Arizona Chickens

[Tanichca]

Quote: Well, we have an airedale, who has always chased away the coyotes around the house. But she's so old now (pushing 13), that the coyotes are even going over the fence around the back yard, because they know she can't handle her territory. We're planning to get a new airedale in the fall.

 

[Mikey D]

Cannot find one of my fuzzy heads...

 

[Fuzzybird]

All the loses! This is one bad summer so far and it not officially summer yet! So much sadness. I love the coyotes and they have their place but this one has gotten use to foul! I wonder if you can set a trap for him? I wonder if a goose would do the trick? I saw several geese at Pratts in Glendale last week.

 

[LMS]

Yikes! Newbie-to-be here... I came on to ask a few questions and am seeing such sad news (which is generating more questions, too)... So sorry for everyone's losses.

We are preparing to build a coop and get some laying hens in a few months, and I'm going to build a garden at the same time. I want to get rid of the oleander in our yard and replace the one that will be near (or in, not sure which yet) the run with a fruit tree. I know avocados are no good for chickens, but would a citrus tree (lemon or grapefruit probably) be okay there? I don't want to plant anything that will poison them, even though I've seen many people post that they don't worry about their chickens eating poisonous plants. (There is also a mesquite tree growing there which will provide shade -- I'm assuming that's not poisonous to chickens, right?)

Also, since so many of you are having coyote/wildlife problems... Are you in suburbia (like I am) or more out in the open? We have lots of hawks (and a nice light pole where they like to perch and plot their next move, right outside our back wall) and coyotes, foxes, and javelina who come through the neighborhood using the street behind our house to get to the wash, which is about a quarter mile down. Our yard is completely fenced in with a 6 foot block wall -- is that enough to keep the non-flying types out? I'm planning to cover the run with hardware cloth or chicken wire and maybe a tarp or a little bit of roofing to keep some areas shaded and drier (but not sure how necessary that is, since we are in the desert....) and figure the cover will keep the hawks away.

We have lots of ground squirrels in our yard and packrats in and out, so I figure if the wildlife haven't come over the fence for them, would they make the effort for chickens? Or is 6 ft high enough that they can't make it over?

I've been searching around online, and am having trouble finding good info on this stuff, especially the trees/plants so I thought I'd ask here since you all are the most likely to know about both chickens and the climate.... Thanks!

 

[AZKat]

My chicken's won't *eat* citrus, but it isn't actually harmful to them. You might need to treat the soil in some way after you remove the oleander, as it will make the soil toxic to other plants, I don't know how long it lasts, but it is something to look into. I would suggest planting citrus rather than avacado, since they don't grow especially well here.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I have grapefruit, minneola tangelo, lime and lemon trees and the chickens love to hang out underneath them in the tree wells where the soil is moist. I do worry about the grapefruits killing them. They are so huge, one day a big one is gonna fall and bonk one right on the head. Bound to happen sooner or later. Your mesquite is fine for the chickens. The block wall around your property won't be much of a deterrent to things like coyotes and dogs, they'll be up and over in the blink of an eye. I think it does help to keep a visual barrier from wandering dogs and therefore limits detection, but it won't keep them safe. If you can afford it, use something other than chicken/poultry wire. Hardware cloth and welded wire are great. Chicken wire over the run will almost certainly keep out hawks and owls, but maybe not raccoons or coyotes. Sometimes it's a matter of balancing risks and costs. Your proximity to a wash will certainly increase your risk.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Cannot find one of my fuzzy heads...

What's happening Mikey?

 

[pimachickens]

I do worry about the grapefruits killing them. They are so huge, one day a big one is gonna fall and bonk one right on the head. Bound to happen sooner or later.

I know it wouldn't be funny if that really happened, but just the thought of going out that way really made me giggle. Of all the predators and threats in our desert, I never even considered putting grapefruit on the list.

 

[pimachickens]

Cannot find one of my fuzzy heads...

Oh no! I hope she is found safely.

 

[pimachickens]

Welcome the the AZ thread, LMS! I agree with upgrading the wire a bit since you are close to a wash. Chicken wire doesn't keep many four legged creatures out. Where in Arizona are you?