Arizona Chickens

[Mahonri]

Left work just about the time a MAJOR storm hit. It was coming down so hard I couldn't see to drive so I sat there in my car, sopping wet, waiting for it to get better and then the hail hit.

It cracked my front windshield on my BMW.

Wind messed up my run... I've got repair work to do.

Love the rain, hate the storm

 

[Bob's Henhouse]

Mahonri, sorry to hear about your windshield.

That was some crazy hail, wind and rain you all got. Hopefully no major damage done, and insurance covers what did occur.
We only got .03 in. out here today. Could have used a good soaking, but don't need the hail damage.

 

[Bob's Henhouse]

Mahonri, I just aquired a L.Q.F. 1270 incubator, needed a little work, but seems to be keeping a very stable temperature. If the eggs I got from you don't hatch out well, (and I am concerned since I only got one duckling out of the batch I was finishing up when I got them), is there any chance I could talk you out of some more?

Along those lines, if there was enough interest for me to get rid of 140 plus chicks, I think it would be fun to fill the thing up and see what comes out of it.

 

[rufus]

Well, we had yet another hail storm. Again the sirens were wailing on the freeway. Oddly, I never heard or felt the pumps on the freeway turn on. Either they put in better pumps, or they are not working.

My son's fancy house in Glendale took a terrible hit. All of the windows broke out and the sky lights too. The house is full of water and glass.

So, now we have house guests until things are cleaned up.

I just went out and threw out some bread for the chickens. That is the best way to get them all out for a head count. They are wet, but all there, I think.

Rufus

 

[AZKat]

The hail here was only pea-sized, and didn't last too long. Of course, it would start to rain and hail just as I was picking up Thomas from school, and again while I was waiting for Alex's bus. Thankfully I drove to get Thomas, otherwise we'd have gotten drowned coming home.

The chickens were pretty upset about the rain, and the sudden cold snap. I only got one egg today, after getting 4 or 5 for the last week. The older pullets are doing well, I expect to be swimming in eggs once the leghorns start laying, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what the two EE pullets do. If I've understand the genetics right, the WA/Andalusian should lay a light blue egg.

Speaking of genetics, I was reading the article about Quecha chickens in this forum, and the idea of yellow, brick red, pink and lavender eggs is very, very tempting.

The meaties are getting really big, its kind of scary, honestly. They're the size of normal month old chicks, but they have the feathers that you'd expect on 2 week old chicks.

 

[pdx2phx]

Hi folks...I have a newbie question for you.

One of our pullets (a NH) has started laying (every day or day and a half), and the other two are probably pretty close (SLW and Bantam MFD).

The short version is that I'm worried that they're too thin, and not eating enough, especially to be laying. We feed Layena, which is always available in the coop area, but they free range during the day. They don't seem to ever go back to the coop for food that I see, and they don't eat in the dark which is the only time they seem to go back to the coop. We give them treats while we're around and they'll eat bugs that they find, and occasionally seed that we put our for wild birds, but that's about it. When we bring them treats they act ravenous. When I feel their breast bones they seem quite thin. They're otherwise quite active, friendly Ladies. I just want them to be healthy and happy!

Do you think they don't like the Layena? Should we be feeding something else, or put the feed elsewhere too? The morning doves already find ways into our coop area even though it's fenced so I'm not wild about just setting the feed out in the open to feed everyone else

.

The yard is a normal suburban block fence backyard. We have two normal sized hens and one bantam, with more bantams on the way so we can't probably do one of those weighted-bar feeders that I've seen plans for. When I put out little dishes of the Layena around the Ladies they don't seem that into it. Should we try a different feed??

I would appreciate any insight you all have!

 

[Bob's Henhouse]

pdx2phx, they are probably just fine. My hens will be eating and pecking around in the yard, but come running when they see me like they haven't eaten in days, even if they were eating from their feeders when I walked out. Some are thinner than others, some heavier. If the food is available, they'll eat what they need.

just my opinion

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Quote:
I'm in the same boat you are - My chickens eat Layena (I may switch to Manna Pro) and free range for a few hours every evening. They are also thin. I wormed them for everything about 6 months ago (my first time to ever worm chickens) and gave them wazine last month, thinking they are thin because of worms. There are no other signs - I've never seen a worm and they seem otherwise healthy - bright red combs, etc., just thin - I can feel their breastbones quite easily. I've used diatomaceous earth in their coop, nestboxes, and dustbathing areas for the past 2 years (since they were chicks).

Any more advice? If I gave them wazine - should i have given a 2nd dose? Is there something else I should try, or are all of our AZ chickens thin?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Good morning all. We had a decent rain yesterday afternoon and lots of wind here in Tucson. Thankfully, no hail. I hope you all don't find too much damage to repair this morning. I feel for you folks in Flag, I love rain, I love cold, but cold-rain, not so much.

GoneHomeGrown and S*T*A*R: welcome to BYC and our AZ thread!

My chickens aren't very thin, but they are very spoilt'. I'm keeping a close eye on them though after my encounter with ticks.

 

[vegaschick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101006/ap_on_re_us/us_western_weather

Wow! Hope everyone on here is safe.