Arizona Chickens

[SonoranChick]

We get the big gangs of them too, and the people who live down the way FEED THEM It's absolute stupidity. We have complained but it's no use. I'm liking this coyote quilt idea...

 

[Tbarr334]

My neighbors go every couple days on night hunts, but you can still hear them yapping and howling all night. At least they haven't been bold enough to venture into my yard yet. But now maybe they will now that we have chickens.

 

[FeatherPugs]

http://www.niteguard.com/
Sorry for the loss in your flock @azurbanclucker. I have used those nite guards for years and years. I just move them around to different spots - when I remember. My chickens have a large yard plus their coop and a baby coop. I have one area that is not that secure - just circumstances - BUT these nite guards (they are solar) have kept the coyotes away. We have so many as I live across from fields etc. One time I watched 7 young males run along the canal in the early morning. This year there seems to be more too. I check and I haven't had prints or anything. I would have problems when they free ranged the area so that was why I fenced in the larger area. Also I have buried fencing PLUS I put fencing on top of the ground around the perimeter, covered with dirt to keep out the digging PLUS the boards with sticky out nails! Overkill - never. Hope you find what you need to fill out your flock.

 

[igorsMistress]

Found a home for the black roo!

 

[DesertChic]

I actually have a Tree of Heaven in my chicken yard and it does a good job, you just can't mind the volunteers that follow... but if you can protect them from the chickens you'll have lots more shade later on. They are a type of sumac, but not nearly as toxic/problematic. The chickens nibble on the leaves all the time. They're actually a bit medicinal. I really want some fruiting mulberries, but don't want to pay the price for them....

So far, starting them from seeds seems pretty easy. I had to keep the seeds in my fridge for a few months to chill them, but they sprouted surprisingly quickly. I went this route because the trees were so darn expensive to buy grown, but a little pack of seeds was just a couple bucks. I guess time will tell if I've made a wise decision.

 

[BlueBaby]

He is huge and he isn't even a year old yet? My goodness! My EE boy wasn't much younger than him and not nearly that big. Sheesh.

Yes, and look how many chicks he has sired already. Your Blue boy has a lot of growing to do still, to catch up with his daddy!

 

[BlueBaby]

They were out for the night because we were about to go out of town. They've been in the coop locked up at night since (the remaining kids).

So, the coyotes were only taking advantage of the opportunity that you gave them.

 

[MagicChicken]

Hey, I've been cruising through the coop and run designs. Did they do away with the small, medium and large categories? All I see now is one big collection of DIY projects.

Anyhoo, my question is...is there an advantage to having all the roosts paralleled instead of hopping up? I see it could prevent chickens from pooping on each other, or squabbling over the highest roost when they put themselves in for the night. I saw one design that had a ladder leading up. How do they settle in when they're all on the same level? Just curious. --BB

When all the roosts are the same height they don't squabble over the highest roosts but they do still squabble over position. Make sure the roosts aren't too high for the space available. They need room (horizontal space) to jump/fly down at a relatively shallow angle. Some of my roosts are 30" high and that is too high for some of my birds when the space is cramped. On the other hand, I have a few hens who roost on a beam that is over 6' high and manage to get themselves down in a limited space, so you never know. Some birds fly better than others.

It's easier to pick up a bird off the roost at night than it is to chase it all over the run trying to catch it during the day. Roost heights that are waist high or lower make that a lot easier. It's hard to control a bird when you're trying to pick it up off a high perch.

 

[cactusrota]

So far, starting them from seeds seems pretty easy. I had to keep the seeds in my fridge for a few months to chill them, but they sprouted surprisingly quickly. I went this route because the trees were so darn expensive to buy grown, but a little pack of seeds was just a couple bucks. I guess time will tell if I've made a wise decision.

Where did you get your seeds at? When I lived in western WA I could just take cuttings of just about anything and get them to root and grow, but that just isn't happening at all down here. Everything dies. I just can't figure it out. But I've been able to get lemon, key lime, and orange seeds to grow, and I've got a couple elderberry seeds that have sprouted and I really hope they make it. I had a peach tree sprout from a pit a few years ago, but we had to leave town and nobody would take of it for me and it died. :-(

 

[azurbanclucker]

So, the coyotes were only taking advantage of the opportunity that you gave them.

Yeah. We haven't had any trouble with them at all in years. Until last week.