Arizona Chickens

[Mikey D]

MikeyD, congrats on all the new chicks, but a bed in the shed is NOT OKAY! It's time for some serious Control Tower time.

Gallo, how exciting to have another broody. And the soon to be little ones!

I haven't ever had chicks. I got my girls when they were older, and have never had more than 2 at a time (I know, weird huh!?). Chicken math has never affected me, what with the dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, mealworms, fish (and soon to be many more!), and human family members that all need my attention. Which is why I don't know how exactly to explain the 3 new little peepers in the spare bedroom.

I have chicks!

Thanks Pima! I agree, she'd be cold out there this time of the year!

 

[kevs-chickadees]

Only 4 more days.

 

[pimachickens]

They should all be pullets because I got sex-links (two black and one red) from a woman who hatches them up here on the NW side. As much as I would love some other breeds, I just didn't want to take the chance. Our first two chickens we ever owned were supposed to be pullets and ended up BOTH being roosters. I had gotten very attached and getting rid of them was hard, which is why I have been avoiding chicks ever since.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

They should all be pullets because I got sex-links (two black and one red) from a woman who hatches them up here on the NW side. As much as I would love some other breeds, I just didn't want to take the chance. Our first two chickens we ever owned were supposed to be pullets and ended up BOTH being roosters. I had gotten very attached and getting rid of them was hard, which is why I have been avoiding chicks ever since.

That's what I thought until I ended up with a cockerel sex-link. Show me pictures!

 

[Tracydr]

Hey all, I'm back! I was working my butt off at a temp job last month on the other side of town and I also got sort of sick with bronchitis.
working on getting all the packing peanuts and red broilers in the freezer yesterday and today so that it will be a little quieter around here. Actually, consodering it's about 15 young roosters, it will be a lot quieter!
im not sure why nobody ever raises the non-meat breeds for meat, though. Those production red roosters are respectable looking, sort of like the fryers from the grocery store.
Love the new plucker!
I'm ordering Silver Dorkings! No more fat Cornish X for me. I decided I want something sustainable and hopefully, hardy.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Welcome back Tracydr! That sounds like a lot of processing!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

They should all be pullets because I got sex-links (two black and one red) from a woman who hatches them up here on the NW side. As much as I would love some other breeds, I just didn't want to take the chance. Our first two chickens we ever owned were supposed to be pullets and ended up BOTH being roosters. I had gotten very attached and getting rid of them was hard, which is why I have been avoiding chicks ever since.

Wow, I didn't know that was your first chicken experience! Your poor boys. They must have been so sad--you must have been sad. After that kind of experience I can see why you'd want to stack the deck in your favor. I'm sending positive pullet thoughts your way.

 

[Memphisjourney2seramas]

I looked at the book and it says game show is at 8:00am...is that seramas or are the considered the juding at 9:00.

I think it is going to begin early.

 

[pimachickens]

Quote:

That's what I thought until I ended up with a cockerel sex-link. Show me pictures!

WHAT?! NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! You can't say that!

I'm not very good at pictures, and they don't ever stop moving, but here are some. I have more if needed. They hatched 1/22/12. The smaller black one with the more white has a Marans mother, the larger mostly black one is over a Barred Rock. Please tell me you see pullets.

 

[Dubby14]

Mostaza Roja - "Mequasare"
A wild mustard with tender, mild flavored leaves. Use in salads or as cooked greens. Plant in fall in the low desert.

I don't call these weeds anymore, now I call them chicken salad! If you live in Tucson or Phoenix, you've probably seen these all over the place. They've already started flowering, so they'll soon be too bitter for the chickens to eat. Luckily, you can collect the seeds, when it's time, and be ready to plant next fall!

Ever since I figured out how delicious these plants are, I've been supplementing them for about half of the greens that I normally give my ladies. They grow easily, and are native! If you don't want to harvest your own seeds, you can buy them here:
http://www.nativeseeds.org/index.ph...n/herbs-and-greens/P-mostaza-roja-qmequasareq