Arizona Chickens

[LarryPQ]

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE!

Today, is picture day!

Yesterday, we welcomed a (surprise) new family member. A very nice little old lady across the street brought over her daughter's desert tortoise. I guess the family got a new dog and it was worring the poor thing to distraction. She appears to be 95%+ captive-bred, and I am guessing 20-25 years old. Thoughts?

A picture of those darn neighbor turkeys:

A picture of my darn turkeys. Can you guess who the "flock mom" is?

A picture of an Aloha pullet...Random feathering which is making me hopeful! Her "mom" is the OEGB in the back.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
She looks older than 10, that's all I can guess. We have 5 desert tortoises ages 3 - 12 years.
You can find info on how to care for the tortoise on the Desert Museum's website. It'll need a burrow and access to grass and other native plants if possible. They are pretty easy pets. You'll love her!

 

[LarryPQ]

Quote:
She looks older than 10, that's all I can guess. We have 5 desert tortoises ages 3 - 12 years.
You can find info on how to care for the tortoise on the Desert Museum's website. It'll need a burrow and access to grass and other native plants if possible. They are pretty easy pets. You'll love her!

I would say she is WAY older than 10.

She is not my first desert tortoise, not even close. She'll be joining the family, or perhaps be given to my dad for his little...flock(?)

But now I know who to call when someone has a clutch that needs a home.... MUAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!

Here is a better perspective shot: You can see she is bigger than a salad plate, but weighed less than a gallon of milk. I'll weigh her tonight.

I am going to have a heck of a time breaking her of the "lettuce" habit. The romaine came with her in the box--- I tried a few other foods to see what they had been feeding her: and it looks like lettuce. DARN.

 

[rufus]

I love the desert tortoises. They are the only native animal that adopts people. They used to come out of the desert and hang around the yard.

They love apple slices and lettuce. Somehow, they know mankind is no threat to them. The truth is they are probably more attracted to our foliage than to us. Plant nastursiums and zinnias for them.

And always round them up and put them in a safe place before you mow the lawn.

We used to throw them apple cores, but now we know better. We don't want to give them any human diseases, so don't share food with them.

Good luck,

Rufus

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
She looks older than 10, that's all I can guess. We have 5 desert tortoises ages 3 - 12 years.
You can find info on how to care for the tortoise on the Desert Museum's website. It'll need a burrow and access to grass and other native plants if possible. They are pretty easy pets. You'll love her!

I would say she is WAY older than 10.

She is not my first desert tortoise, not even close. She'll be joining the family, or perhaps be given to my dad for his little...flock(?)

But now I know who to call when someone has a clutch that needs a home.... MUAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!

No, no, no.
We have more than enough, thank you.

 

[LarryPQ]

Quote:
You say that NOW... My father's rescue female lays ~5 a year. Last year, 7. YIKES.

My current tortoise pit is too small for her (before, all I had was my dad's youngsters) so I am going to have to enlarge it a bit. It is good though. It will help me get some landscaping in.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
Oh yes, she's huge!
Maybe you can transition her by using darker greens and grape leaves or mulberry leaves. She'll eat when she gets hungry enough.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
She looks older than 10, that's all I can guess. We have 5 desert tortoises ages 3 - 12 years.
You can find info on how to care for the tortoise on the Desert Museum's website. It'll need a burrow and access to grass and other native plants if possible. They are pretty easy pets. You'll love her!

How large is she? My neighbors have fairly large ones that are only 4 or 5 years old--look to me to be the same size, but there really isn't anything close to yours in the photo to give a real size indicator. I am not good at estimating, but would guess that Wilma is probably14-16" long; certainly at least a foot long, but I think more.

 

[LarryPQ]

Sonoran-- she's about this big [laree gestures with hands]

Are you sure your neighbors' torts are Desert Tortoises? Or only 5 years old? My 4-5 year-old male tortoise is about the size of a deck of cards. Only taller with legs. AND I keep him up in the winter to feed him.

ETA- This new one is 8" or 9"...maybe a bit bigger. I just measured my paper plate to guess the size.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Maybe we're talking different kinds of tortoises? Wilma and Fred are sulcatas. When I picked her up last week she weighed a ton (not literal

) more than a milk carton--more like a fairly heavy bowling ball. The vet told my neighbor that romaine is good (actually best) for them, but to avoid iceberg at all costs. Some of hte other dark green vegies bind calcium, which they need.