Arizona Chickens

[MagicChicken]

I went to release the chickens this morning and found my poor Kevin dead under the roost. She's the first chicken I've had die since raising chickens in AZ. She had some kind of internal problems. She grew abnormally fast and large compared to her flock mates and laid only a few dozen eggs in her short two and a half years. But she was one of the sweetest birds I had. When I laid her on the ground while I dug the hole to bury her, her actual sister and inseparable best buddy, Waldo, kept nudging at her. Then she sat and preened Kevin's feathers until I took her away.

She was so fun and adorable. When we were outside she always came up and sat right next to us, wanting to be part of the group. RIP Kevin, we'll miss you.

Sorry about your loss, Gallo. Kevin was beautiful! Waldo sounds like a sweet bird, too - preening her dead sister's feathers. Awwww...

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Hey Peeps, thanks for the condolences. I knew she wasn't long for this world with her problems but it was sad to be faced with it. I've been extraordinarily fortunate this far in my desert chicken raising adventure and this sad passing pales in comparison to what many of you have dealt with in your flocks. It's nice to have a place where others know what it's like to be sad over a simple bird.

On the upside, Waldo walked off and began foraging right after I took Kevin away. Maybe there's something to be learned from that. I need some ice cream.

 

[itsredcandy]

Hey Peeps, thanks for the condolences. I knew she wasn't long for this world with her problems but it was sad to be faced with it. I've been extraordinarily fortunate this far in my desert chicken raising adventure and this sad passing pales in comparison to what many of you have dealt with in your flocks. It's nice to have a place where others know what it's like to be sad over a simple bird.

On the upside, Waldo walked off and began foraging right after I took Kevin away. Maybe there's something to be learned from that. I need some ice cream.

Good excuse for a double scoop.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
With hot fudge!

 

[itsredcandy]

With hot fudge!

and chopped nuts, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. Oh shoot, go all out and go to 31 flavors and get a banana split.

 

[AZBootsie]

FuzzyBird-

These would be the parents of the light chicks:

Momma Freckles EE


Momma Tilly EE


Momma Cuddles EE


Dad Rooster Cogburn

​

Some of these are coming out looking a lot like Freckles....some white....some wheaten....some salmon. "box of chocolates" Easter Eggers. The pics I took of my EE babies are blury...but here are a couple I think you can see well enough to get color ideas.





This little Cockerel has the greenest legs I have ever seen.

Ok will find pics of the B/B and lavs in a bit.

 

[bufforphfan]

I live in Southern Gila county and have been raising chickens off and on for over 40 years. I have never used water sprays, or cold water bottles, or resorted to any other kind of unnatural cooling. Sure you may loose an occassional chicken due to the heat, but mostly you just need shelter from the hot wind, adequate shade, good ventilation and plenty of clean water. I have an elevated henhouse that is well ventilated and I have a nipple watering system both inside and out. I also keep a water trough in the run, which I check on regularly during the summer. I keep 6-8 laying chickens which keep us adequately supplied with fresh eggs. Keeping more chickens than you need is expensive and a money loosing proposition.

 

[jacobkelly15]

best place to get chicks is at stockmans on 73rd ave and buckeye rd. stock shop on thunderbird is good but the chicks arent vaccinated. PRATTS! is scary!!! they have sick chickens! but check any other feed stores you come across for chickens!

 

[Mikey D]

I went to release the chickens this morning and found my poor Kevin dead under the roost. She's the first chicken I've had die since raising chickens in AZ. She had some kind of internal problems. She grew abnormally fast and large compared to her flock mates and laid only a few dozen eggs in her short two and a half years. But she was one of the sweetest birds I had. When I laid her on the ground while I dug the hole to bury her, her actual sister and inseparable best buddy, Waldo, kept nudging at her. Then she sat and preened Kevin's feathers until I took her away.

She was so fun and adorable. When we were outside she always came up and sat right next to us, wanting to be part of the group. RIP Kevin, we'll miss you.

So sorry Gallo.

 

[Mikey D]

I am so confused. The second from the bottom of the pecking order of my 20 week olds did an eggs song. First egg song from my pullets. I was so eggcited I went searching the yard, nest boxes and NOTHING...NOTHING I tell ya. GRRR....would they start to lay already??? My 5 girls are now 20 weeks, the Australorp is 18 weeks and my Ideal 236 (white leghorns) are 17 weeks. They should all be starting. I've read that it's typical for the Ideal 236s to start laying between 13-16 weeks. That's early but mine are 17 weeks and don't seem interested at all. Actually none of them seem to snoop in the coop during the day time. They only go in to roost.

Anything I can feed them or do to encourage them to lay? I think I've been patent long enough

~Selina

It is a tad on the hot side - maybe they are waiting for more favorable weather?

I don't think you can force this type of thing...