Arizona Chickens

[lins girrls]

OMG! 20 chickens were stolen and killed by 2 men! It's bad enough that you have to watch out for the 4 legged predators, and the flying over-head ones too, like hawks! I'm glad that I don't free-range, and that I have a padlock on my walk-in coop door!

http://www.wfsb.com/story/37200567/pd-2-men-stole-and-killed-20-chickens-in-milford?autostart=true

sorry that, that happened. I do free range but out here they are safe from that kind of thing. All of our neighbors watch for anyone not familiar and show up at each others houses to see who the intruders are

 

[lins girrls]

hope you all don't get tired of seeing my pretty babies.. #proudchickiemama
this is pollyanna she's blonde and black (augie is on the right)
View attachment 1306020
pollyanna again, with either cheeta, brownie, or mocha they all look alike and i can't tell with her in this position lol
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love it keep the photos coming

 

[Btruax]

That is for sure. Now my husband asks almost everyday how many eggs were layed that day. Funny how his attitude changed! When I take eggs to my parents my mom wants to know how many blue eggs I brought. Her favorite color is blue, so I save her as many as I can. Her excitment level has changed too, now she knows chickens can lay blue eggs!!

Lmbo yep, good job

 

[Jadesun6]

Wow! That's crazy. I saw one posted the other day in a fb group that looked like a popcorn machine, literally. I don't know that I'd use one that doesn't have a viewing window..

If the thermostat works it might be ok, BUT I suggest testing for at least a week to see if it will maintain temperature... Speaking from experience, it is heartbreaking to find out after you put your eggs in it that it will not maintain temperature properly . We tested for 24 hours, and it seemed to be ok, but after putting the eggs in found wild temperature swings from 90-110, SOOO SAD

Luckily I had bought a new incubator about a month ago. I am not planing on using it. It's scarry looking! The power consumption is probably crazy high on it among other drawbacks. I wonder if it's one of the first models. It's definitely old school.

 

[Jadesun6]

Here is two of the chicks from the "Maran" bin. You know how that can go sometimes.

Here is one of the Cuckoo Maran

There was two blue chicks that were in there too. I don't believe they are Marans. Anyone have any guesses?

 

[meetthebubus]

@Catwest & @Jadesun6 keep those chick pics comin! They make my day!
I have found that if I don't collect eggs throughout the day, I end up with some broken eggs. I am in there frequently and have never caught any of them intentionally breaking the eggs, but a few like to roll them around and sometimes they fight over the favored nest, which can result in cracks and breaks. And I really need to get a swamp cooler pad to place under the hay in the box, I tried newspaper and they shredded it. Also, as I believe @meetthebubus mentioned, mine are young and are little laying machines, so I like to collect them more often.
I am also pretty worried about a few of my girls (mostly Reese, the barred rock) who like to just sit, sit, sit all day long in the box. I know @BlueBaby lost a hen in the heat that way last summer. It's like their instincts take over and they don't realize that they need water. I love living in the desert but the unrelenting summer heat definitely concerns me.
@DesertChic I am very jealous of your plans to obtain a tractor it's on our wish list! One day...

Punky was stuck in her box I went out every 2 hours to remove her and feed and water her on my lap, eventually she recovered, another trick is to adjust the nest box to that broody hen, so she is enclosed and put food and water near her so her instincts to take a break if she feels her nest is safe...

 

[meetthebubus]

That is a good point, in the event of all day use, but its not really necessary, just short times during the peak heat hours. But you do make a good point about the "enveloping" of the heat due to the moisture content. As of now, I only mist my girls when they just start to show signs of heat stress, and only long enough to feel the coop temps drop. They do have huge stainless dog water dishes for pools, and I freeze water bottles during the summer to put in their waterers. Lol Im a germophobe sort of, wrong hobby for that I know so my girls only get the pools, no mud holes.

Those mud puddles work SO much better though, the mud coats their feet and chickens LOVE it!
also you can put the misters higher than the hens, not too much, in the shaded area and it will cool the area down without getting them wet

 

[cactusrota]

Here is two of the chicks from the "Maran" bin. You know how that can go sometimes.

Here is one of the Cuckoo Maran
View attachment 1309723
There was two blue chicks that were in there too. I don't believe they are Marans. Anyone have any guesses?
View attachment 1309729
View attachment 1309731

Privett, the hatchery all the TSC's get their birds from, just started selling Blue Australorps recently. They've been sending the extras out, and the TSC down in Benson has been getting some. A friend picked some up for me and is bringing them up soon.

 

[BlueBaby]

Hello! Our family is new backyard chickens and we purchased 6 ‘hens’ a few months ago. Turns out that one is a white silkie rooster (roughly 4 months old) and we will be unable to keep it in our neighborhood due to the noise. Is there anyone who would be interested in a free silkie rooster?

Welcome! I see that you are new here. I hope that you will be able to find a home for your little guy!

 

[BlueBaby]

What kind of trees did you plant? We added a Chilean mesquite to the back yard this Spring and we are building an enclosed garden this weekend that will also give the girls afternoon shade in Summer. Adding a mister too this year.

If I knew that you wanted one of those trees, you could have that big one in my front yard. I hate those big thorns!