Arizona Chickens

[itsredcandy]

I had a fun time last weekend helping a friend build a new chicken enclosure.  She lost both of her last two flocks to dogs.  I felt especially bad after the last time; she had a dog run chain link gate that I thought would be secure.  But the dogs tore right through the center of the chain link.  I don't have much of any experience with chain link fence, but now I know they aren't all created equal.  Anyway, my friend made her chicken enclosure entirely of salvaged materials.  It was an engineering marvel how everything was stitched together.  Overall, it was pretty decent, but with a 10' X 10' pen that is about 4' high, it was tough to get inside to feed, water and collect the eggs.  So, our plan was to make something more secure against dogs and also be able to stand up inside.  My wife and I went early one morning with some useful scrap materials from the back yard and the three of us came up with a design using the materials at hand in the 30 minutes it took to demo the old chicken enclosure.  By the end of the day we made this highly ventilated shady chicken pen:


It was made principally from a 6' X 6' X 10' dog kennel.  I removed the half of the chain link from the front and left sides to open it up.  We then used two old trellises from my yard (4' X 8') to form the outside edges of the other half.  With the trellises suspended to the dog kennel and the 4 X 4 structure on the end, we were able to capture a lot of space that was previously unused.  The entire front and right sides were covered in 1" X 2" 14 gauge wire left over from my coop.  There was just enough, down to the inch.  We also covered the top of the dog kennel part in 2" X 4" welded wire and the entire top is now secure.   Currently, the top, back and right side of the kennel are covered in shade cloth.  The top right side will eventually covered with shade cloth as well.

It took another full day of work digging the shallow trench for the welded wire apron and building a frame for the old awning, which made it much stronger.  I also added a roost that suspends from the awning. I just got some more chicken nipples so tomorrow she'll get a waterer.   She's going to have to do something about wild bird proofing the enclosure, or maybe we can get an auto feeder working.  The wild birds are thick in her yard and are eating a lot of the feed.  Anyway, it was fun to make a pen for someone else.  It's amazing what you can make with stuff laying around.

Great job

 

[itsredcandy]

Yuck yuck....yesterday I found a little tiny moving speck on the bare chest of my eldest hen. I checked three more and found nothing, no eggs, no more bugs. My daughter has her birthday party this weekend so dipping is going to have to wait until Monday night. I am so not looking forward to that. I forgot what people suggested, but I was going to try dog flea and tick shampoo and dip them, in water with the suds already in it, then dip them in clean water. Is that the way to do it?

 

[Billiam]

Billiam- Being an RN for more years than I care to admit, has made me a bit of an expert on unpleasant odors. Take my advice and hang the traps away from your porches and doors. They work great but after ripening a couple of days the smell will gag a maggot.

That is too funny! I guess I'm just wondering if I shouldn't hang it by the coop/run, if that will allow the fly to produce more easily before they head for the trap since that is where they are coming from. Should I be trying to draw them away from the coop? I have one hanging off the coop now and it's definitely attracting flies, but it seems like there are more flies now than before.

 

[AZKat]

I processed one of the Icelandic roos last night, he dressed out to 1.5 pounds. I felt kind of bad about doing it, but he was being a jerk to the girls, and acting like he was about to start crowing, which would likely create problems with the neighbors. But, out of respect for the breed, he's going to be prepared according to a medieval recipie for Icelandic Chicken.

 

[kevs-chickadees]

Yuck yuck....yesterday I found a little tiny moving speck on the bare chest of my eldest hen. I checked three more and found nothing, no eggs, no more bugs. My daughter has her birthday party this weekend so dipping is going to have to wait until Monday night. I am so not looking forward to that. I forgot what people suggested, but I was going to try dog flea and tick shampoo and dip them, in water with the suds already in it, then dip them in clean water. Is that the way to do it?

I think you can use the Adams spray for dogs and such, I think Sonoran mentioned it?

 

[kevs-chickadees]

Hey everyone!!

Beca-7

This is a pretty friendly group of Chicken Lovers. I think you will like it here!!

Billiam- Being an RN for more years than I care to admit, has made me a bit of an expert on unpleasant odors. Take my advice and hang the traps away from your porches and doors. They work great but after ripening a couple of days the smell will gag a maggot.

Fuzzybird- I have lost track of time. How are your eggs doing?? Has it been 3 weeks yet?? Any babies??

That is pretty funny and very true! I've got 2 of them hanging out by my coop and every now and then I check for what smells like a dead chicken hidden somewhere. I won't be using them anymore because they only capture the ones old enough to fly while the larva continue to hatch. I just ordered some stuff and when it gets here I'll be taking those down and somehow discard them. Maybe the neighbor would like them?

 

[Puffycheeks]

sometimes i think when we are having a bad day or feeling sorry for ourselves for one reason or another, something comes up to slap us back into a quick reality check and be ever so greatful of all the things in our lives that we do have. i got one today around 11:15.

my fireman's first cousin's wife was out walking their 18month old(only child) this morning down in awatukee. she collapsed and died right there on the sidewalk. we don't know the reason yet, her husband was out of town, her family lives in the midwest, his family in CA. all i know is that i will hug my family tighter tonight, but two other families will never be the same.

his cousin's wife passed, not the child.

I really know what you mean by the "reality slap" . I am so sorry for the family. A tragedy indeed.

 

[Puffycheeks]

Yuck yuck....yesterday I found a little tiny moving speck on the bare chest of my eldest hen. I checked three more and found nothing, no eggs, no more bugs. My daughter has her birthday party this weekend so dipping is going to have to wait until Monday night. I am so not looking forward to that. I forgot what people suggested, but I was going to try dog flea and tick shampoo and dip them, in water with the suds already in it, then dip them in clean water. Is that the way to do it?

I would think that a product for dogs would be way to toxic for the birds. PLEASE check the ingredients out and make sure4 they are not toxic to birds. Birds are alot more suseptible to toxins than other animals. Sometimes things are OK once they are dry but that would be difficult. How about dusting with SEVIN DUST or the poultry dust which is made for such nasty little problems. Good luck with what you decide.

 

[Puffycheeks]

THANKS to MamaHenChris for the grand tour of the "palace" and all of the Amazing work being done there!

Your chickens really have it made!!! They live in a 5 star resort with full room service and a view!

I had a real nice time, thanks again! P.S.- I looked at the "bat house" and I also like the idea. (JOE) said he has one at his house but dosent have any bats yet and his is hung at about 12 feet I think he said. The instructions say to hang it at least 15 feet and the higher the better. I really want one too but cant think of a place sheltered and high enough. Guess we will have to work on that!!! Thanks again.

 

[Puffycheeks]

FUZZYBIRD : Let me know for sure on the baby turkeys as I am getting too many and some will have to be going to the feed store.

Anybody else interested ??? Let me know ASAP!!!