Arizona Chickens

[igorsMistress]

What are you talking about?

Scarlett is the boss out there, one of my RIR girls. She and my black Aussie killed a pigeon this morning. I thought it was dead anyway, but was gone when I went to get it Either it was faking or it's moved to cover to die and one of the dogs will find it later.

 

[DesertChic]

I've been using metal, painted feed dishes that look like giant bottlecaps for years, but now that the paint is starting to flake off of them I'm using plastic kitty litter pans to serve the feed. They're both fairly large with sides at least 2 inches high. Most of the time the ants stay out of them and only carry away whatever the chickens scratch out on the ground.

Right now I'm soaking a combination of layer feed and scratch for my birds since I'm getting so many eggs that I can afford to feed them surplus eggs for extra protein. My birds also have regular access to a variety of homegrown greens, desert grasses, and fermented alfalfa hay.

This is the brand of feed I use: http://www.tucsonorganicfeed.com/

 

[meetthebubus]

I've been doing some research I think marshmellow comes from or is a part of a line of roosters that are really docile with owners and hens but have a big fighting instinct which is why he got after Roo yet otherwise is super gentle

 

[SonoranChick]

My hens get Nutrena country feeds layer crumble. That's what they have been eating since I switched them off of the chick starter long ago, and they love it. I have two feeders that hang about 6 inches off the ground so bugs and mice can't get into it. Also the chickens can't scratch it out.
They also get yogurt, fruits and veggies and garden herbs. They are obsessed with basil. They have a favorite treat from the feed store called Chickie Garden Picnic, that they have been enjoying since they were chicks. It's just a fancy seed and herb mix, they get that maybe once a week. And I save their eggshells, dry them out, and crush them down to offer a calcium supplement if they want that.
Some days I think they might eat better than I do I love going through the produce while grocery shopping thinking, "what will the girls want this week?"

 

[DesertChic]

My hens get Nutrena country feeds layer crumble. That's what they have been eating since I switched them off of the chick starter long ago, and they love it. I have two feeders that hang about 6 inches off the ground so bugs and mice can't get into it. Also the chickens can't scratch it out.
They also get yogurt, fruits and veggies and garden herbs. They are obsessed with basil. They have a favorite treat from the feed store called Chickie Garden Picnic, that they have been enjoying since they were chicks. It's just a fancy seed and herb mix, they get that maybe once a week. And I save their eggshells, dry them out, and crush them down to offer a calcium supplement if they want that.
Some days I think they might eat better than I do I love going through the produce while grocery shopping thinking, "what will the girls want this week?"

Your eat basil? I can't even bribe my chickens to eat basil.
Oregano?
Absolutely.
Rosemary?
Well...okay...if you're not going to keep it protected from us.
But basil?
What kind of a chicken mother are you?

 

[BlueBaby]

Scarlett is the boss out there, one of my RIR girls. She and my black Aussie killed a pigeon this morning. I thought it was dead anyway, but was gone when I went to get it Either it was faking or it's moved to cover to die and one of the dogs will find it later.

You sure your girl's didn't eat it?

 

[igorsMistress]

You sure your girl's didn't eat it?

 

[SonoranChick]

Your eat basil? I can't even bribe my chickens to eat basil.
Oregano?
Absolutely.
Rosemary?
Well...okay...if you're not going to keep it protected from us.
But basil?
What kind of a chicken mother are you?

Mine won't touch the oregano!

 

[Suzyqschickens]

My chickens refuse to eat the pellets. So I bought the crumb layer feed and they like it. My husband made me a feeder from Pinterest that works pretty amazing. He used a four inch pvc elbow and mounted it to the wall and it has a lid to screw on it. It’s great way less waste and I don’t have to worry about them being out of food if I work late. And my girls love love love did I say love blueberries!!!! I give them any fruit that my kids haven’t touched and is going bad. They love watermellon.

 

[igorsMistress]

Question about broody hatching eggs. She's in a box about a foot off the ground. Mini ramp? Build a nest on the ground for after hatch? Or will she do it?