Arizona Chickens

[LarryPQ]

Yikes! This was my big concern too. My three (almost four) year old son would be a tougher target at almost 50 pounds/44 inches, but the baby (1 year) is still easy pickins. And the silly neighbor didn't let ANYONE know there was a coyote in the neighborhood.

Could it please rain so the coyotes have some other wildlife to pick on?

 

[LarryPQ]

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/grd/1469490445.html

Zoinks that is cheap. I hope these birds are healthy.

 

[brittneyshaleen]

Hey - I'm getting 3 chickens tomorrow - my first ones to have on my own since I was a kid. They are 6-8 weeks old and I would like some advice on where to get organic food in the East Valley? I live on the Gilbert/Queen Creek border. Do San Tan Feed or Higley Feed carry organic?

thanks!

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Congrats on the new chickens! I don't buy organic and I shop at Mesa Feed Barn and Pet something or other on Country Club and 2nd. You might be able to call the stores and ask them.

 

[LarryPQ]

Welcome Brittany!

You'll have to call around for organic. It can be much more expensive, and since the organic label is a little fishy (when it comes to cracked corn/feed) make sure you google the product you buy first.

You may be better off getting a trusted brand and supplementing with lots and lots of organic treats from your garden. I dunno....I have had some experience with the whole getting the "official organic" label and am always a little skeptical.


EDITED: my smiley skills are off today.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

You can see the Purina Layena bag at this link: http://www.purinamills.com/OurProducts.aspx?product=poultry it is the blue bag (2nd one down). My chickens like the crumbles, but many folks like the pellets better as tehy get scattered less and some of the small wild birds can't eat them (or something like that).

I think Walmart even carries it, but i prefer to support the small business. I shop at:

Mesa Feed Barn
240 E Broadway Rd, Mesa, AZ‎ - (480) 969-9704‎

Pet Club‎
55 S Country Club Dr, Mesa, AZ‎ - (480) 834-7387

Pet Club sounds like dogs and cats only, but they have chicken food and also had the calf manna when I was looking for something higher in protein.

If you don't want a whole bag, you can buy it buy the pound at Mesa Feed barn. I got my oyster shell and grit from Mesa Feed and was glad to be able to get it by the pound. I am still using my original lunch sacks full. I got pine shavings for the nest boxes at Mesa Feed, but would guess Pet Club has it too.

The next question will likely be where to get DE (Diatomaceus Earth). I haven't bought any of that yet, but am guessing one of these stores will have it.

Mesa Feed Barn has a definite "farmer" feel about it. Petco is more cheerful and reads Cats and Dogs, but they do have farm stuff.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

You might want to choose Purina Flock Raiser or Chick Starter crumbles until they start laying as the Layena is for laying hens and it contains too much calcium for younger chicks. The younger pullets can't process the extra added calcium and it messes up their kidneys. I always suggest Purina Brand Feeds because that is some of the best available in the part of this country.

Edited for Spelling

 

[brittneyshaleen]

Yeah I need to get the Flock Raiser for now because they are only 8 weeks old. Good tip on the pellets vs. crumbles. I will have to look at the difference when I get there. Sounds like Mesa Feed pretty much has it all!! It's not exactly convenient, but I should not have to go very often with only 3 birds.

Thank you so much for all the advice!! I've been outside working on my coop. Almost done!

 

[LarryPQ]

Cheerful- Ya, I saw a really great pic on here that I wanted to use, but I cant find the owner of the pic to ask permission. So, I did a little chop & slash until I get a chance to sort through the baby's 1st birthday pics. Then I will be back to my normal "Most adorable boy in motion" action shot. Perhaps a cake picture. I dunno.

Britany- my closest store doesn't have medicated feed, so I stop at the Feed Barn when visiting my dad. I think it is Purina that is medicated. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.


Our babysitter bailed, so I have to take our little one-man PETA convention over to grandpa's house while hte DH processes the roosters tonight. I was sure he'd would wuss out, but I guesss dealing with two kids by himself is scarier.

The DH has a hard time telling the roos apart from the others, but there are too many to stick in the dog cage my boss gave us. Putting them all in the garage would be funny, until the DH forgot and opened the garage doors. The shed is full, so no there....

The DH's solution was to "mark" the roos with blue spray paint. Well, I couldn't find the blue, only the electric, Home Depot orange...so that is what I did this morning. DH took the boys on a service call, so I don't have to answer any, "Why are you torturing the chickens?" questions. Allthough my three-year-old did ask why I was all orange when he got back.

The roos either saw the hissing sound of the can as a challenge or similar to the sound of air rushing over hawk wings.

Either way, it went poorly for me. One last score for the boys.

 

[LarryPQ]

I made two of these for $12. Better than hangers. They take up no space in the coop and don't have much waste.

I did cut a cap in half and stick it on the end of the feed spout. It reduces waste, and keeps them from tossing the feed everywhere.

EDITED: I filled the bottom with gravel and DE to prevent rotting food and bugs from living down there. Everything comes apart for easy cleaning. The feeders are zip-tied to the cage wall. I have a cinderblock at the base of the "chick feed" feeder so the chicks dont't have to work so hard to reach.

Click for bigger image.