Arizona Chickens

[Fishybiz]

Today marked 4 days in a row of new egg-laying excitement!

As I mentioned previously I ran my "convince the chickens where to lay"pilot test by taking the first two eggs I found in the run and put them in the first and third nest box along with existing golf balls and ping pong balls.
Nest 1 = Shredded newspaper + 3 golf balls+ 1 brown mini egg from 11/8
Nest 2 = Hay/straw + 3 golf balls and a ping pong ball
Nest 3 = Shredded straw + 2 golf balls + 1 ping pong ball + 1 brown mini egg from 11/8.

Well 11/9 test results = 1 brown mini egg in Nest box 2. Egg discovered around 8:00 am

11/10 test results = No eggs at 8:00am. Thought process is that today is the "off day" in the ability of a hen to lay consecutive days and how much time is required between eggs that I have read about. I check the nest box around 12:00 when I bring the 6 chickens a snack and holy moly there is a brown mini egg in Nest Box 2 !!!

Now excited with test results it's time for phase 2. I remove the two real brown mini eggs from Nest 1 and 3. Time to see if 11/11 assumed results will be an egg in Nest box 2

In my excitement in removing the eggs, oops...I drop one on the ground. A minor setback in the ability to become a seller of "cute brown mini eggs" to the neighbors and friends I guess, but pure profit to my appetite!!

Current unit cost analysis shows estimated ROI (return on investment) at $100/"cute brown mini egg"....

More test results tomorrow

 

[BlueBaby]

I like using 60w black light bulbs. You can get the cheap ones in any lighting dept, but if you get the more expensive ones in pet stores/dept's that are meant for reptiles they usually last alot longer as they are meant for providing heat. When I only need a tiny bit of heat (like chicks in week 3) I used to use the 25w red party light bulbs, but those have all been replaced by LED so not an option anymore.

You mean the one's like these at Amazon? https://www.amazon.com/Colored-Tran...D=41ne%2BUaLe7L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

[igorsMistress]

My black Australorp has taken over ruling the roost or she was mad as hades today. Hubs says she was after anyone who came near, big or small.

We also just about lost a/some chickens today. Hubs heard a commotion and saw chickens on the patio that we fenced off. Then he noticed a red tail hawk sitting on said fence so he ran it off and kept watch as best he could. Not at all happy. I have areas they can use for cover but everyone scattered and the littles were the target.

 

[BlueBaby]

Yikes, you don't want to loose those babies. I noticed a hawk around here one day a couple of weeks back. It couldn't get mine though, because I do not free range as you seen, and the coop and run is pretty secure. So, it went across the road to where the neighbor do free range their gamebirds that I think are those one's that used for cock fighting. Free rangers are easy targets for a hungry critter.

 

[DesertChic]

The hawks have been bad this year. They've paid several visits to my house and even swooped down into the yard a couple times before being chased off either by one of my roosters or me. Luckily my newest free range breeding rooster, Tank, has taken over the role of sounding the alarm VERY loudly at first sign of a hawk. My other roosters then work together to hurry all of the hens and pullets to safety. It's actually pretty impressive to witness.

This is Tank:

And Tank with his best friend and mentor, Chewey:

 

[Bobby Basham]

My brooder will be 4 feet by 6 feet and 24 inches high with half screened lid. I can place the lamp at one end. I wanted it that big because it will give them more space to grow out before kicking them out into the new coop and run.

I don't want the dust and dander inside the house, so the garage will serve them well.

I could always block off a portion until they get larger, then remove the partition. With a dozen chicks, I wanted to give them as much space as possible, hopefully avoid bullying and other behavioral issues.

I like the idea that Cactusrota mentioned black lights and I need to hit the hardware and feed stores tomorrow to see what I can find.

 

[cavemanrich]

@Bobby Basham
I still see incandescent bulbs at Dollar Stores and Dollar General, and Family Dollar. Not sure if any of those are close to you??? Max wattage is only 60 watts available. Plenty of 40 watts around though. If you feel you need more heat, then use multiple. Get your setup running and check temp. Trial and error.

 

[Bobby Basham]

Thanks, Cavemanrich. I'm about 15 minutes away from all the stores you mentioned plus ACE hardware and one of the many feed stores in town. Having several lamps should be enough for my needs. --BB

 

[Parront]

My brooder will be 4 feet by 6 feet and 24 inches high with half screened lid. I can place the lamp at one end. I wanted it that big because it will give them more space to grow out before kicking them out into the new coop and run.

I don't want the dust and dander inside the house, so the garage will serve them well.

That is almost exactly how I raised them. You want it 95 degrees at first, under the heat. You might want to check it at the coldest time of day, like now! Right before the sun comes up in the morning I mean! Good morning!

 

[Parront]

Thanks, Cavemanrich. I'm about 15 minutes away from all the stores you mentioned plus ACE hardware and one of the many feed stores in town. Having several lamps should be enough for my needs. --BB

I have a UV light I use for my parrot, it is from Lowes. It is 60 watts, and does put out some heat. Those come in larger sizes, too. I use it for vitamin D and I plan to use it (or one like it) in with any chicks I get. That is the natural way for them to get vitamin D.