My chickens free range in my yard. I too have a six foot block wall to keep them in. However, I have grass and no large bodies of water. Someone else will have to help with with water...though I do remember reading at least one post from someone elsewhere that had chickens and a pond. IMHO, bare dirt will be better than gravel/rock. See what others say on that one. As for shade, shade is required. Even in the winter my hens hang out in the shade. Oh, on the 6 foot block walls, you need to check out your predators. I am close enough to old city mesa that their are no cayotes, racoons, bobcats or hawks to contend with and my hens are full grown and too big for neighborhood house cats to fuss with. However, I do have wild birds competing for my food, so I put the food out a few times a day rather than leave it out all the time. Well, unless I can fool the wild ones about where I put it. So, requirements for the heat of the sonoran desert are shade and water and circulation. (no cute boxed in coops that turn into ovens.) Nessa just posted a picture of a coop that I think she is going to try and sell. You might check it out. Also, look at BYC pages for folks her on the AZ thread, so you can see what the heat consious do. Most have a three sided only coop are as a wind/rain shelter, but that still has one whole side for circulation. Oh, here at BYC we call the babies problem "pasty butt". Mine never got it, but I am told it is very deadly if not treated promptly. Also, watch the chicks to see if they are too hot / cold. If they huddle under the light they are cold. If they move as far from it as they can get, they are hot. Also, I don't have banties, but I suspect they can easily fly up to the top of that 6 foot fence. If you want to post pics of your babies (we always like pictures) someone might know just what kind they are. Welcome aboard!
PS: I didn't re-read this post, due to the late hour, so if it doesn't make sense, please excuse the typos, etc.
