Arizona Chickens

[AZ_HenHouse]

I second the paper towels for the first week, then pine shavings(not cedar). I've never tried TerrAmigo, though. Some people say to put a thin layer of shavings under the papertowels to absorb moisture but I've never done that.
Put their water and food up on a brick or block of wood after you switch to shavings and it'll save you A LOT of time. You won't have to clean them out as often.
Newspaper is hard for the chicks to walk on and tends to create splay leg.

Well I have the tank in my room and I think I will go with the paper towels for now since I hear some babies wanting to come out

. We brought the tank over and I wanted to show him a coulple that I thought were duds and one that had been rocking earlier today. Then all of the sudden were starting hearing little peeps----OMG how cute is that. I am so excited that I can't even leave yet. There are some cracks in a couple of the eggs. This is so nervewracking...I don't know how you guys do it.
I did have a panic moment since we have an egg turner in there and had not thought about what happens when they hatch

Do they fall through to the bottom? Well since the first ones that are going to hatch are really little (banty frizzle mix and a serema mix) I figured I had better take them out of the turner. They are due on Tuesday and the majority of the eggs are due on Wednesday. They don't still need to be turned do they???
This is much easier when I let the broody do it

I am going to be a nervous wreck by the end of the week--heck by tomorrow lol

 

[MaddBaggins]

Well I have the tank in my room and I think I will go with the paper towels for now since I hear some babies wanting to come out

. We brought the tank over and I wanted to show him a coulple that I thought were duds and one that had been rocking earlier today. Then all of the sudden were starting hearing little peeps----OMG how cute is that. I am so excited that I can't even leave yet. There are some cracks in a couple of the eggs. This is so nervewracking...I don't know how you guys do it.
I did have a panic moment since we have an egg turner in there and had not thought about what happens when they hatch

Do they fall through to the bottom? Well since the first ones that are going to hatch are really little (banty frizzle mix and a serema mix) I figured I had better take them out of the turner. They are due on Tuesday and the majority of the eggs are due on Wednesday. They don't still need to be turned do they???
This is much easier when I let the broody do it

I am going to be a nervous wreck by the end of the week--heck by tomorrow lol

You're in Tucson, Right? What school? My daughter goes to Bloom and I know at least one teacher there raises chickens.

 

[AZ_HenHouse]

You're in Tucson, Right? What school? My daughter goes to Bloom and I know at least one teacher there raises chickens.

Yep in Tucson.
I teach self contained GATE so right now we are at Corbett but it is closing and our program will be moving to Kellond.

 

[MaddBaggins]

Yep in Tucson.
I teach self contained GATE so right now we are at Corbett but it is closing and our program will be moving to Kellond.

Oh, cool. Ms Garcia is coming to us next year from Corbett. I'm really sad to see so many TUSD schools closing. We're considering getting our daughter out of the district and into TVSD or a charter. Logistics would be an issue and Bloom is 100yds from our door and Magee is barely 1/4mile away.

 

[520farmer]

are you doing a "free range thang" over there? What are your plans for predators.

Ya kinda we have a fenced area about 120 sq ft, we buried the fence about a ft. deep at an angle, were not to worried about predators to much, like I said we have two pitbulls that are outside with our chicks all day, they just come inside at night. They killed the leader of the pack of feral dogs that came and killed our chickens the first time, and the hawks dont seem to even notice our one little baby chick. When we lived in tucson we had a family of hawks living in our yard and they never showed any interest in chickens, but they would dive bomb our dogs all the time and the dogs would try to take them out of the air lol. I have a picnic table and lots of chairs out there for her to hide under too.... we only built the fence for our future goat, i dont think we have enough preditors out here to really justify a fence lol, but im not afraid to run into my neighbors yard and blast a couple rounds off at any anything I feel is theatening my girl

 

[notinoz2007]

Quote: i lock mine down on day 18. this is when you take the turner out and increase the humidity. happy hatching! mine are due the 13th

 

[notinoz2007]

Quote: i ran through tons of plans online and on craigslist. i like this one because i can remove pieces, add pieces, separate runs. its awesome. we spent half what was being charged but no lie, just buying it would have been less headache. and i would have had it a month sooner! lol

 

[notinoz2007]

ooh, i'm so excited because we are modifying the top of the runs with raised flower beds. we went to a chain home improvement store the other day and they have a 15" square of tiny succulents. i love it and if thats all i can grow up there i will be happy, they're so cute.
also, DH is going to try to install a solar panel on the roof!

 

[notinoz2007]

chicksofhazzard, i LOVE your set up. the video was great and i like your staircase, even tho its not spiral

everything looks great.

 

[bcluff]

It's done!!!! It's DONE!!!! I'm so happy...

HAHAHAHA I'm not sure if its because im very tired but the narrating in this made me die!!! "Just give me the poop and nobody gets hurt" I wish my dog would do that but all she does is try to bask with the chickens and ends up getting pecked near to death.