Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

@starri33 It's the Naked Neck X CCLB cross project that I'm working on. They have the naked neck's with bib's, plus the cresting on the head. They should lay blue/green egg's.

 

[SonoranChick]

My husband and I have decided to move into town (Tucson)...it was a very difficult decision to make because we love our rural lifestyle and have worked so hard on our house. When Cora came along everything changed, and now the hour long trip just to get to the grocery store is maddening, the fact that there aren't any elementary schools nearby isn't going to work, and I resent the long dirt road. We are lucky enough to have an opportunity to rent our house to family, so we will be able to hold onto it and the land, but will be uprooting everything and moving into a house with 3 acres in April. Of course we are taking the chickens with us It is a rare chance to make a new coop and do it right... So I have a few questions for all of you. What do you think is the best/most efficient way to move the hens? We have one extra large dog crate and one huge canvas puppy corral. I feel like it will be stressful for them no matter how I do it, but what has worked for you in the past as far as chicken transportation goes? And what do you like best about your coop/run? I know I will do my roosts differently in this new coop...and think I will do away with the poop boards and try to somehow make cleaning and egg collection more efficient. My husband is thinking about doing something that we can move around (like a mobile coop) but I worry that predators could get in. I'd love to hear your ideas as to what has worked for you, and what hasn't. We just can't free range because of the dogs.

 

[BlueBaby]

@SonoranChick The large dog crates will work, but don't overcrowd them. Also, if you are moving them in the back of something like an SUV, they should be ok, but not in the back of a pickup with the wind and being cold. That might be too much for them now.

 

[starri33]

Good Luck in your move, I'm glad to hear that you are going to be able to keep your home, when you are back to being empty nester's , then you can look at going back. I'm thinking with the new coop that we're building, using a sandbox under the roosts, just do the pooper scooper. Also thinking about using lino to help make it easier to clean. I know it would be more of a pain, but would moving the chickens at night make it easier on all?

 

[RainForestBird]

MISSING DUCKS IN SOUTHEAST ARIZONA - Last night between 1 am (when I last saw them) and 7 am (when I went out to feed) someone or something took my 5 adult Ancona ducks-3 males 2 females - and a Serama mix rooster. I looked around everywhere and there is not many places they could go, but they are nowhere. My dogs and the neighbor's dogs have been fairly quiet (for them) all night and when I went out this morning all the gates were closed, none of the other birds were harmed, and the ducks that refused to go in last night were gone, without a trace, no signs of struggle, no NOTHING. They had access to their house that was open, they had access to the other ducks that were in their enclosure, they had access to a large shed where they could have taken cover, its empty. If it was a predator, there would have been signs of a struggle - these are large agile ducks that don't fly, and a predator could not have taken all 5 without a struggle or a stray feather, or even noise. I went out at 1 am to take my dogs out, and they were crowded around the female duck's pen where they like to go, it is partially surrounded by cover and lit up. My whole yard is lit up with coop lights and Christmas lights. Has anyone heard or seen anything strange about livestock theft or some other kind of vandalism? I know of a pheasant farmer who had all his birds let out by a group (that I will not name) and most of them fell victim to predators. I just can't imagine someone getting up in the early morning hours during the snowfall and taking them for food, but its not impossible.

 

[Suzyqschickens]

My husband and I have decided to move into town (Tucson)...it was a very difficult decision to make because we love our rural lifestyle and have worked so hard on our house. When Cora came along everything changed, and now the hour long trip just to get to the grocery store is maddening, the fact that there aren't any elementary schools nearby isn't going to work, and I resent the long dirt road. We are lucky enough to have an opportunity to rent our house to family, so we will be able to hold onto it and the land, but will be uprooting everything and moving into a house with 3 acres in April. Of course we are taking the chickens with us It is a rare chance to make a new coop and do it right... So I have a few questions for all of you. What do you think is the best/most efficient way to move the hens? We have one extra large dog crate and one huge canvas puppy corral. I feel like it will be stressful for them no matter how I do it, but what has worked for you in the past as far as chicken transportation goes? And what do you like best about your coop/run? I know I will do my roosts differently in this new coop...and think I will do away with the poop boards and try to somehow make cleaning and egg collection more efficient. My husband is thinking about doing something that we can move around (like a mobile coop) but I worry that predators could get in. I'd love to hear your ideas as to what has worked for you, and what hasn't. We just can't free range because of the dogs.

when I bought those hens from @BlueBaby i put the three girls in a medium crate in the back of my suv and they did fine. That was about 1.5 hr drive from my house.

 

[Suzyqschickens]

Well good morning everyone! I have to share a picture with everyone. My husband is not a fan of my girls at all. Yes he eats their eggs but only if I wash them for him. Sooo this pic just makes me laugh...... Roady my EE decided his toolbox would make a great place to nest! He was like umm come get this chicken!! My son and I laughed and laughed.

 

[BlueBaby]

MISSING DUCKS IN SOUTHEAST ARIZONA - Last night between 1 am (when I last saw them) and 7 am (when I went out to feed) someone or something took my 5 adult Ancona ducks-3 males 2 females - and a Serama mix rooster. I looked around everywhere and there is not many places they could go, but they are nowhere. My dogs and the neighbor's dogs have been fairly quiet (for them) all night and when I went out this morning all the gates were closed, none of the other birds were harmed, and the ducks that refused to go in last night were gone, without a trace, no signs of struggle, no NOTHING. They had access to their house that was open, they had access to the other ducks that were in their enclosure, they had access to a large shed where they could have taken cover, its empty. If it was a predator, there would have been signs of a struggle - these are large agile ducks that don't fly, and a predator could not have taken all 5 without a struggle or a stray feather, or even noise. I went out at 1 am to take my dogs out, and they were crowded around the female duck's pen where they like to go, it is partially surrounded by cover and lit up. My whole yard is lit up with coop lights and Christmas lights. Has anyone heard or seen anything strange about livestock theft or some other kind of vandalism? I know of a pheasant farmer who had all his birds let out by a group (that I will not name) and most of them fell victim to predators. I just can't imagine someone getting up in the early morning hours during the snowfall and taking them for food, but its not impossible.

Sorry that you are missing your duck's. Did you check for foot prints that shouldn't be there?

 

[BlueBaby]

Well good morning everyone! I have to share a picture with everyone. My husband is not a fan of my girls at all. Yes he eats their eggs but only if I wash them for him. Sooo this pic just makes me laugh...... Roady my EE decided his toolbox would make a great place to nest! He was like umm come get this chicken!! My son and I laughed and laughed.

Maybe she wanted to let him know that her egg was for him alone?

 

[RainForestBird]

Yes, there was no sign of anything. Which leads me to believe that someone stood outside my yard and opened the gate to let them out. I am not sure of the motive. I have searched the surrounding areas.

Sorry that you are missing your duck's. Did you check for foot prints that shouldn't be there?