Arizona Chickens

[itsredcandy]

A little sad today. I candled my store bought fertile eggs today and not one has veins that I can see. I put them under my hen on Friday. Shouldn't I see something? One looks like the yolk is broken and there is a blood ring? a red circle on it that moves around. I put them all back under her after candling. Just not sure what to do now. Do I let them sit another week? Do I candle in a few more days? Do I beg again for fertile eggs? What to do? What to do?

 

[ChelleBelle]

Welcome to BYC! How old are your chicks?

4 of them are 2 weeks old (the RIR's, and the Sex links) and 2 of them (the Ameraucanas) are 1 week old. The 2 week old ones are constantly trying to get out of the brooder and seem very bored. The two little ones aren't ready for the outdoors yet but the bigger ones seem like they might be. What do you think?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote: You would still have to provide heat for them since the nighttime lows are lower than they should be for chicks that age. Just as an aside, I've never kept chicks indoors. If they are properly protected and have access to a heat source (and space to move away from it) they should be O.K., at least as far as the cool side of the spectrum. The heat might be another thing though. We've had some pretty hot days and surely more to come. I've done all my chick-hatching in the spring, so I don't have any experience with keeping them outdoors in this heat.

 

[ChelleBelle]

Welcome to the board. I think typically they say when they are feathered out. I would personally put them out at about 4-6 weeks this time of year as long as they have a fully enclosed run/coop. Otherwise I'd keep a close eye on them if let to go free range until they are about 10+ weeks. Even then, they may need help finding the coop at night. I have 4 month old Frizzles that I have to put in the coop every night. They sleep in the nesting boxes. Not to happy about that as I have to scoop poop every morning.

The coop we are building will be fully enclosed. We will probably let them free range when they're a lot bigger. They are 2 weeks now, they just seem bored in the brooder box. They try to escape every time I take the top off. It will probably be a week or so before we get the coop/run completley done. We're making good progress but it's so hot out there, we end up taking a lot of breaks.. lol

 

[ChelleBelle]

You would still have to provide heat for them since the nighttime lows are lower than they should be for chicks that age. Just as an aside, I've never kept chicks indoors. If they are properly protected and have access to a heat source (and space to move away from it) they should be O.K., at least as far as the cool side of the spectrum. The heat might be another thing though. We've had some pretty hot days and surely more to come. I've done all my chick-hatching in the spring, so I don't have any experience with keeping them outdoors in this heat.

I can hang a heat lamp in the coop. It's designed to be very open and airy. I read that I can freeze water bottles to put in the waterer and to provide a lot of shade. we are going to plant bushes next to the run to provide even more shade in the summer. Maybe they can go out in the evening and overnight and I bring them inside (in the brooder) for the hottest part of the day?

Here's my coop, it's not done.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I can hang a heat lamp in the coop. It's designed to be very open and airy. I read that I can freeze water bottles to put in the waterer and to provide a lot of shade. we are going to plant bushes next to the run to provide even more shade in the summer. Maybe they can go out in the evening and overnight and I bring them inside (in the brooder) for the hottest part of the day?

Here's my coop, it's not done.

Looks great!

I think that's a workable plan. They may even be able to stay outside if they have enough shade, just watch and see how they respond during the hottest parts of the day. Have you chosen the wire yet?

 

[Billiam]

OK...Just saw the funniest post on Craigslist. The dudes chickens are going broody, sounds like. Wife says, get rid of them or they become dinner. http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/grd/3221384967.html If I had room I'd adopt them. 10 each for fun grown hens, 2 are broody.

That is pretty funny. Remind me of Chicken Run. "Those chickens are up to something. I just know it!"

 

[ChelleBelle]

Looks great!

I think that's a workable plan. They may even be able to stay outside if they have enough shade, just watch and see how they respond during the hottest parts of the day. Have you chosen the wire yet?

Yeah we just got the cheap, hexagon shaped, wire. I wanted the small square wire but it was a lot more expensive. I was thinking to maybe put shade screen on top of the wire to keep flys out. Or try to keep flys out.. lol That would make lots of shade also.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
You should know that type of wire is great for keeping chickens in, but not for keeping some predators out. It will keep out things like hawks and owls, but not dogs, raccoons or coyotes. It's not that I'm saying you shouldn't use it, just understand the risks involved. Everyone has a balancing point of costs and risks they're willing or able to accept. Lots of people here use that wire and have had no problems, but if you spend any time at all in the Predators & Pests section you'll find horror stories grounded in chicken wire. Keep in mind that you can always cover the chicken wire with something more substantial later on down the road. 2" X 4" welded wire is not that much more expensive than chicken wire and will keep out most things.

 

[Fuzzybird]

Quote: When I lived in Glendale and had chickens they didn't even have a coop but just a yard for themselves. Not to many coyotes or foxes in Glendale unless in the outer parts and bet you have a block fence surrounding the yard right. You should be fine with chicken wire.
In Wittmann we had a nice rain.