Arizona Chickens

[AZ_HenHouse]

Hello all! I posted this on the Coop pages but thought I would post here as well as only two people had responded and I just wanted some advice for chickens here in phoenix. My wife and I are proud chicken parents of three roughly 5 week old chicks. Monica (BR), Rachel (RIR), & Phoebe (Amerecauna). I grew up around my Grandfathers cattle farm in Indiana and I have never had chickens before. My wife had chickens as a small girl here in Phoenix but doesn't really remember how to take care of them as see was in grade school. So of course I have questions and mainly because we live in Phoenix where it gets so hot. First here are the chicks at about 2 weeks old in the Brooder box and then now with their new BriteTap waterer:



I figured this was the way to go as the cooler keeps the water go figure cooler in our hot summer months. I have also added a 12lb hanging feeder for them as well but not pictured. Below is the Coop I built thanks to plans I purchased from TheGardenCoop.com I have made some personal modifications and plan to do some more in the future but had to get the main building done first. I could not have done this without the plans as they made it very easy and of course each day I was building it I thought of new ways I could change it and add-on.

Love the waterer

I would change the rock-chicks will be happier.
Welcome to BYC

ETA: Thanks for the links...I just ordered one

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I said I would post today pictures of what is done to this point.

the coop egg door has to get done tomorrow. I have to paint the inside and add one more roosting bar. I can wait on the clean out door because the front is open. I put the old coop in there pen for now, I will turn it around for the nephew girls later. I decide to paint it to match my house. Later I will get a better color match, paint the shed and the coop again.

I will have to get the temporary posts for the fencing, The rattan is for shade and to cover how flimsy it may be. The misting and water supply will eventually be under ground to the coop yard.

The tarp is temporary as the way the mister is in. I have only 1 beam in the one that is not stained, I will be putting a permanent cover later. I have to tweak the mister a little more, it is to wet right now. I plan on getting a more flexible timer, an off on thing. The girls didn't need any herding, the all cam in and stayed.

I hope I can finish it up tomorrow.

 

[ctroyer]

ctroyer nice, it looks great to me. Plans really do help. I had a sketch and scrape wood. I worked on what ever I had the materials for. The dimensions of the coop was dictated by the size of the wood. You will enjoy your girls, they are so much fun. As they grow their individual personality will come out. Right now my girls are venerable. From above they have some cover and a lot of hiding places. Coyotes, cats, and snakes no, dogs yes, When I am finished they will have cover and protection from all predictors except any little one not snakes. On the other hand any small snake will be dinner.

Did you have any help in building your coop? Some things are easier with an extra hand.

My wife helped do a lot of it. I held the walls in place as she hammered and then once the walls were constructed I di most of the rest. having her to help with the hardware cloth was essential as doing it alone would have taken forever and probably would have driven me crazy. The chicks already have personalities and they crack us up. Still every night they start squawking at us a dusk and for some reason will fly up to our shoulders instead of heading into the hen house. So we still have to put one in there and then the other two will follow. I am exceptionally happy we decided to go this way and then in the fall we are adding three raised garden beds in the yard to grow veggies for us and them.

 

[notinoz2007]

ctroyer you have definitely started something, lol. i just ordered the waterer too. i like that i will be able to put ice in it and no more poopy water. awesome!

ladykoda, your coop looks great. i love the pool stairs in there - sure makes a fast and easy roost

 

[ctroyer]

ctroyer you have definitely started something, lol. i just ordered the waterer too. i like that i will be able to put ice in it and no more poopy water. awesome!

ladykoda, your coop looks great. i love the pool stairs in there - sure makes a fast and easy roost

Ladykoda great coop! As for starting something that works for me. I have just been researching everything I can and was about to but chicken nipples to do a 5 gallon bucket and in my research found the britetap. Thought it was perfect and glad others know about it now.

 

[MaddBaggins]

ctroyer

Welcome! Monica, Rachel and Phoebe

Now I have the Friends theme song in my head.

I like the waterer, but does the water in the clear part get hot? That would mean every time they get a drink it's warm water. I'm curious. Let me know. If not, I may get one and a 5g cooler.

 

[MaddBaggins]

One more egg today so now that 5 eggs in 6 days. Almost an omelette! The eggs are small so I figured I need about 8 for a normal Baggins omelette.

 

[Demosthine]

One more egg today so now that 5 eggs in 6 days. Almost an omelette! The eggs are small so I figured I need about 8 for a normal Baggins omelette.

I haven't seen it posted anywhere, but I find I feel more full on fewer of my eggs, as opposed to the store bought ones. I use to sit down and eat six pretty easily. Now, I eat four, sometimes only three. My eggs are somewhat smaller than the large eggs still, so you might be pleasantly surprised!

 

[ctroyer]

ctroyer

Welcome! Monica, Rachel and Phoebe

Now I have the Friends theme song in my head.

I like the waterer, but does the water in the clear part get hot? That would mean every time they get a drink it's warm water. I'm curious. Let me know. If not, I may get one and a 5g cooler.

Yes we loved friends and since they were three different colors it fit. Plus we wanted a theme. To make things funnier they do seem to have the personalities of the characters. As for the waterer it stays cool as long as it isn't in direct sunlight. I have been checking it everyday after work and it feels like normal tap water not hot not cold. However when I add ice it does feel cooler in the morning.

 

[MaddBaggins]

Yes we loved friends and since they were three different colors it fit. Plus we wanted a theme. To make things funnier they do seem to have the personalities of the characters. As for the waterer it stays cool as long as it isn't in direct sunlight. I have been checking it everyday after work and it feels like normal tap water not hot not cold. However when I add ice it does feel cooler in the morning.

Cool, that's good to know. I like it.