Arizona Chickens

[paynemom]

Any AZ chicken people out there? I am looking for some advice on raising chicks in the desert. I'm in Mesa. Does it get too hot out here? I have four 20 day old chicks, 3 Buff Orps and 1 leghorn. Do we need to do anything special here

 

[65browneyes]

I'm in the Verde Valley. It's nothing to hit 110* in July/August up here.

Make sure the chickens have lots of shade and fresh water. As Rufus stated, mist the run several times a day. I even keep ice blocks, frozen milk jugs, or 2 liter bottles to put in the hen house and coop for them. They'll stand on the ice block and peck at it. You'd be suprised how much they will cool the area. I also freeze 16 oz water bottles and make sure to keep them in their water during the day.

Restrict their scratch. It's a "hot feed" and increases their metabolism to digest, causing their bodies to heat up. I also keep lots of watermelon, canteloupe, grapes, etc around for them during the summer months.

With a little additional effort on your part, they'll make it through the heat just fine.

 

[rufus]

Lots of shade; lots of water. Install an automatic waterer. Miss water one day, and you are out of the chicken business. Put a lawn sprinkler in the chicken yard on a timer so that it goes off several times a day.

The rains we have had in the last couple of days produced a bounty of grass and weeds. Chickens love dandy lions, mustard weed and winter grass. Let them go at it.

Rufus

 

[igorsMistress]

Jailbirds

 

[Azsilkieluv]

I'm in Az too. What great advice.
We got our first chickens ( 3 Silkies) in Oct of last year so, they haven't had to deal with the heat yet. We have since added 4 more Silkies to the family and have 6 eggs that are do to hatch on tuesday. : )

 

[a2ms4chickens]

Hi Everyone-

I am in Tucson. We just became chicken owners in November for my son's 4-H project. So, we haven't had to deal with summer yet, but I worry about how the heat will affect them.

I've heard a lot of people put frozen water bottles out so the chickens can lay against them when they get hot. So, I am planning on giving that a try, as well as, lots of water.

I've also heard that a lot of people put a box fan in the coop to get some air moving. I like the water sprinkler idea, I will have to consider that.

If you come up with any other ideas that work, be sure to let everyone in Arizona know. I've kinda grown fond of these little feathered friends of ours, and would hate to lose any of them.

 

[DesertChic]

This face is my happy place:

 

[igorsMistress]

Good morning AZ. These are my new babies. They’re fawn and white Indian Runners. We named them Bean, Fig and Pip

 

[igorsMistress]

Good afternoon AZ. Here’s my duckies. I’m having so much fun with these little ones. Igor said he wants to have four total, but I told him he can get another when he’s the one taking care of them. I’m happy with just the three.

 

[City farm]

Agh, today is day 21 and with no further adooooo. I am proud to announce the new momma & arrivals. She is a proud momma.. I am giddy & will be busy checking on the others that are ”pipping” We will not be keeping them so let us know if you have a furever home.