Arizona Chickens

[NoSkiveez]

I've had to cull only a handful of chicks. I've only culled when I believed what ever was wrong made them incompatible with living or living within a flock. I've had one with splayed legs, one with all kinds of inside stuff hanging out the vent and one with foot problems. Another that was dieing slowly as well and one that had an upside down head. I believe all the issues I have seen to be related to incubation. The one issue I didn't experience in my home built I believe to just be a fluke of nature. My husband typically axes them. He did think that dropping something heavy on a chick might have been easier only to discover removing the head was easier and less of a mess. I think the cute chick factor makes it harder.

 

[Mahonri]

Well, I'm setting up my incubators in the morning. After I make certain that I can get them up to temp at 35% humidity, I'll turn off the heat and put my eggs in with the turners on.... then when all of the eggs arrive that I've got coming, on Dec. 11th at noon I'll turn the heat on... c'mon New Years Day!

 

[NoSkiveez]

I'm collecting. I turn by hand in egg cartons. I'm hoping sometime soon I can get a turner for this incubator. It woul be real nice.

 

[NoSkiveez]

Is there anyone local doing the new years day hatch a long that will need eggs? I have half dozens (and more with some breeds) available. I could even do variety packs. I have more eggs than I need. PM me if you need eggs.

 

[Nuclear Chickens]

Quote:
Now why did you have to go and say that?

I already have a dozen coming from Bob. Do I need more? Yes, No , Maybe. After all my incubator will hold 60 eggs. You people are getting me hooked! One question. Do you think my wife will notice another chicken pen in the back yard?

 

[Mahonri]

my wife WISHES that I didn't have two pens in addition to the coop.

Bless her heart.

 

[Bob's Henhouse]

So, do ground up hot peppers work the same as cayenne pepper in the feed to get the ladies laying again? I've got a pepper plant the has peppers that will take the skin off the roof of your mouth. I've noticed that the chickens will eat them when they get into the garden, so I picked half a blender full, ground them up added some scratch, calf manna, and poured it into trays for them (and the ducklings) to eat tonight. If I hear them squawking in the middle of the night I'll know it has the same effect on them as on me.

 

[Bob's Henhouse]

Oh come on Mahonri, you still have room back there.

How long are fertile eggs viable, and at what temp do they need to be stored? I've seen a couple of different answers, but most don't suggest more than a few days.

 

[rufus]

Bob's Henhouse :

So, do ground up hot peppers work the same as cayenne pepper in the feed to get the ladies laying again? I've got a pepper plant the has peppers that will take the skin off the roof of your mouth. I've noticed that the chickens will eat them when they get into the garden, so I picked half a blender full, ground them up added some scratch, calf manna, and poured it into trays for them (and the ducklings) to eat tonight. If I hear them squawking in the middle of the night I'll know it has the same effect on them as on me.

I guess we will find out. Let us know what happens.

I have noticed that the cats like to rub up against the chili plants. At first it angered me. They were ruining the plants. Then I got to wondering why they would do that. Maybe it is a natural flea control, or maybe they just like the feel of the plants.

By the way, is there any chance of getting some seeds from those chili pods. I am getting ready to set up my hot bed.

Rufus​

 

[Bob's Henhouse]

Rufus, sure. Let me know how to get them to you. I'm going to try and keep the plant alive, and I'll let a few 'ripen' as best as I can. I lost a bunch of stuff with those freezing days we had, but this one is still alive. I'll take a picture of it and the peppers so yo ucan see what it is. I don't remember the variety. It's a small pepper.
You're setting up your hot bed already? LOL I'm only thinking about getting the garden ready. Trying to figure out where i want to put the garden, where I want grass and bird seed planted for the chickens and ducks, and whether I'm going to put in a pond for the ducks, and maybe raise some tilapia. I'm just afraid the ducks would polish off the fish.

I think I counted 18 ducks and ducklings, not counting mom and dad, or the 2 still in the box in the living room with this weeks babies, or the ones in with the juveniles in the swingset.

the red one in the middle is about the size of a quarter, just to give you an idea what they are.