.
Chickens supposedly eat scorpions. I've seen mine with lizards, don't know about the scorpions.
Use a caulk to fill all cracks and crevices in and outside. Look around spigots, windows, doorways, anywhere you might have gaps. We used this foam stuff that set rather quickly.
Your other choice is squish with a boot. A park ranger once told me people THINK they don't have scorpions, they just don't know they do. Good luck!

Scorpions will also hide out in nesting boxes if you use hay. My next door neighbor told me that chickens will eat the scorpions and be just fine, but if they get stung by one, it can paralyze them for maybe up to 3 or 4 days where they can't walk. If that happen's, you need to separate the chicken from the flock, and set water and food bowls right next to them, or they won't be able to get to it.