Arizona Chickens

[Gallo del Cielo]

Thought I would share some bird pics. Before the seeds got to my girls, this little one had a free for all.

Those little guys are so talented! They love to eat the desert marigold seeds in our yard. How they do it is so cool, they grab the stems of three flowers and pull them together to form a tripod which is strong enough to support their little bodies while they peck at the seeds. I've never seen them go after the sunflowers. Excellent job at capturing the behavior!

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Those little guys are so talented! They love to eat the desert marigold seeds in our yard. How they do it is so cool, they grab the stems of three flowers and pull them together to form a tripod which is strong enough to support their little bodies while they peck at the seeds. I've never seen them go after the sunflowers. Excellent job at capturing the behavior!

Thanks, I love just sitting in the backyard watching and being amazed at them.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

This little guy startled me when I went out to check on the girls. This cicada let me get close to get a good shot of it.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

So, someone was asking about the price of grapevines in Tucson in the last week or so and I think the prices I gave were too high. I was at MVG today and they now have all of the 2012 grapevines and trees out for sale. They have smaller vines for under $12, medium vines for $19 and the larger >4' vines for $35. I also saw a very interesting grape vine native to Arizona, called the Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica). They are found in riparian areas around AZ and produce smaller, but edible fruits. The leaves are also edible. They are very cute vines with much smaller leaves than the domesticated varieties.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

This little guy startled me when I went out to check on the girls. This cicada let me get close to get a good shot of it.

I've been seeing a lot of those emerging over the past couple days too! I love their faces. They remind me of the grill of an old pick-up truck.

 

[beehappy4ever]

My first chick popped out of its shell for this hatch! It never ceases to amaze the miracle of life! Only bummer is the 40 rare breed hatching eggs I bought got scrambled in the mail and after candling them tonight at 7 days realized none are growing! I really wanted to hatch some good stock into my flock....also if anyone is looking for baby chicks right now, the feed barn on I-17 and Lone Cactus In Phoenix has day old Cuckoo murans and Blue Cochins, I could resist and came home with 7 figured I would slip them in with what I am hatching and hubby will never know! .... Pictures to come tomorrow

 

[MagicChicken]

So, someone was asking about the price of grapevines in Tucson in the last week or so and I think the prices I gave were too high. I was at MVG today and they now have all of the 2012 grapevines and trees out for sale. They have smaller vines for under $12, medium vines for $19 and the larger >4' vines for $35. I also saw a very interesting grape vine native to Arizona, called the Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica). They are found in riparian areas around AZ and produce smaller, but edible fruits. The leaves are also edible. They are very cute vines with much smaller leaves than the domesticated varieties.

I've had a canyon grape in my yard for several years. It does well but it is not as lush as the grapevines on your run. I've had flowers and a few immature fruits, but never a grape. I suspect the fruits got eaten before they got ripe.

The goldfinches love my zinnias. They shred the petals and eat the leaves. The first year I grew the flowers for me. Haven't planted them since - they reseed themselves. Now I section off a special zinnia plot just for the goldfinch show. It's pretty entertaining.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

I know you all like pictures...

Our 1 wk old EEs and Ideal 236s:



Can anyone tell sex of EEs by wing pattern? (they are from Ideal)

 

[sevenrays]

This is going to sound awful but is there anyway you can hide the birds while the inspector is there? Maybe put them, in crates in a bathroom or something then when they leave let them out? Is your lot fenced in? I can't understand how they can say no to some hens but allow yapping dogs?

Ohhhh Behappy4ever, that was the first thing on my mind to hide them, however it must have been a neighbor that reported me. I am in the process of planting a forest of Moringa trees they grow very fast here and are very very useful trees (if any one is interested check out miracletrees dot org). I'll hang bird feeders up to attract wild birds that will be louder than my chickens however this will still be a few months and will probably have to find a temp home for them. I am also writing up a letter to the Gilbert Council members and the mayor. I want this discrimination to be changed. It is sad one has to become an 'outlaw' just for holding chickens. You all know what wonderful pets they make and how useful they are. Not to mention therapeutic I will see what responses I get. After just having U.S. Constitution Week here in Gilbert and a big event was held last night, which is all about our freedom. HA

So it is 50/50 at this point. But even if they decide to change the code or amend it, the process takes time and I can't afford being fined. SO any temp homes out there?

 

[Fuzzybird]

Fantastic pictures Mama Hen! You are a fine photographer for wild life. I wish I was as good.