Arizona Chickens

[City farm]

Well I went to Cal-Ranch up here in Prescott because I know they carry Hoover's birds. They actually are/were winding down for the season. They had a zillion midnight majesty maran, a few barred rock, and a few ISA brown/golden sex link. I bought a dozen of the midnight majesty. They said pullets, but you can see two with yellow dots on heads and some barring/white on wings. As adults the males are barred, and the females black with some red peaking through (like black sex links). The store employee really likes/knows the birds, he said these girls are two weeks old. I asked for cleaner legs (my preference, as there is *some* maran in these birds) and darker heads when the employee was picking them for me.

This is a new brooder setup for me, in our new place. It's in the laundry room, which is temperature controlled along with the rest of the house, but not as well... There is a mama heating pad off camera. The giant-looking mesh is critter fence with about 1 inch openings. the openings are smaller than the baby's heads. I bought a dozen (half price), and am gifting 3 to the lady who cared for my andalusians during my move.View attachment 2398273

Well I went to Cal-Ranch up here in Prescott because I know they carry Hoover's birds. They actually are/were winding down for the season. They had a zillion midnight majesty maran, a few barred rock, and a few ISA brown/golden sex link. I bought a dozen of the midnight majesty. They said pullets, but you can see two with yellow dots on heads and some barring/white on wings. As adults the males are barred, and the females black with some red peaking through (like black sex links). The store employee really likes/knows the birds, he said these girls are two weeks old. I asked for cleaner legs (my preference, as there is *some* maran in these birds) and darker heads when the employee was picking them for me.

This is a new brooder setup for me, in our new place. It's in the laundry room, which is temperature controlled along with the rest of the house, but not as well... There is a mama heating pad off camera. The giant-looking mesh is critter fence with about 1 inch openings. the openings are smaller than the baby's heads. I bought a dozen (half price), and am gifting 3 to the lady who cared for my andalusians during my move.View attachment 2398273

It will be nice to see how dark they’re eggs are.

 

[City farm]

Mmm. While other people are sharing stories of their hens laying eggs, I look into the nest box, and who is in there keeping an eye on the ceramic chicken eggs? My rooster! *sigh*

The hens now have names, too. The one with the most lacy looking white trim in Lacey. Another one walks up to me on the roost when I clean up inside, and puts her face next to mine and very quietly tells me puck-puck-puck-puck-puck over and over. Not sure what chicken secrets she is sharing, but I think Whisper is a good name for her. The third one is Henrietta because she's a hen. Still no eggs from the girls.

Does hemp chicken bedding give them the munchies?

Great names!

 

[DesertGrrl]

What breed did you order?

The White Egg Layers assortment and Red Stars.
The White Egg layers are more in charge/dominant than the Red Stars.

 

[BlueBaby]

I think that Misty is mad at me. The last 2 day's I didn't go in there and "help" her to lay her egg, so she had to act like a big girl and do it all on her own.

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

I think that Misty is mad at me. The last 2 day's I didn't go in there and "help" her to lay her egg, so she had to act like a big girl and do it all on her own.

Is Misty just a little spoiled?

 

[BlueBaby]

Is Misty just a little spoiled?

Sort of, I guess. I sat on my bucket outside of the pen, and she kept complaining before she layed the egg. She would walk over in the pen near I was at, just complaining away. Then I left and came in the house. When I went back out there, she had her egg layed.

 

[City farm]

My Chicken Project Of Week CPOW!
To build a chicken pen in a new raised bed in the greenhouse for the 4 Polish and a 10 year old hen. This should simplify my chicken chores and make these 5 much happier. It's also expanding my planting area in a couple months by putting these 5 to work now. I'll update post with finished project pics soon.

Sounds fun, looking forward to photos

 

[BlueBaby]

There's a pretty good wind blowing out there today, but it doesn't seem to be bothering them much as they are still being active out in the run.

 

[springvalley123]

There's a pretty good wind blowing out there today, but it doesn't seem to be bothering them much as they are still being active out in the run.

I've kept mine locked up in their pen today. I'm using the wind as an excuse to take a day off from building the outdoor brooder/grow out area in my pen. Plus, I need a couple more 2x4s and a piece of plywood or siding for the roof.

 

[BlueBaby]

I've kept mine locked up in their pen today. I'm using the wind as an excuse to take a day off from building the outdoor brooder/grow out area in my pen. Plus, I need a couple more 2x4s and a piece of plywood or siding for the roof.

I think that there was supposed to be even more wind than here up your way. I even took a short nap today, and I usually don't take any naps. It must be the weather, huh?