Arizona Chickens

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Hi TT!
See Gallo, I told you people would start coming back!

So, I just want to check with my fellow desert dwellers...
I have searched threads on when to put chicks out in the "cold" but most people have enclosed coops, unlike most people here, I think.
I think I have heated my previous batches of chicks too long so I'm trying to change that.
My chicks are 6 weeks and have been spending days outside in their grow out coop for at least a week but I've been bringing them inside at night. They have been getting no added heat since 4 weeks but I don't think it's less than 75 in the house.
I'd like to just leave them out there now but I'm trying to decide if they need heat at night. Three are fully feathered but the 4th one still has some feathers to grow on her head. My grow out coop is open-air just like my big coop. See "my coop" to the left, 4th picture.
The low temp tonight is only supposed to be 58 but tomorrow it's going to be 51.
It seems like the perfect time to acclimate them somewhat gradually, right?

 

[Billiam]

The birds fit through the chicken wire? Or is it hardware cloth? Because I haven't seen any birds remotely close to small enough to fit through chicken wire in my area. About the only thing close are hummingbirds, and since they aren't interested in the feed, there's no worries there. Can you get some pictures up close to compare? The ones online look mostly too large to fit through the chicken wire. Those suckers are small to squeeze through!

I will say that I will try to get a picture, but it probably won't happen.

They hear the back door open and start scattering. I'm a good 20 feet away by the time they all get out.
I will try.

It is chicken wire, not hardware cloth.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
Yep, sparrows can go though chicken wire but they don't exactly "fly" though. They stop on it and kind of squeeze/climb through.
We changed our coop to hardware cloth and that fixed it.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
Oh, I believe they could zip right through chicken wire. I really thought (and some things I read supported this) that 1" X 2" welded wire would keep them out. It does not.

It barely slows them down. Interestingly, I talked with DesertMarcy who has similar wire, but lives just outside of town and the sparrows on her property do not pass through the wire. Dang city birds. Although, it really doesn't matter too much anyway since I now free range most of the time; the door is always open during the day anyway.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Hi TT!
See Gallo, I told you people would start coming back!

You were so right! I'll never doubt you!

 

[squeakyballs]

Gallo - those are amazing pictures!

 

[Billiam]

Don't be so sure things can't fit through tight spaces.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Gallo - those are amazing pictures!

Thanks! I took them with my daughter's new digital SLR camera (her early birthday present). It was fun to shoot several frames per second and not have to worry about the cost of film. The climbing was great fun. I must say, I'm completely amazed at the roof climbing. My fingers hurt just watching them.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Don't be so sure things can't fit through tight spaces.

I've seen that video a couple times now and it never ceases to amaze me. I have to say though, Beckyhsinglsc is right about the sparrows, they don't really fly through. It's more of a squeeze.

 

[Demosthine]

So, I was posting an article in the Feeding and Watering section when I came across a coupon post for Purina Layena with Omega-3. It's for $3.00 off.

I called The Stock Shop to see if they have any, since they are the closest authorized distributor to me and they were out. She said she would order me one this morning, but I just received a call from the owner saying they've received a full pallet of bags. They come in 40-pound bags and sell for $17.99. With the coupon, it brings it to $14.99. I'm not positive, but that sounds like a killer deal to me. I wanted to share the wealth...