Arizona Chickens

[LarryPQ]

Sock--I have fertile eggs too. Just PM me if you want some.

Brittany-Your girls are gorgeous! What fun!

EDITED: Mahroni-- have you been reading Ayn Rand again? Maybe Terry Goodkind? Your signature suggests a penchant for some heavy reading

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Flock protection for those who have enough acreage - I don't.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/grd/1479824172.html

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Some of you have met me and for those that have you already know that I really need to drop quite a few pounds. I started walking here in my neighborhood. I made a pact with my seven year old son that everyday we would walk no matter what and we made a pinky promise on it. Which anyone out there with kids would know that is like the ultimate of promises. He never lets me miss a day or make excuses. I have learned that children are the ultimate workout partners. Well we started out just making the block once a day. He cheats and rides his little scooter thing but whatever. I have been doing this for a while and it gives me great satisfaction that I can even accomplish making the block. Well for the past few school days I have been making an extra walk without him. Today I walked all the way to the store and back and I took the longest route possible back to the house

I told my husband the route I took and asked him about how far it was that I walked because it really was a hard walk. He says I walked almost 2 miles!!!!

Now if I can only figure out how to put a leash on my turkeys and take them with me I will be all set.

I have promised myself that I will do this route every other day and continue my daily block walks with my son. So you might wonder why I am telling you guys this....Well if I don't tell someone then I have no one to be accountable to. I might just see some of you in the future and I don't want to look like an idiot so I gotta keep it up!!!! I gave up soda almost 6 months ago. Occasionally I have a Pepsi Max which is no calories, sugar, or carbs. I don't know what that stuff is if it don't have any of the good stuff in it. I suppose it is just a can of chemicals which kinda grosses me out. I have never been a person to fry a lot of things at home and for the most part I make healthy choices in food. So if you guys wouldn't mind keeping me in mind when you say your prayers I would really appreciate it. At over 300 pounds I really have to try and save my own life before something horrible happens.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Nessa: Good Job! I wish I could commit to following your wonderful example, but alas, not yet. Maybe one day I will find the commitment. That pinky promise sounds like a great place to start. Hmmm....a 7 year old would come in handy...)

Sock Puppet: I looked at your website. I like the frizlle black hen. Is she a good layer? Small or large eggs? The broody banty is pretty as well.

Brittney: Congrat's on getting your BYC page up!

Everyone: Are there any banties that do well here in the desert and are reasonably good layers? I have a small chicken tractor 4 feet by 8 feet by 2 feet tall, that I can pass on to my mother for her to keep some chickens, but I think it is kind of a small area so I was thinking she might do better with banties. I look forward to comments.

Fertile Egg Folks: So, if Iwanted some eggs for next summer when my chickens go broody.. we could look at options? I will keep this in mind. Not that I am set up for more than 6 at the moment....

Holly

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Moving up from 1 block to 2 miles - awesome! I'm sure the pounds will start melting away since you're walking and elimated the soda. The committment is so hard and it looks like you're doing great! I'm rooting foryou and am glad you've got your son to help keep you going.

My 16 year old & I were walking together several times a week, but had to stop about 4-5 weeks ago because my pinkie toe swelled up and it now hurts to wear tennis shoes. The podiatrist x-rayed it, but found no broken bones. He's guessing' it's a ligament or tendon? I wish it would hurry up and heal, I need to start walking again and these flip-flops do not keep my feet warm.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Thanks everyone. David never let's me down and while we are walking he says things totally random like " Mom the more we walk the less clothes you will have to wear!"

I know he means smaller clothes but OMG when he came off with that one I just about died laughing. It was just so innocent and random. It was him trying to encourage me in his own little way but man it was great.

As for the bantam question~~ I have not found very many breeds that don't do well here in Arizona if given proper feed, and plenty of fresh water and love. That being said I can't raise a Salmon Favorelle (sp?) bantam or large fowl to save my soul. I ordered 100 of them quite a few years back from the same hatchery I have always used with no issues and I lost every single one within 6 weeks!!!! They just didn't thrive for me. Not sick just very delicate as chicks in my opinion. I want one so badly but I can't raise that breed. Be careful with frizzles too because if you get a double frizzle (sometimes called frazzles) they can be nearly bald for life. These have gotten a double dose of the frizzle gene and it's a very sad little chicken to see. You might want to know that if you order frizzles from a hatchery you don't get a 100% chance of them all being frizzled. Some can carry the frizzle gene and be smooth feathered or at least that is my understanding. So if you were to order them from a hatchery you have a chance of getting smooth, frizzle, and double frizzled birds. Just something to think about.

Oh I wanted to add that out of the several breeds of bantam chickens I have raised in the past my all time favorite was japanese in particular the black tailed buff japanese. One of the sweetest little birds I ever owned.

 

[Sock Puppet]

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The only one Im looking to find a home for is Gizmo and she is a smooth bantam cochin out of a frizzle x smooth. She hasnt started laying yet, but it really should be any day. Slackers!

They lay small eggs. You would need 2 of her eggs to make 1 large egg. But they are the sweetest birds. If you are interested you can PM me

The other frizzle I found a home for was a Rooster.

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Bantams do really well. I havent had a problem with mine as long as they have shade and plenty of water.


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Once mine (the bantams) start laying I should have some fertile eggs

If they are not laying by next summer, Im going to...

them

 

[Sock Puppet]

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Congrats on starting to exercise, it will really make a big difference in your energy level too. I started and its not my favorite thing

 

[ArizonaNessa]

I don't like it at all right now and I make excuses everyday but David just won't let me give up. He is such an encouragement. He will flat out tell me that I am just being lazy and he will go out the front door knowing that I will get up because he is not allowed out front without me. LOL He's a stinker but I love him and I want to be around for him for many many years to come. I want to be able to do things with him that only his daddy can do with him right now like hike up hills and walk the trails. It makes me sad to have to sit in the car and wait but at this point I know that if I try to go up there I might need help to get back. It is embarrassing and I am very ashamed that I have created this problem. That being said...I created it and I am determined to tear it apart. I want to ride on the motorcycle with Mark and I want to fit in the clothes that I have been lying to my mother about. She sent me pretty clothes and I told her that they fit perfectly but in actuality they are still in the closet because they didn't even come close to fitting. It is going to take a while for me to accomplish my goal but I will make it. I don't want to be 120 pound stick just a healthy plump person that can walk in any given store and buy a shirt or pants like regular people instead of having to save up tons of money just to buy a blouse at a specialty store. We are giving up traditional thanksgiving this year to go and spend it at the lake...outside moving about and having fun as a family. Good luck to any of you guys that are working on the same thing as myself. Don't give up!!!!!!

 

[Enjaytoo]

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I havent figured out which day is "better'....sat or sun...hmmmm

Nessa, Great Job and keep up the good work)