Arizona Chickens

[Mandymooligan]

These babies are tough to figure out but I am pretty positive I have 2 porcelain d’Uccle. The dark buff with the topnet still has me baffled.

 

[ca]

Quote:
Awww! Don't even start a contest! Nobody has a faint chance! Print that on a 22x34 plotter (in color), hang it on the wall in front of the rocking chair and when live gets rough go sit down and stare... This should save a lot of money otherwise wasted on psychiatrists or hypnotists.

(ssory, schpelling edited)

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Awww! Don't even start a contest! Nobody has a faint chance! Print that on a 22x34 plotter (in color), hang it on the wall in front of the rocking chair and when live gets rough go sit down and stare... This should save a lot of money otherwise wasted on psychiatrists or hypnotists.

(ssory, schpelling edited)

X2, but you need TWO large framed photos--just hang them in different rooms so they don't try to out-shine each other.

 

[bethany83]

Quote:
One hive can produce alot depending where you are, citrus grove, farm fields.One family would have a problem eating it all.I keeped one on a flat roof when I was younger and had a shade for it.

That is so cool! I didn't realize you only needed one hive. *rubbing hands together* Maybe my next project after the chickens are established????

And I've never heard of keeping them on the roof. I'd love to be able to do that...especially since the roof over our garage is completely flat. Don't they get too hot up there though???

 

[mclevinson]

Quote:
If you look on Craigslist under Farm & Garden there is someone who sells earthworms for composting. My courtyard has a lot of them, maybe because we keep it wetter than normal?

Oh, you know if you look on Rose websites, I think they have home made recipes (all natural) to spray on to get rid of mildew and fungus and stuff. I want to say it's a dilute vinegar spray? But not sure, so would look it up!

Please be careful not to confuse "Composting Redworms" with garden variety earthworms or night crawlers. They're all earthworms, but they have very different behaviors. Redworms are "manure worms" and mostly live on the surface, buried in whatever manure, rotting vegetation, etc. they're feeding on. "Common" earthworms live in the soil, usually just below the surface. (These are what gardeners generally want in their gardens.) Night crawlers dig a vertical burrow around six feet deep, and come up to the surface at night to feed.

Redworms can be useful for your garden, but indirectly. They tend to move around to wherever the food is, so it's best to keep them in a bin. (I use Rubbermaid 18 gallon totes, like Wal-Mart sells for $5-8, with holes drilled on the top and bottom for ventilation and drainage.) They eat many of the same kitchen scraps chickens eat, but mold and mildew do not pose a problem to redworms and they can also eat things like avocados, coffee grounds, and potato peelings that are bad for chickens.

Used, aged chicken litter (straw, hay, and/or pine shavings) makes great starter bedding for redworms. Maintenance is easy, just add food from time to time and keep the bin contents moist. Redworms breed like crazy when the conditions are right, so you can give wormalicious treats to your chickens from time to time. Or go fishing! (Redworms are also called Red Wrigglers, as they can stay alive and kicking on a fish hook for a couple of days, unlike night crawlers.) After about 6-9 months, the bin will be full of vermicompost, which is a wonderful soil amender as it holds moisture while allowing drainage. I sell finished vermicompost for $1 a pound at the Bisbee Farmers Market.

Worms are fun! And a great introduction to biology for kids! GET SOME! GET SOME!!!!

Bryan

Oh boy. Another project coming on. But I do also need some earthworms too. Got those worm tower thingies figured out.

 

[bethany83]

Gallo del Cielo-

Your coop & run make my heart pitter patter!!

It is GORGEOUS!!! Now I'm considering planting some grape vines up the sides of my run, too. So pretty!

 

[bethany83]

Bryan- ALRIGHT, you've convinced me!!! We're totally going to try worms, too!

Laree- your bathroom is awesome!! DH is going to do ours someday...hopefully it will look like that.

NoSkivees- awwwww, your chicks are so cute!!


I have another QUESTION: I want to buy 3 chicks...an EASTER EGGER, a BLACK COPPER MARANS, and a ............? Haven't decided the third yet!! Maybe a Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock or a Silver Laced Wyandotte......Suggestions????

And, is there anyone near Mesa/East Valley/Phoenix selling those breeds?

My main objectives are a variety of colored eggs, quiet and good natured. And it doesn't hurt if they're pretty to look at, too.

Thanks!

 

[LarryPQ]

Any of those breeds will be fine. Go for something that lays a white or tinted egg, so you can get a full rainbow in your egg basket.

 

[Mahonri]

Nice bathroom digs Laree... I'm going to have to pop in, just to use the facilities....

I've got all 101 eggs that I'll be trying to hatch, turning in my bators... can't wait to start cooking them on Saturday.

I've got 62 Icelandics.
19 Ameraucanas
15 Heritage breed mix from kathyinmo
5 EEs from my coop.

My ameraucanas stopped laying... (got two today..hope I get more tomorrow for tb.)

 

[mahalo4]

Cluckin Congrats!! Way cool Ultrasound!!! Mahonri That is awesome, Wow that is a lot of Eggs!! Probably wont even be the highest count. We think We will have all but Pasofino's eggs in the Bator for the hatch. Some BO's from Bargain oh & some BBS BO's from them also total 14 to 18 then 20 from Wynette Some OE's & JG's & 20 of Ours Then 14 BWA's from Pasofino but wont get those till monday so they wont count for the hatch. Laree awesome pics!!