Arizona Chickens

[brittneyshaleen]

oh wow that's a great idea!! I never would have thought of that on my own

How many chickens do you have? What do you use for a waterer?

I really appreciate the homemade ideas as I'm doingmy best not to spend any money on this. Not becuase I'm cheap, but because so far, I've used all recycled and scrap materials. Even down to the metal hardware on my coop. I'm trying really hard to make this a "green" project since I'm REALLY about striving for sustainability. I have solar panels on my roof, a garden, compost, and I take all my recyclables to my mom's becuase Queen Creek does not recycle

Thanks again for all the ideas!!

 

[LarryPQ]

Check out my page, everything there was recycled unless noted. I too, am trying to recycle rather than make more waste. But I think I may be more cheap than green

ChrystalGail has wicked waterers.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2636-chicken-nipples-anyone

I just have a small rubber horse watering pan ($7). It needs to be emptied sprayed out everyday, but it prevents me from being lazy and saying "oh, I'll change the water tomorrow". Plus when it is hot, the chooks like to wade in it. Sometimes I'll catch them sitting on the edge, drinking margatitas by the pool.

EDITED: As of last night we are down 9 roos. 16? Of that 16, 6 are banties, and there are 3 more suspected roos. Last night I also picked up 2 hens, a few chickies, and a loaner roo for alohachickens' breeding project. I think that puts us at 19. We won't count the chickies just yet. I had better update the signature line.

 

[ksukristin]

Quote:
I love love LOVE this!!! thanks for posting up these pics! I have my chicken food in a $2.00 plastice wal-mart oil change pan...which is working, but they get poo in it and kick the food out everywhere...this looks much better!

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Laree- cute photo. I can see why you like it.

Brittney/Nessa - Missed the age of the new chickens. Glad you caught that on the feed issue. When mine were chick's. I used medicated Start & Grow from Mesa Feed Barn. I feed them that until they were ready to lay and then switched to layena. My chickens did well and it was about this time last year that we got them. Flock Raiser may be better at you chickens age, but that is outside my experience/research. I am not sure if Mesa Feed Barn has flock raiser. You might call on that one. Pet Club may have it if Mesa Feed Barn does not. Since your driving all the way in to check out Mesa Feed barn, you might want to also just check out Pet Club on Country Club. It is a very different feel and you may like them better. It all depends on your style. I didn't look specifically for Purina for baby chickens, so I don't know if the stores I shop have it.

Laree/Brittney/Chrystal - love the homemade stuff, especially when user friendly!

 

[LarryPQ]

Cheerful- Here is the whole pic. It just sings to me...I can somehow identify with the slightly confused, but determined attempt at being a bad-ace.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Just a word to everyone here....DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK YOUR FEED STORE TO ORDER THINGS FOR YOU!!!!!!! If your feed store of choice refuses to order in something for you without a really good reason such as dealer issues or whatever then you should probably move your business elsewhere. Do know that not all feed stores can get Purina products because the purina dealers have to be so many miles apart from each other. I have no idea why this is but it is

This is the reason that a feed store very near to me can't carry Purina products because they are too close to another business that already sells purina products. If there isn't an issue such as this your feed store should not have a problem ordering in products for you. Remember they will only carry products when there is some sort of demand for it. If no one requests it then they won't stock it.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Quote:

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Quote:
Thank you Nessa. I was wondering why Brittneys store wouldn't have Purina.
Brittney, maybe you can find out from Purina who sells chicken feed near you so you don't have to come all they way in to more central Mesa.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Quote:
How many chickens per feeder? How often do you clean out the bottom?

 

[LarryPQ]

How many chickens per feeder? How often do you clean out the bottom?

Well, I put these up 2 Wednesdays ago. The chick feed one is almost empty, but I think all the chickens like that feed best

Each tube is approx 5' tall. I think I got .25-.50 bags of feed in each tube. So around 20 pounds?

I decided not to use a "bulk loader" or storage at the top of the tube, because I figured the feed would get bugs too quickly and lose nutritional value. Plus I bet I would get lazy checking the feed level, and most certainly don't want to make anyone go hungry.

With 27 chickens (6 being banties and 6 10-week-old CM chicks) I never saw any squabbling. 2 chickens per tube at a time. Shorter chickens wait for droppings underdneath: much like the dogs waiting under the baby's high chair.

That all being said, I do still have a "Home Depot bucket in a plastic tray" feeder inside the coop. However, since the introduction of the PVC pipe feeders, the food consuption from that feeder has drastically reduced. I have not had to refill the bucket for 2+ weeks.

EDITED: I will clean them out (quick hose-down) when I refill them. It is probably a waste of DE, but I'll feel better. I thought about filling the bottoms with concrete, which may happen the next time we pour countertops.​