Arizona Chickens

[CheerfulHeart2]

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They make ok sun ovens too. Line with black paper or aluminum foil. Put a cookie cooling rack in the bottom and cover the top with glass or plexiglass. An oven thermometer will tell you the temp and though black pans are reported to work best, I usually cook in glass quart jars. My favorite recipe is dried beans (any kind) water and ham soup base. I could live a long time on those if I had too. The hardest part on the homemade version is keeping it pointed to the sun. If you have a miriror that is unused you can use that to help reflect the sun into it....or one of those shiny car sunshades or put aluminum foil on the lid and prop it up, etc. In the summer, when I dont have to compensate for the sun in the southern horizon, my homemade one got up to almost as hot as the fancy one I bought...about 350 degrees. Key point: use cheap glass that doesn't screen out uv rays.

 

[cap1717]

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Being a newbie i was curious what your thoughts were about this. I am watching the comments on the other board but thought I would see what you guys here said. I have no clue what is the best way to do things since i am still learning. I had planned on getting a ton of different breeds of bird, but was unsure if I should not do that.

Not trying to stir up trouble or anything just trying to learn

Thanks everyone.

Shaun

What "works" most of the time, when introducing new birds to an established flock, is to find a way to keep them seperate but close enough to each other (cage within a cage, for instance) that they can become aquainted before they are allowed to be in the kind of contact where they could actually hurt each other. The pecking order WILL be established, however, the more dominant hens will assert their place. So long as no one is being injured, that tends to work itself out in due time. Putting youngsters in with mature birds is more tricky. . . I have done it, but only with birds that were 2 - 3 months apart in age, not a real significant difference. I would suggest keeping them seperate untill all are "mature".

 

[LarryPQ]

Shaun- I think the person is MOST likely referring to mixing meat birds and egg layers. YES, that is generally a bad idea. Mixed flocks in general-- no big whoop. I would be most BYCers (afficianados, plebians, obsessive compulsive chicken lovers that they are) have move than one breed.

ETA: meat birds really only live 12 weeks before they start having heart attacks. They also are a little meaner and prone to cannibalism. Colored chicks sold for Easter are often meat birds, since they are white at hatch and easier to dye.

 

[LarryPQ]

Shaun- BTW-- I don't agree with much of the things said by said poster. Which is why I frequent here.

Let me summerize with an analogy--but I the DH gave me some Malbec with my bday lunch, so if it wanders, I apologize.

Some folks think pit bulls are mean, some people think owners train their pits to be mean. There will always be the arguement of nature versus nurture.

If you want a mixed flock, and you choose breeds which are more agressive, then as an owner you have a responsibility to handle the birds & "train" them to be friendly. Not all attempts will be successful, but I suspect (due to the overwhelming number of successses here on BYC) MOST mixed flocks will be happy and healthy. IF there is an issue, and the owner has made every attempt to ensure positive integration, then the problem lies with the individual, NOT with the breeds themselves. Such problems are easily rectified: soup pot.

Folks who are developing new "breeds" (like myself) will often weigh temperment with desired breeding result. What use is a pretty rooster if he bloodies the hens every time he mates? (SOOOOUUUP POOOOOT)

SO- if you want a bunch of cochins and silkies- DO NOT BUY an aseel or a fighting game bird because it is pretty. If you do, then the problem is YOU, not the bird.

 

[smjacob]

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OK that makes sense

Thank you for trying to explain that. I was concerned that maybe I was being a dumb newbie thinking of getting different breeds as a first timer. However I am doing my best to get all docile birds mostly because i have a 2 year old and I don't want any problems there.

Thanks everyone just trying to figure all of this out

Shaun

 

[tofuranch]

Shaun...go with some of the standard kinds...mix your flock and have fun..

A little story for you...as a new chicken owner when my son was born, I got one of everything...they were some of the best group of chickens that I have ever had. I stayed with the standard kinds and had no problems at all with that flock.

Over time and adding more chickens in, I found that if I had at least 2 of every kind...they would lay better and the whole flock seemed happier..it was like everyone had a friend that was just like themselves.

The thing with chickens is that they are only has hard to raise as you make them to be.......chickens are very easy to own

 

[Mahonri]

Sold my blue eggs + extras + extras (18 W/BW & 2 GCMarans) to beveryl today. Only I was down in the mouth and didn't get to see her. My receptionist delivered them to her.

HEY...and I got my work server to go online!!

 

[ArizonaNessa]

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OK that makes sense

Thank you for trying to explain that. I was concerned that maybe I was being a dumb newbie thinking of getting different breeds as a first timer. However I am doing my best to get all docile birds mostly because i have a 2 year old and I don't want any problems there.

Thanks everyone just trying to figure all of this out

Shaun

Shaun~
I am late getting in on this but after reading what you quoted in your original question I had to say something. Everyone else here has pretty much said the same thing about mixed flocks that I would say. When you visited I made a comment to you and I just wanted to repeat it here in open forum for the world to read. Chickens are what you make them. If you love it and hug it and squeeze it and called it George then it will act as such and if you throw it in a pen and pitch some food at it now and again and never interact with it then you will end up with just any old crazy chicken no matter what the breed and when you go in to mess with it and it claws you up well then you get what you created. In my opinion anything that lays a white egg is more flighty than a brown or colored egg layer just because they are built differently but I own a polish that is quite nice and have raised leghorns that were pleasant birds. As for fighting game, it is my personal choice not to help that particular thing continue therefore I refuse to own or raise them. What Laree said is exactly how I feel as well on that matter. The problem does not lie in the birds. It lies in the people. Having raised tons of breeds of chickens from hatch til lay I have never had a "mean" chicken. Except for my broody bantam and that's another story

Yes some roosters can be very protective of their hens and will run after you and try to flog you but he is just doing what he is supposed to do. Protect his ladies.

Okay I will get off my soapbox now. Shaun if you want 100 and every single one is a different breed go for it. Just don't put chicks in with grown birds cause then they will pick on them.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

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Okay first congrats on selling your eggs. Now on to the funny part. I know that you are a dentist and have known this for a long time. I have seen you say "I was down in the mouth" before in other posts and I honestly thought you meant you were grumpy! I feel so silly cause you meant it literally.

My grandmother used to ask me when I was being a grumpy kid "Honey, why you so down in the mouth?" Today when you typed it again I thought "Goodness he is grumpy alot!"

Okay you guys can laugh at me now. I deserve it.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

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Congrat's on getting the server up and finding a home for the eggs!