Arizona Chickens

[maggiemooscluckers]

Thanks for the replies regarding the feed stores. I know that once my chicks arrive and I have an opportunity to "get my feet wet" It won't matter if the feed store clerks know the difference between a goat and a pig. I have really been able to get a lot of wonderful information from BYC. Might try Tempe Feed next time I need food. My brooder is almost done and the coop only needs a couple of latches and such. Chicks are coming late next week so wish me luck! You all inspire me more than I can say!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Well, unfortunately Tempe Feed & Tack only carries Arizona Feeds, which is about the worst available in this area. Mesa Feed Barn carries Purina, Higley Feed sometimes carries Kruse and Hi-Pro (that is the brand, it's not Purina), Aden's Hay Oasis carries Kruse, Haug Ranch carries a variety, although they are going out of business, so don't have a lot left, Marley Farms carries Purina. Ray's caries Kelley's, The Feed Barn carries Manna Pro. Can't think of any others off the top of my head who don't carry Az Feeds.

 

[NoSkiveez]

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ROFL!!!

That's what DH used to say to me about the hunks working at Higley Feed!

As for Apache Junction, I can't give any recommendations as I haven't been to any of their stores. The Feed Barn is NW Phoenix is pretty good about giving helpful advice; problem is they know far more about horses than chickens, at which they are also relatively new at raising; but they are very willing to learn, do carry a wide variety of supplies and will order things they do not carry or have in stock on request. Rays Feed in s central Phoenix is also pretty good. The problems is that most feed stores provide chicken feed and products as a very small portion of their business; horses and other livestock seem to be the areas in which they are most knowledgeable. There are a couple of feed dealers in Tucson that raise and exhibit chickens, so I would expect them to be knowledgeable; offhand cannot remember the names of the stores, though. Vaquero? that may be the one--not positive.

On a good note, most of the feed stores in Arizona are mom & pop owned, so chances are that whoever you deal with has some knowledge of raising animals, and it is pretty easy to speak directly with the owner. In other areas they have large corporate big box types of stores and the workers may not know a sheep from a goat or a chicken from a guinea.

The feed store here only sells one brand of feed, it also happens to be the feed made at the mill 2 blocks from the feed store. They have got to be getting it dirt cheap, the sell it to me for $18.16 cents a bag. To me, it seems to be more of a gift shop than feed store. They sell some pretty over priced stuff, and no one has a clue about anything, and thats putting it kindly. Id say 15% of the bag is shake. Id far rather buy a bag of Egg Maker at Walmart if I ran out of feed before I could get to Mesa to get feed. Right now I'm going thru almost 250 pounds of feed per week. I'm also supplimenting the chickens with leafy greens daily or other goodies like watermelon rinds.

 

[NoSkiveez]

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Its going to be a very interesting hatch. I have pink, blue, green, tan, white and Marans eggs in there. I did that a popper this morning. It was a dark egg. I went to pick it up and the bottom half stayed in the egg carton. My little blue died. I started thinking something was wrong with it late last night. I also lost a quail this morning too. This was one from a batch I bought and it just never grew. It still looked like a day old and the rest are 5 times bigger than this one was. My quail hatch was 5 out of 7 eggs. Not too bad. I thought they would all hatch.

Hubbys working on the new coop. Its going to be done by tomorrow. I'm thinking I may hang palm prawns on the sides to help shade the coop. The tree is always dropping them so I figured I can put then to good use. I wish we had.the ones that were more fan shaped. Its actually a date tree.

Oh, and I love your "H" for hiney.

Eta: correcting spelling, phone has auto correct and tries to make me look like an idiot periodically.

 

[dofnup]

I officially have 4 layers:

Left to right: Marans, Red, Apenzeller, Silkie

Eggs: it's what for breakfast!! ^_^

 

[chickchalet]

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I really like the selection and prices at Adens.

 

[squeakyballs]

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Ooooh! Pretty!

 

[cluckin_crazy]

Long time, everyone... I need advice. I have a black ameraucana whose legs are giving out on her. Last night I went to check on them after the wind died down and she was sleeping on the poop board, not the roost. I tried to put her on the roost but her legs wouldn't have it. Today I noticed that she's not walking around very well. Legs are only working at probably 30%. Any pointers?

 

[NoSkiveez]

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Your Spitzhauben is already laying! Whoo Hoo! She hatched 2/15! None of my Spitzhauben have started laying yet.

 

[Mahonri]

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Could be Mareks or moldy feed. I would cull her and put her out of her misery.

ETA: I had a 17 week old BWA roo that was that way a few weeks ago. I almost killed him to stop the suffering, but them I gave him some good quality, high protein feed and he's almost back to 100% although much smaller than his hatch mates. If you are going to keep her, isolate her, give her plenty of electrolytes-- ample water and high quality protein feed and see what happens.

It's going to be MISERABLE heat indexes (110 to 115) the next few days through Thursday at least.