Arizona Chickens

[tightwad]

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So glad to hear they're doing so much better! We have a horrible scorpion problem here. When DH comes back in from hunting I always ask him for a count, thankful that there are that many fewer in my yard (and in my house!). I was stung for the first time this summer while sitting at the computer. Knowing how awful an experience it is, I can't imagine how a chicken survives it.

 

[tightwad]

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She is too cute!

 

[tightwad]

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I love that word. . .squish-tastic!

 

[Mikey D]

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Glad to hear they are ok!

How did you manage to find the "bunch of scorpions"? Did you look for them or are they just crawling all over your place?

We went scorpion hunting with black lights and long-handled needle nose pliers. And there were TWO hanging out on the back wall in the coop/enclosure area right by my blissfully unaware snoozing ladies!!

Boy did those two meet a violent squish-tastic end!!

You could just nip off the tails and make some nice morning time hors-de-vours!

 

[Mikey D]

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Did you order the extra cute with that one?

 

[Mikey D]

OK Folks...

I've taken a break from the renovation to set up for the chickies.

Here is the makeshift brooder w/ heat lamp & thermal-meter.

Here is the adjuster for the heat lamp:

It is not pretty but it is functional & made of stuff I had kicking around. I even found a brand new, old, genuine General Electric, PURPLE switch plate with color matched screws! Nothing but the best for Papa's Peepers! I was going to hook up an old thermostat to maintain temperature but thought that if it started cycling the chicks might wind up with epileptic seizures!

Now about the bedding...

Pine shavings, rice hulls or newspapers?

Pine - slightly aromatic - possible disruption to peepers lungs (not in my opinion - I've just read it), easily obtainable and inexpensive & probably what I'll be using in the coop.

Rice hulls - soft, user friendly, compost friendly, chick friendly, possible trace nutritive benefits if eaten - not easily obtainable

News paper - Ubiquitous and free - Highly recommended by Stephanie at B&B feeds (who has 20 - 25 chickens of her own) who actually talked me out of purchasing pine shavings. She also said that you can sweep up the hay in the hay storage area (there must be a word for that place!) and use it for coop bedding and it's free. (see probably under pine notes). When asked about "spradle legs" she said she has been raising chicks for a billion and a half years and while she has heard of it, has never encountered it - newspaper provides sufficient traction. But what about the ink?

Too many options! What the heck did these animals do out in the wild with no Tupperware, galvanized steel and starter feed?

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

I use newspaper or paper grocery bags covered with paper towels for the first few weeks then move them to pine shavings.
Paper towels give them more traction. I've seen lots of sources that say not to use straight newspaper.
I line the bottom with numerous sheets of paper so that I can pick up the top, soiled layer and add more paper towels without having to add more newspaper every time.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

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Chickens were never in the wild. They are domesticated. That said, mama hens seem to know what to do without those things.

I really like your adjuster. I'm going to have to try that.

Also, I would be careful using hay for the chicks until they are older. They might eat too much of it.

 

[Mikey D]

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Chickens were never in the wild. They are domesticated. That said, mama hens seem to know what to do without those things.

I really like your adjuster. I'm going to have to try that.

Also, I would be careful using hay for the chicks until they are older. They might eat too much of it.

Thank you! I was considering hay for the coop - free is a good price!

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

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My sister uses hay and likes it OK but if you do the deep layer method I think pine works better.
My sister cleans hers out every week, I leave mine for 6 months or more. I just keep adding to it when it breaks down.