Arizona Chickens

[Gallo del Cielo]

bethany83, hang around here for awhile and you'll discover that I'm a complete worrywort!

When I was first planning for chickens my neighbors at the other end of the block got about 12-15 POL chickens. We were so excited to see them out free-ranging every day. One by one they were eaten by things. It was sad to see new piles of feathers and chicken parts in the yard and fewer and fewer chickens. We saw a couple carried by coyotes down the sidewalk area right in front of our house. Their chicken coop was pretty basic and not much thought was put into predator proofing. I'm not even sure if they locked them up at night. Their birds probably lasted six months before the last one went. On the other hand, I met someone with a similar coop situation on our town's Coop Tour and they had the same four chickens that they started with three years ago--and I don't think they lock them up at night either. I think a lot has to do with luck.

cluckin_crazy, yeah, I'm thinking of the 2X4 (7'+) with one end resting/bolted to the wall and the other connected to the fence. Then, run the wires parallel to the wall and down the length of your 14' run. If I lived closer, I'd gladly help you with it.

Desertrat011, congrats on the impending grandchild!

Mandymooligan, your pics have been consistently good! Nice American Kestrel.

 

[turkeybreeder]

Quote:
higley feed in the eastvalley
rays feed store in the west valley has leg bands
they cost less at rays feed store in phoenix az

 

[constance]

Quote:
So the inside wall of the coop would just be open? Won't they get too cold during the winter? And are they safe enough from predators? I'm in central Mesa, so I guess the only things I really have to worry about is a dog or cat, but our yard is completely fenced in.

I've seen some coop designs that the whole front wall is connected with hinges at the top, so you can lift it up and attach it to a hook on the ceiling. Best of both worlds???

Hi Bethany! Welcome! My coop has something like you describe. We like it. Open in the summer, and the ladies use it as a second roost (it has extra wood to make it thicker at the joint). On the cold nights, we close it up. Seems to work. At least we worry less about them getting cold

Ok, gotta run manage the visiting mother...

 

[NoSkiveez]

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Yes. I'm using colored bands. They are a pain! I wish I had numbered bands. Its far easier to identify each bird and record information. I dislike the plastic coil type. I've had several get imbedded in a leg overnight. It was impossible to remove in all but one case.

 

[CrazyerThanAverage]

All right all you incubator owning folks who have watched Waaaaaay more eggs hatch than me. (Which is easy, since I'm at 0 or 1.) I need your help. This is the best picture I could get of the egg Betsy is sitting on that has a crack. Does it look like it is hatching??? Or did some one step on it, drop it, peck it, or abuse it some other way? It's the end of day 20 of my first hatch and I'm getting very anxious. Thanks!

 

[LarryPQ]

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I'm having some health issues and it's been a bit of a mystery. I'm going for more testing to see if they can figure it out. Hopefully they will get it figured out so I can get on a path to feeling better.

Downsizing will make it easier to manage with all this fatigue.

...Sorry if this has been already covered, but have you peed on the stick?

 

[nurseshelly]

Quote:
I'm having some health issues and it's been a bit of a mystery. I'm going for more testing to see if they can figure it out. Hopefully they will get it figured out so I can get on a path to feeling better.

Downsizing will make it easier to manage with all this fatigue.

...Sorry if this has been already covered, but have you peed on the stick?

TMI!!!!

 

[LarryPQ]

TMI? no way.

I was looking for something to celebrate rather than worry about.

 

[NoSkiveez]

Quote:
I'm having some health issues and it's been a bit of a mystery. I'm going for more testing to see if they can figure it out. Hopefully they will get it figured out so I can get on a path to feeling better.

Downsizing will make it easier to manage with all this fatigue.

...Sorry if this has been already covered, but have you peed on the stick?

Not possible. Cut, tied and sewn. Our youngest is 10 months and she literally broke the mold. Ruptured placenta, emergency csection, very traumatic (again). We almost lost her so decided to stop while we were ahead.

Sorry guys, TMI

 

[LarryPQ]

Well darn. I was hoping for the easy solution.

But I TOTALLY laughed out loud at "broke the mold"