Arizona Chickens

[Tracydr]

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Gallo, backyard quality NNs are the ones to watch out for! SQs are boring. On the NN thread you can see black-skinned frizzle-silky-booted NNs or whatever else crosses somebody might invent. EEs are "standard" compared to the variety of naked necked creations decorating Americas backyards.

No kidding. Not to mention, the totally naked, black skinned monster.
Makes the plain old red necked , hatchery naked necked look cute!

 

[pdx2phx]

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Gallo, backyard quality NNs are the ones to watch out for! SQs are boring. On the NN thread you can see black-skinned frizzle-silky-booted NNs or whatever else crosses somebody might invent. EEs are "standard" compared to the variety of naked necked creations decorating Americas backyards.

No kidding. Not to mention, the totally naked, black skinned monster.
Makes the plain old red necked , hatchery naked necked look cute!

I saw that greenish/black bald chicken..... FREAKY!!

I feel bad for the bird actually, I mean, how comfortable can that girl(?)'s life be??

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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Not if you've ever seen them swarming your coops!

OK you're right. I was more thinking about those black and white pet rats. I am not on good terms with the local ones trying to invade my property either.

After the Summer of the Roof Rats a couple of years ago, even the word "rat" makes me think of Willard. Good Kittie, Vash & Tess, chase and eat the roofies! Good Job!

 

[Memphisjourney2seramas]

Well a cat jumped the fence of our 5 acres....while I was in sight and grabed a 4 month old chick...I am guessing.. and took off with it. I ran as fast as I could and jumped the bob wire fence and ran to the other neighbors yard but couldnt see it anymore. It was aweful to watch!!! It is now war!!!!!! We are setting a trap and what ever we catch will be disposed. They are feral cats...there isn't alot that can be done with them and the humane society is 2 hours away. I am an animal lover, I am just sick of the animals eating my pets!

 

[pdx2phx]

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I am so sorry

I'm right there with you, though. Critters that go after my 'babies' live a short life.

 

[kevs-chickadees]

War it is, I would do the same thing. I can not stand feral cats!!!!!!!

 

[nurseshelly]

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Our friendly birds; Buff Orpington (most friendly), Silver Laced Wyandotte, Australorp, Cuckoo Marans, Ameraucanas, Silkie, and all of the Seramas. Friendly as in hop in your lap, let you pet them, don't run from my son.
Our not so friendly bird; Rhode Island Red (nice but flighty, doesn't like being picked up by our son).
Birds that like being picked up most; BO, Australorp, Silkie, Seramas (all).

Right now my BO and my Australorp are laying every day. My SLW and Marans are laying 3 or 4 times a week. And my RIR is laying least often of all (not how it's supposed to be). My Ameraucanas are not old enough to lay, my Silkie lays occasionally, the Seramas lay tons if they are NOT broody (almost every day).

Oh, my cuckoo marans is the least heat tolerent. Everyone else is doing fine with the heat.

 

[nurseshelly]

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I'm so sorry!!! Break out the cat traps!

 

[WendyGrama]

Don't blame you at all, would do the same myself. I have to protect my chickens from my own backyard cat and that is bad enough!

Question for Ya'lll, are harvester ants a problem for chickens??? what about fire ants??? this is a bad year for both in my backyard and one big nest right next to new coop. I hate to use insecticide in case it gets to the chicks??? Any suggestions or concerns??? Has anyone tried DE with their chickens here?

 

[LarryPQ]

DE does help keep the ants away. Yes, I have had problems with ants this year, but turning over the dirt in the coop seems to be important as well. The ants wil set up shop under a feeder or peice of wood, and I have to get rid of the nest to get rid of them.