Arizona Chickens

[jacivilla]

Sometime last week, I asked a similar question in this thread. People suggested play sand and the construction sand. I'd just be careful that if the sand compacts when wet, large amounts might cause a problem in the birds' crops. I've ordered both play sand and the construction sand for curbside pickup. I'm getting 4, 50 lb bags, just for a dust bath. I suppose you could use curbside pickup and get just small amounts, or bite the bullet and get a bunch from a sand/gravel company. The latter, might be cheaper, depending on the size of the coop. Good luck!

Thank you! I’m going to get the construction sand today that I’ve seen a lot of people talk about and have had good luck with.

 

[BlueBaby]

Interesting, just looked up pics of Alohas and see others with yellow ear lobes as well. Very pretty!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/aloha-chickens.11541/

Yes, the one's that I have look like some of those pictured there. I have both the regular one's, and now the NN one's too!

 

[CaroleW]

I stopped by Olsen's Feed in Chino Valley on Saturday - they had a Farm Trade/Sale in the parking lot & I got to pet baby Nubian goats, Blackbelly sheep (that looked like goats) and Rex bunnies. There were lots of chicks, juveniles & even roosters for sale.

Then I went into Olsen's where they had some Lavendar somethings (Orps?) and another bin but they were all marked 'NOT FOR SALE'. Maybe someone already bought them all?

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

I stopped by Olsen's Feed in Chino Valley on Saturday - they had a Farm Trade/Sale in the parking lot & I got to pet baby Nubian goats, Blackbelly sheep (that looked like goats) and Rex bunnies. There were lots of chicks, juveniles & even roosters for sale.

Then I went into Olsen's where they had some Lavendar somethings (Orps?) and another bin but they were all marked 'NOT FOR SALE'. Maybe someone already bought them all?

Nobody followed you home? I applaud your self-control.

Just got a text from the guy who looked at setting up the chicken coop. He wants about the same amount as I'd spend getting one of those prefab coops, and this will be much larger and sturdier. It'll be a go.

The thing is, he can do surprising things with wood, but I have yet to see him be anywhere or finish anything when he says he will. He always gets it done, though. I'm just not going to tell him that the eggs in the incubator are probably dead. He thinks I need it done for them. The chicken palace is coming!!!

Now I need a sign saying Chicken Palace. The other coop has Happy Hen House on it.

 

[CaroleW]

Nobody followed you home? I applaud your self-control.

Just got a text from the guy who looked at setting up the chicken coop. He wants about the same amount as I'd spend getting one of those prefab coops, and this will be much larger and sturdier. It'll be a go.

The thing is, he can do surprising things with wood, but I have yet to see him be anywhere or finish anything when he says he will. He always gets it done, though. I'm just not going to tell him that the eggs in the incubator are probably dead. He thinks I need it done for them. The chicken palace is coming!!!

Now I need a sign saying Chicken Palace. The other coop has Happy Hen House on it.

NOBODY! Thank you, I told my DH that I got to pet the animals and he said the same thing you did! I'm doing research - you can't just go get a goats/sheep until you know what you are really looking for.

You are so lucky to have some resources to re-use in making the new Chicken Palace. We used to just get whatever we needed and a little more at the lumber yard - now you calculate each piece & look at the construction dumpsters & ask for scraps you might use. I use the good stuff only where it really counts.

Can't wait to see what he makes of it for you - eventually.

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

Here is a picture of the wood on one of the walls. The walls are 3 1/2 inches thick. This should be far nicer than a prefab coop. And I already have some long poles to use for perches.

I'll probably predator proof it, then move the current flock into it. The smaller coop that they're in now would be good for quarantine or young birds.

Edited to add that the walls do have chicken wire covered windows for ventilation. I plan to change the chicken wire out for hardware cloth. The wire isn't even rusted. That's desert for you.

 

[Parront]

NOBODY! Thank you, I told my DH that I got to pet the animals and he said the same thing you did! I'm doing research - you can't just go get a goats/sheep until you know what you are really looking for.

You are so lucky to have some resources to re-use in making the new Chicken Palace. We used to just get whatever we needed and a little more at the lumber yard - now you calculate each piece & look at the construction dumpsters & ask for scraps you might use. I use the good stuff only where it really counts.

Can't wait to see what he makes of it for you - eventually.

I have seen some Navajo Churro sheep on CL, they are really cool. But you would get lots of wool, as a knitter I think that is a plus. A breed that others -- close by -- keep would be a factor for me as a new to sheep/goat person. I think that there is a steep learning curve!

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

I have seen some Navajo Churro sheep on CL, they are really cool. But you would get lots of wool, as a knitter I think that is a plus. A breed that others -- close by -- keep would be a factor for me as a new to sheep/goat person. I think that there is a steep learning curve!

As someone who has done hand spinning, I can tell you that Navajo Churro sheep give coarse, thick wool. It's suitable for making rugs and saddle blankets, but it's nothing you'd want to spin into yarn for knitting. Rambouillet sheep do well in a desert climate, and their wool is soft and fine. There are also other sheep that have medium textured wool. I bought a nice bag of alpaca wool from a neighbor to spin, and need to get going on that.

Sheep work sort of like chickens. There are the fine wool breeds that do not taste good (like the egg layers that aren't as good for meat), the dual purpose breeds that are somewhere in between, and the coarse wool sheep that taste good, sort of like the meat chickens, which don't lay as well. You don't get the best of both worlds in one animal.

 

[BlueBaby]

I have decided to sell 10 of my girl's over here (NN's and Dorking's). They are already laying egg's, but the younger pullet's egg's are still on the smaller size yet. The color of egg's that you could get would be white, tan, and green. I will let them go for $10.00 each. Let me know if someone want's them.

 

[Parront]

As someone who has done hand spinning, I can tell you that Navajo Churro sheep give coarse, thick wool. It's suitable for making rugs and saddle blankets, but it's nothing you'd want to spin into yarn for knitting. Rambouillet sheep do well in a desert climate, and their wool is soft and fine. There are also other sheep that have medium textured wool. I bought a nice bag of alpaca wool from a neighbor to spin, and need to get going on that.

Sheep work sort of like chickens. There are the fine wool breeds that do not taste good (like the egg layers that aren't as good for meat), the dual purpose breeds that are somewhere in between, and the coarse wool sheep that taste good, sort of like the meat chickens, which don't lay as well. You don't get the best of both worlds in one animal.

That is very interesting! I will have to just look at photos of them, because we do not have the place for any. @CaroleW is sheep shopping, I am just egging her on! I do want her to get some that taste good!
I have used some Alpaca wool, it is very nice!