Arizona Chickens

[SherrieT]

Wow I had forgotten about Coati's. I'm tempted to say it was even closer to the ground than that and I didn't get an impression of white striping.

 

[MagicChicken]

Quote:
This was too low to the ground and it was a lot sleeker than a fox

My first guess would be rock squirrel. The ones in my neighborhood vary from brown to dark grey in color, they run low to the ground and can move in a very ferret-like way, and the ones in my yard tend to find cover and then peek back out to monitor whatever I'm doing. They look like tree squirrels when they stand still, but they often catch me by surprise the way they run. Sometimes look like anything but a squirrel. So take the photos on this site with a grain of salt (they are still photos and they look classic squirrel): http://wc.pima.edu/Bfiero/tucsonecology/animals/mamm_rosq.htm

Might be a ringtail, but they tend to be yellowish in color with distinct black-and-white banded tails: http://wc.pima.edu/Bfiero/tucsonecology/animals/mamm_ring.htm

Gallo suggested a coati which is possible, but doesn't seem as likely given the location. Coati tend to be more in the higher elevation mountains. I think of them more in the Santa Ritas and Catalinas than in the Tucson Mountains. Plus they're much larger than a ferret. But you never know. They don't know where the books say they're "supposed" to be. They just go where they want to go. http://wc.pima.edu/Bfiero/tucsonecology/animals/mamm_coat.htm

 

[Phottoman]

HEY !!! My chicks are finally starting to give back what I have been giving to them. Last Wednesday I got three eggs, that's only the second time that has happened, then on Thursday, Friday and Saturday I was rewarded with FOUR eggs per day. And today I was gifted with FIVE eggs. All this from eight mixed chickens, which are, I think, two RIR's, four Silver tipped Wyandots, one Black Wyandots and a runty looking bantam Wyandot (mixed colors). (I haven't figured out how to use spellchecker on this forum yet, so forgive me for misspelling Wyandots). These eight girls have been free-ranging from early morning til right around sundown, yet they all "seem" to be heading back to the coop to lay their eggs in the nest boxes. They don't seem to really LIKE the golf balls in the nest box, often I will check each day and find the golf balls out in the middle of the floor, strange, eh?

And the colors on these eggs is wonderful, they range from soft brown to dark brown and half are borderline light green, almost blue.

What has really amazed me is all the reading I have been doing about having lights on in the hen house, but I broke the bulb in the 12v system almost a week ago and the best egg production has been since the light broke. I have replacement lights ordered, but when it gets dark outside, it gets dark in the hen house.

I had been turning on the light about 6:30 to 7:00 PM, then going out and turning it off around 10:00. Then the timers arrived that I purchased on line, and that's when I broke the bulb.

I am SO jazzed. They are finally starting to produce.

And if my timing is correct, in about two months I will have nine more birds giving me eggs, five Leghorns and four black something-or-others that shine with a beautiful green glow when they are in the sun. Plus I have a rooster that is kin to the four black/green ladies, same color but twice their size.

Now, if only I could let the rooster out to play with his girls, but he does NOT 'play well' with the original eight. Last week on two different days, I came home to find girls in neighbors yards, and the ONLY time they do that is if he has been chasing them. And I do NOT want to cut their wings. Oh well, he is banned from the yard and spends his days in the run.

One neighbor is my sister, so that is no problem. The other neighbor told me later that he was watching me, and laughing as I called the girls close to the fence so I could lean over and pick each of the eight up, one at a time, and move them back to their own yard. I guess he isn't too unhappy with the chickens.

 

[Fuzzybird]

Here's a cool picture of my 6 month old turkeys. Poor Blue Bell keep squatting in front of him but doesn't have a clue yet. Just as well I don't want chicks from him. I have Banner my Royal Palm for her who is a month behind them in age. These turkeys are named Dinner and Super. Sorry Puffy Cheeks. 5 turkey Chicks and I got 5 Toms = to many Toms!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
This was too low to the ground and it was a lot sleeker than a fox

My first guess would be rock squirrel. The ones in my neighborhood vary from brown to dark grey in color, they run low to the ground and can move in a very ferret-like way, and the ones in my yard tend to find cover and then peek back out to monitor whatever I'm doing. They look like tree squirrels when they stand still, but they often catch me by surprise the way they run. Sometimes look like anything but a squirrel. So take the photos on this site with a grain of salt (they are still photos and they look classic squirrel): http://wc.pima.edu/Bfiero/tucsonecology/animals/mamm_rosq.htm

Might be a ringtail, but they tend to be yellowish in color with distinct black-and-white banded tails: http://wc.pima.edu/Bfiero/tucsonecology/animals/mamm_ring.htm

Gallo suggested a coati which is possible, but doesn't seem as likely given the location. Coati tend to be more in the higher elevation mountains. I think of them more in the Santa Ritas and Catalinas than in the Tucson Mountains. Plus they're much larger than a ferret. But you never know. They don't know where the books say they're "supposed" to be. They just go where they want to go. http://wc.pima.edu/Bfiero/tucsonecology/animals/mamm_coat.htm


How long was it? That will allow you to distinguish between most things. The coati would be much larger than a rock squirrel. It would be highly doubtful that it was a ringtail; I've seen dozens, if not hundreds over the years and all were spotted at night. I've seen coatis at pretty low elevations in the Rincons, Santa Ritas and Catalinas. I also saw them at the Nature conservancy in Patagonia, which is pretty low. They will often follow along riparian areas when at low elevation. BTW, the coati is very low to the ground too.

 

[SherrieT]

About 4 times bigger than any rock squirrel I've seen around here.
Now you guys know why I'm so perplexed. Wish I had a Hav-A-Hart trap

My first guess would be rock squirrel. The ones in my neighborhood vary from brown to dark grey in color, they run low to the ground and can move in a very ferret-like way, and the ones in my yard tend to find cover and then peek back out to monitor whatever I'm doing. They look like tree squirrels when they stand still, but they often catch me by surprise the way they run. Sometimes look like anything but a squirrel. So take the photos on this site with a grain of salt (they are still photos and they look classic squirrel): http://wc.pima.edu/Bfiero/tucsonecology/animals/mamm_rosq.htm

Might be a ringtail, but they tend to be yellowish in color with distinct black-and-white banded tails: http://wc.pima.edu/Bfiero/tucsonecology/animals/mamm_ring.htm

Gallo suggested a coati which is possible, but doesn't seem as likely given the location. Coati tend to be more in the higher elevation mountains. I think of them more in the Santa Ritas and Catalinas than in the Tucson Mountains. Plus they're much larger than a ferret. But you never know. They don't know where the books say they're "supposed" to be. They just go where they want to go. http://wc.pima.edu/Bfiero/tucsonecology/animals/mamm_coat.htm

 

[SherrieT]

This is the closest that we've found that it look like: A European ferret (what is sold in pet stores)

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

This is the closest that we've found that it look like: A European ferret (what is sold in pet stores)

Oh boy, that would be trouble! I wouldn't doubt that someone would release one when they grew tired of it. I was way out on Lake Roosevelt once in my little personal pontoon boat and thought I saw a giant turtle head looking at me. I moved over closer towards it to get a better look only to discover it was a huge constrictor of some kind. It was probably 8-10' long. Someone probably thought it would be a good idea to release it there.

 

[Fuzzybird]

If it truly is a domestic ferret it will not live long. Much to hot and dry here for it. Poor thing!

 

[Mahonri]

Some of my New Year's Day chicks are FINALLY starting to lay. Got 33 eggs this week. Best I've had in ages. Now I can't wait until all of the Easter chicks start laying. Of course I now have four or five hens that are molting so who knows how long it will be until they start laying again.

I still have one of Bargain's EEs that hasn't started to lay yet but all the rest of my NYD chicks have layed at least 2 or 3 eggs.

I suppose I'm going to have to say goodbye to my gorgeous Icelandic roo. He's getting frisky with all of the ladies and and is crowing up a storm.

I do have one real pretty Blue Wheaten Ameraucana roo that I'm waiting to put over the 4 hens that I have, but NONE of them are laying anyway.... perhaps by the end of November or first part of December and then I can do a hatch or sell some eggs.

I'm loving the cooler weather, the corn I planted is thigh high now and I've got little green tomatoes on as well as green peppers forming.