Arizona Chickens

[RedMama2]

I have the "extra large walk in poultry pen" that's 13.5 x 10 ft, with 6.5 ft tall at the peak and 4 ft tall on the sides. I ignored the chicken wire and zip ties it came with, so I have about $900 into it counting its price, trampoline stakes, hardware cloth, shade cloth and heavy duty tarp. BTW the tarp is holding well and not holding snow, keeping out the rain, so it was a good investment. And I built a roost inside of it to further keep out any wind and make the birds feel secure. In their minds, hardware cloth isn't secure, they need to feel enclosed as if sleeping in a tree it seems...

We're going to get the large run also. I have to pull a rosebush to place it, but I hated the bush anyways. Hasn't made flowers in years.

 

[springvalley123]

Everything I've seen says the males have light colored patches on their heads. I have 4 this way.

Ugh. That's too bad. But, you never know, maybe someone put four barred rock pullets in the box with six sapphire gems? One can hope right?

 

[springvalley123]

We're going to get the large run also. I have to pull a rosebush to place it, but I hated the bush anyways. Hasn't made flowers in years.

I forgot, I laid some 14 gage rabbit wire on the ground around it for a predator apron.

 

[cavemanrich]

Weed killer--- can it harm my chickens?

We've got weeds (of course) from all this rain. We used to use weed killer (way too much to pull by hand) but now that we have the chickens wandering around for an hour each evening, I'm concerned that using any would be bad for them.

Thoughts?

Let me offer my thought.
I have chickens and children that I have very much concerns with. I have plenty of lawn, and weeds as well. I do fertilize my lawn,, but refuse to use Weed N Feed type. I use fertilized without herbicide. I also will stay away from Roundup as far as possible.
Other peeps can choose to do as they desire or are comfortable doing/living with. Then after long term use,, you can see the lawsuits that result from such products.
My recommendation,;; is a Weed Wacker. Gas or Electric or Battery operated. Your choice.
I have a gas model myself. Picture is not me, but machine is same as I have.
BTW,, I did try the propane torch method. Not worth a dander.

 

[igorsMistress]

That's what I was hoping but I believe it's more than they can take care of.

When I got my first flock I had a ton of weeds. Like, a huge patch that was tall enough my chickens could hide in it if they wanted to. It disappeared within the first year. I suppose it depends on the type of weeds and such, and it did take them some time, but my yard has been weed free since then.

 

[igorsMistress]

Good morning AZ. It’s a wee chilly this morning, but not as cold as yesterday. We processed four roosters and I’m absolutely done with broodies. If those girls even think about it the broody breaker is ready! I ended up with a fully feathered black pullet and a white and black pullet with some reddish orange tint in areas. Provided the lavender Ameraucana chicks are all pullets, Elvis will have ten hens to choose from. One of the SS hens is a real B, mean to everyone, so she may go but I haven’t decided for sure yet.

 

[BlueBaby]

Since I drink a lot of coffee over here, I had been wondering about using the spent ground's after brewing to the coop poop board's. Of course I would dry those ground's out as I normally do. I have just been throwing them out on the ground in the yard and they go to waste. I might as well start putting them to use, huh?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...our-experience-with-it.1560834/#post-26476891

 

[springvalley123]

Since I drink a lot of coffee over here, I had been wondering about using the spent ground's after brewing to the coop poop board's. Of course I would dry those ground's out as I normally do. I have just been throwing them out on the ground in the yard and they go to waste. I might as well start putting them to use, huh?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...our-experience-with-it.1560834/#post-26476891

And in the desert, you should have plenty of space to let the grounds dry out before putting them on the poop boards.

 

[BlueBaby]

And in the desert, you should have plenty of space to let the grounds dry out before putting them on the poop boards.

Actually, I've been drying them out in the house first, and then putting them into a container after they are dry. Then when the container is full I take it outside to empty it into the yard right now. I could start emptying them on the poop board's, I guess.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

yes, that's it. Oh, the tarp that comes with it, never held a drop of water and didn't last very many breezes.

We have something similar, still in the box. We plan to extend the sides out a bit and cover it with a marine tarp, that should last 6 mos. to a year in the desert. We'll have to replace all the chicken wire with hardware cloth and use the chicken wire just for a predator apron.