Arizona Chickens

[Gallo del Cielo]

Mikey D,

I was just about to recommend looking locally for chicks. It sounds like you may have a good lead.

Just about anything you get locally will suit your needs. I especially like the heavier, less flighty birds. They probably don't lay as many eggs, but they're relatively easier to keep out of gardens and from flying over walls. Check out my byc page to see what I did for a coop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=56638 I got a lot, if not most of my ideas for building my coop and keeping them cool from other BYC members. I'd highly recommend a coop that is covered over top, mostly ventilated, but with an area where they can get out of the weather. Lots of people here have three-sided coops. We have to worry more about heat here than cold. My chickens love it when it gets down near freezing. In the winter I put up plastic on the exposed walls around the roosts and that keeps the wind and water off of them. Remember that they will want to spend most of their time in the shade, especially in the summer and they really need a place to escape to that is shady at all times of the day. Build a good sized run, chickens in the lower elevations of AZ will spend less time in the coop than they will other places. I also have suggestions for automatic feeders/waterers on my byc page. I'd highly recommend them. There's another auto-feeder people are talking about in the Feeding section that is being sold on ebay out of England. I got one recently and I'm going to test it out. I think it will work quite well. Auto feeders and waterers also make it so much easier for chicken sitters. It makes me feel less guilty about dumping such a chore on a non-chicken person and much better knowing that the sitter won't likely kill my birds when they forget to feed or water them. Or if I forget, for that matter.

southerndesert, hey, I've met Blue Max! He's awesome. That's is so great that you gave him such a fantastic home.

Mama Hen Chris, sorry to hear about poor Phoebe! Good luck!

 

[mclevinson]

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No, I mean his egg was cracked half way around but the membrane was dried to his feathers and he couldn't progress. This with the incubator at 70% plus humidity. I am soooo taking a nice long hatching vacation.

And WELCOME Tracy!

Oh, I've had that happen. Didn't know what tho call it.

You know what? I helped it out because I couldn't help myself. I thought that any chick that survived a temp fluctuation like that totally deserved a helping hand. She's had a bath and is VERY vigorous. The two TJ's chicks are VERY fluffy and came out with more feather any of the others. She still has some slick feathers on her head but I'll give her another bath later when she can dry outside in my lap.

Last hatch I didn't help the pip fails. I don't intend to make a habit of it.

You know, next time I hatch it will be with my own home built incubator, well tested beforehand, and with TJ's eggs so I don't waste any.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Hello SW Seed Exchange Participants: the package is now in the hands of Constance. She will direct it to the next recipient. I'm very excited about this and can't wait to see what I find in it when it eventually makes it's way back to Tucson. I think that for those that get it early, the second time around will be far better, the selection having been broadened with things that have been added. For you Capsicum connoisseurs I put in 23 different varieties of chilies, many harvested from the most pleasing pods in the southwest. Mrs. azpenguin, be sure to tell Mr. azpenguin that you are on the list. AZBootsie, you too!

 

[mclevinson]

Mahonri

So I'm thinkin' this little one is your Icelandic. NONE of your other eggs ever hatched out with spots.
What do you think?

 

[constance]

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Thanks, and please tell Mikayla thank you for me! He looks like a happy guy, and with a much better name. Max does have a nice crow, and we are very glad he gets to use it. Hooray! Nice place you have there!

 

[Arizona Raider]

yes max is a very god rooster he had an adventure with hughbert the rooster in the next coop he flew right over he's lucky hughbert dident mind. Max was very shy at first but he has gotten used to everyone now.

Mikayla

 

[mclevinson]

I have won my BYC Arizona Chickens Enabler Badge for July. (Hi Mikey!) but alas (or not) these nice people aren't quite ready to take my chicks. Free to BYCers, Quite nice 3-4 week old Mahonri mix chicks, organically fed. Including Wheatons/mix, 2 blue 1/8th polish (one with a hairdo) and one Marans EE. A small donation would be nice but moving them would be even nicer.

And I still have 3 or 4 Roosters need a home. 8-9 week Wheaton Americaunas.

Meg

 

[Mahonri]

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Can I come over tomorrow and shop?... and yes, it looks like an Icelandic!

And BTW... I still have some eggs for anyone who wants to incubate.

 

[mclevinson]

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Can I come over tomorrow and shop?... and yes, it looks like an Icelandic!

And BTW... I still have some eggs for anyone who wants to incubate.

Why yes, please do. And can you take the Icelandic for breeding? And don't wave your pretty eggs at ME Mister Dar. I'm done til Fall!

 

[stevensonm]

If I werent going camping I woudl be on my way over.

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