Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

Hey everyone, I'm back. Just got the new modem for the computer delivered late today.

@starri33 Sorry to read here that has happened so near to you about the non-caring, non-respecting guy.

@Sidechicks77 Nice to see a new member here in our states thread.

@cactusrota There's a black cat that comes through the yard. I see it walking until it get's by the chickens coop and pen, and then it takes off running. It's like it think's that the chicken's will be able to get to it though all of the wire that I have on it.

 

[SonoranChick]

Cora went into the coop with me for the first time today! I wasn’t planning on it, but I went to collect eggs and give them some fruit and I noticed their water was low. It was so hot today, I figured they should have fresh water of course. So I put Cora in one of those baby carriers and she did my chicken chores with me! I was worried they would try to investigate her little feet dangling from the carrier, but the chickens were all very nice. More interested in the fruit than the baby lol. I can’t wait for her to be big enough to really enjoy the coop with me. It’s going to be hot tomorrow...hope all of your flocks are doing well.

 

[SonoranChick]

Good morning Arizona

We had some wind yesterday afternoon and then a bit of rain. I was outside early, the moon was fat and there were a few clouds around. Beautiful out here even if it's a wee chilly.

@cactusrota all 12 eggs made it to lockdown I have one in there from my flock that made it too.

@BlueBaby

@SonoranChick how are you guys doing in your new digs? Getting settled? Moving with a baby is a lot of work!

Have a great day all!

Oh my goodness, moving with a baby is not for the timid! Haha. I feel a little bad because my husband has done the majority of the moving, while I’m on baby duty. We still have a lot of boxes that need to be sorted and unpacked but for the most part we are just about settled. You don’t realize how much STUFF you have until you have to move it all. We ended up selling and giving away a lot of things too. Our old house sold and we close on the 30th, so once May arrives we should be able to relax a little. We are loving the new house so much!

 

[BlueBaby]

@SonoranChick I'm glad that the move and stuff went so well for you!

 

[Sidechicks77]

Chickens are not vegetarians, they are omnivores, and do much better when they get some animal proteins on a regular basis. The proteins in chicken feed come from soy not because it's better for them, but because its more economical. I always throw the bones back to them after a chicken dinner.. some people are uncomfortable with that, but it's very normal for them. Bugs and fish proteins count too (why they like mealworms so much), and when I do fermented feed I try to add pond fish pellets. They do very well when I do that.

Thanks for that info! And yeah they go crazy for the meal worms for sure, i have live ones and am trying my hand at meal worm farm... they wont even try the dried ones anymore...

 

[FeatherPugs]

Thanks for that info! And yeah they go crazy for the meal worms for sure, i have live ones and am trying my hand at meal worm farm... they wont even try the dried ones anymore...

Where do you keep your worm farm? I would like to try but I'm not willing to have it in the house where it is cooler. We will be a couple degrees(in general) higher than the Phoenix Valley, so it is quite hot in the summer months. Inquiring minds......

 

[springvalley123]

are any of you near this? https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2019/04/08/arizona-chicken-flock-disease/

FLagstaff is quite a ways from Cordes Lakes, but I believe it's effecting us. I had a heck of a time selling (had to unload) my point of lay pullets just before it hit Flagstaff, and someone in my community has not been able to sell her 9 month old black sex links in over a month. Don't know why, but guessing paranoia could be a factor. I read the previous post from Cactusrota, and will implement biosecurity here to protect my nine, healthy 5 month-old pullets. I'm not pleased to see the state vet's quote, speculating about how it got here. I think he should not say such negative things that put people in a bad light without some proof. and by refusing to name who he's talking about I worry he's getting ready to wipe out some small flocks. I think everyone in the northern part of the state needs a livestock/administrative law attorney at this point, to consult if not to retain, purely due to the state vet's obvious posturing.

 

[Sidechicks77]

Where do you keep your worm farm? I would like to try but I'm not willing to have it in the house where it is cooler. We will be a couple degrees(in general) higher than the Phoenix Valley, so it is quite hot in the summer months. Inquiring minds......

Okay so yeah i do keep them inside but in a room that is not hooked into the central ac so its usually like 85+ degrees in there. They do produce a smell but honestly i dont think its really that bad. You have to get close to the setup to really smell it, it doesnt stink up the whole area by any means.

Here is my farm

there are three layers the top one required modification. It has a screen bottom so the beetles eggs can drop into the next bin, the beetles will eat the mealworms... Female beetles can lay up to 500 eggs.

My first beetle came today.

he hatched out of these pupa

i find in the bottom bin with the worms

I use oatmeal for the bedding buy the cheap stuff its smaller easier to strain out the worms from the bedding when i change it only changed it once so far. I use carrots to give them nutrients and water. Carrots don't mold only dry up.

I ordered the worms online about 30 bucks for 2000 of them i think there were alot more than that. make sure not to get the superbugs because they are sterile and wont morph. You can also get them at Pratts pets 700 to 1000 for for like 14 bucks i did buy 1000 there but it didn't seem like i got near as good a deal.

Tags: mealworms, mealworm farm, meal worm, meal worm farm, how to make a mealworm farm

 

[starri33]

Good Morning everyone, does anyone know if the State Vet will actually release information on whether or not they've even checked a location for Newcastle? We've got a scare going on that is 2.7 miles from my home, so far I have the party that has the chickens telling me they've been cleared, there are others posting that no information is out there and they've talked with the state.. personally I am not sure to believe they've even been there and if they have has time passed for them to have the results back, I've read where they can do lab type testing and that they can flat out kill the chicken and look at it's liver and stuff..

 

[igorsMistress]

Good Morning everyone, does anyone know if the State Vet will actually release information on whether or not they've even checked a location for Newcastle? We've got a scare going on that is 2.7 miles from my home, so far I have the party that has the chickens telling me they've been cleared, there are others posting that no information is out there and they've talked with the state.. personally I am not sure to believe they've even been there and if they have has time passed for them to have the results back, I've read where they can do lab type testing and that they can flat out kill the chicken and look at it's liver and stuff..

starri have you called them? I would call and tell them you're concerned and why you want to know if anyone has been out there. It's not unreasonable to request info if they were actually out there.