Arizona Chickens

[rufus]

Today is the 200th Anniversary of Mexican Independence. Felicidades a todos los Mexicanos. The big festivities were last night. We sat down to watch them on the TV, but my wife slept through them. They set off so many fireworks, I thought they were going to burn the place down. It was quite a show.

I got nine eggs today and eight yesterday. I have eleven hens now and one rooster. Someone is slacking off. I suspect Audrey my one white egg layer has a hidden nest somewhere. I haven't collected a white egg in about ten days.

We are thinking of setting eggs again later this month. By the time they hatch, it should have cooled down enough. This time we are going to try a Buff Orpinton crossed with the Rhode Island Red rooster. This should produce a good looking bird.

The Brown Leghorn crossed with the Rhode Island Red made a good looking chick, but none of them lived.

The Barred Rock crossed with the Rhode Island Red rooster produced chicks that were easily sexed because the rooster were hatched with a light spot on their heads.

Unfortunately, the hens that resulted from that cross are butt ugly. They look like mud hens. They are real good egg layers though.

Anyway, we liberated the rooster from his jail. He promptly got to work doing his job. The whole pecking order of the flock was shuffled.

Rufus

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Interesting crosses Rufus! I agree, the BO-RIR crosses should produce good looking birds. I'm so envious of those that can have roosters. Makes me want to move. Really.

gckiddhouse: I'm glad your bird problems are getting better. Your story has had me constantly checking my birds for external parasites. That's probably a good thing for a newbie like me.

 

[Mahonri]

I have available the following for a test hatch...

7 FBCMarans eggs
3 FBCMs X GCMarans eggs
4 BWA X W/BW Ameraucanas
And the following EEs
1 BWA X BBL Polish (she's been in with her son who is half BWA for the past two weeks)
1 BWA X GPCochin/LBLeghorn
2 BWA X PW Leghorn

First one to PM and then come get them. They are yours. You just need to post pics here and report on the hatch.

 

[AZKat]

Mahonri: The two chicks that I got from the eggs you gave me are doing great. I'll post pics in the next few days. I meant to do it sooner, but with all the chaos at my house it just didn't happen. Both hatched from brown eggs, one is very pale, with speckled/partridge markings and feathered legs. The other is a darker brown speckled/partridge, with dark slate legs. Both are clean faced.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Mahonri: I see eggs now, but I saw the sunset for a long time while others were talking about the eggs.


I got a feed store to take my RIR chicks. I'm back to 10 fuzzy butts. Exactly what I wanted.
I got 3 BSL, 2 GSL, and 5 Ideal Leghorn 236.
I heard great things about the 236s and since egg production is our main goal, I thought I'd try them. They are extremely cute. They look like little dalmation chicks.

Edited to add pics:

 

[maggiemooscluckers]

Bob's Henhouse :

mydog8it, you can get hardware cloth at Home Depot or Lowes. I bought some 1/2 inch holes by 36 inch high by 25 feet long I think, but I don't remember which store I got it at.

I bought my hardware cloth at Home Depot. 25'x48". It was around $55.00 a roll. Lowes has it too but I don't remember the price or sizes.​

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
That's what I'm counting on! Our 5 current hens can't keep up with the 5 of us.
I'm only keeping 4 of the chicks, though. I'm raising 2 for my sister and 4 for my mom.

 

[Mahonri]

So great to meet Bob, his wife and son today... Wish I could have given them a tour of the coop and pens but my back went out last night. We took friends out to dinner at Chiles and right toward the end of the meal I felt it slip out. I can hardly walk.

Bob.. .just so you know what you got.

9 French Black Copper Marans
Here is a pic of the roo....

3 FBCM X Golden Cuckoo Marans

Here is a pic of the mama...

4 Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas X Wheaten or Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas

2 BWA X Bearded Buff Laced Polish (BBLP)

... this is the momma... the dad is above

I hope you get a 100% hatch with your homemade bator!

 

[tightwad]

Hi to all from Mesa! I've been reading the forums for a little over a year and would love some advice about my current flock of 4.

I have 2 BR who beat the snot out of my 2 EE and at least one of the BR is an egg eater. Argh! I think I know which one (though not positive) and want to cull either one or both. Is it easiest to just use a broom handle and pull up to break their necks? Jeez, I'm squeamish just typing that out. I never had problems with egg eating from my previous flock of the same types. I already changed the nesting boxes so that the eggs roll out the back into another box but the eater either reaches through or lays her eggs in the run to eat them. I used golf balls for the first 7-8 months in the boxes. It's driving me crazy!

After I cull, I'd like to add 2-3 more pullets. I previously purchased chicks from Mesa Feed Barn and Aden's in Higley but I've been watching Craigslist and saw some Speckled Sussex and Golden Laced Wyandottes that are located in Mesa. Is anyone on here the seller? Not having purchased from a private individual before I'm not sure how safe that is. I realize that I'd have to keep them separated for a while before combining to watch for disease/parasites. Would it just be better to purchase as chicks from the feed store again?

Would I also be better off having all of the same breed? I realize the pecking order is natural and will always occur but what's going on now is downright brutal. One of my EEs will barely come out of the coop for fear of being attacked. I'm getting no eggs from her right now which I attribute to a high stress level.

Thanks for reading about my issues. I hope I haven't left out too much pertinent info and look forward to some help from the wise.

Erin

Oh my gosh, Mahonri, your birds are gorgeous!

 

[Mahonri]

Welcome to BYC.

are you going to eat the ones you cull?

If not you should put them up on Craig's list.

If you are worried about biosecurity, I'd get new chicks.

I had some MEAN Barred Rocks once... then I had a really nice one that I sold.