Arizona Chickens

[pipemum]

I put my first 2 chicks in the coop/run at 3 or 4 weeks, and my second set of chicks in the run at 1 week old. It was May and plenty warm enough. I don't know what I'd do now as the nights are a bit nippy...but I'll figure it out as I'm picking up some meat chicks on Friday. I don't like chicks in the house--they are loud, smelly, and dusty--and my house is too tiny. Maybe I'll do one week in the house, one week in the garage (also tiny) and then give the broilers a boot outside at 3 weeks.

I'm building a broiler pen and it's challenging. I'm trying to use free pallets and stuff from my yard for a zero cost coop, but I also want it to look nice. I'm trying to get some corrugated plasticboard (plastic cardboard) and you know what fits the bill? The political signs all over the place (actually got the idea from the Salatin site). I called the City and they said to wait until the end of the month and they might have some signs for me.

Are chicks easy to give away? I'd like to incubate some hatching eggs with my daughter in the spring, but as I mention frequently, I have very limited coop space.

My parents are looking at some small acreage in Eagar, and I'm already planning their garden and fruit orchard. They won't do livestock since they like to travel, but I'm hoping to convince them of at least some chickens...

 

[MandyFitch]

Hey Mandy, I'm in South Scottsdale and I have 3 chicks that are the same age as yours, from Redrocketrooster. They've spent the last 2 nights outside with a Brinsea EcoGlow for heat and they're fine. They were up early this am, temp was 60. They weren't under the heat, they were out scratching just outside the EcoGlow. I was worried about them, there's only three of them and its very cool out, but I think they have enough feathers to keep warm enough. You have more chicks than I do, so I'm sure they'll huddle under the heat and keep warm enough. I think that with twelve all together, I would keep them together and they'll keep each other warm and you won't have to worry about creating separate flocks.

ETA: I have a very laid back approach to raising chicks and chickens. I usually let a broody care for chicks, but she rejected these three. Most people follow strict temperature guidelines, I provide the heat source and observe them and adjust accordingly. I don't even own a thermometer to place in the brooder.

Thanks! What chicks did you get? The lavenders are SUCH a pretty color, aren't they? Unfortunately I think two of the three will be boys. Such a shame.

I want to be laid back, too, but it's hard not to worry! They are outside in the run this morning with a heat lamp, a cardboard box with shavings to cuddle up in, sunlight streaming in and a towel over part of the run for shade. They are all in the shady part, pecking away. Nobody is trying to keep warm.

I think I'll wait a few more days, put them out earlier and earlier, bring them in later and later and then see. I just still feel really bad about losing the white silkie on the first day and I don't want to be the cause of another death.

 

[MandyFitch]

I personally didn't let my chicks into the coop/run until they were fully feathered around 6 weeks. I started them at 95 degrees under the brooder light then lowered to 5 degrees every week. At this rate around week 6 they should be ok at 60 degrees. It also depends on how warm your coop is and if you have supplemental lighting in there. I kept mine in a large cardboard box in the garage as a brooder for the 6 weeks, expanding the box as they needed more space. I know some people let them outside as early as 4 1/2 weeks and if they have a broody chicken raising them they are out in the coop with her from day 1. Kathy the chicken chick has a great article on it
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/04/when-to-move-chicks-from-brooder-to.html

 

[Twinklin]

You're very close. I'm on Thunderbird where it becomes Northsight and passes over the 101. My boyfriend used to work right across the street from that goodwill on Acoma where you said you got the parrot cage. Their office has moved though.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

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I wish chickens ate ants. I'm so sick of my feet and legs being covered in bites every single day. I spread DE in the grass occasionally but it only helps for a few days. I pour boiling water on the hills when I find them but there's just no keeping up with them. We also have stupid fleas in our yard. I keep the girls dusted and the dog is treated but they still bite the crap out of me. I hate bugs, hate hate hate!!!

http://homeremedieslog.com/health-topics/pests/fleas/remedies-11/ Try this for flee control. I was looking up Campher Bush/Tree, and Campher as insect control, and yes it kill flees. But is it also toxic to chickens? It probably is, thankfully most chickens will not eat poisonous plants, on tast they spit it out, then there are creatures that will it really tarrable tastin stuff.

this is what it looks like

The link looks very interesting, it has a lot of information nation. To get kill your fleas you may have to keep your girls locked up a few days and not lit the dog out in your yard, no matter what rout you take. I wonder if you can use a cat flea guard on chickens?

I know Borax works on fleas, once it gets wet it changes form and is used in fertilizers, it will not hurt the yard or chickens.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Help please!

So I've been moving my twelve chicks back and forth between the run during the daytime and the parrot cage in my bedroom at night.  Nine of the chicks are almost four weeks now and three of them are huge. I can't keep them in the cage for much longer.

Lows in Scottsdale are in the 60s. Under the brooder lamp it can get to 100+ depending on how I hang it. I actually have two lamps so I could create two warmth stations in the coop.  They need the space.  Can I leave them out at night? 

Three chicks are only three weeks.  Should I continue to bring them and the four week silkies inside at night? The younger chicks are all the same size or larger than the silkies already.  I'm concerned that separating them at night might create flock relationship problems for them in the  morning.

Opinions?

I have mine outside now. I have a heat source with them at night, I have been checking on them, most are in the nest box I have closes to the lamp, some sleep out side the box at times. Mine are between 2 weeks and 5-1/2 weeks.

this is what I have, the cover rug keeps the heat in. It is covered at night, I pull it back during the day and turn off the heat. As I have posted some wish to leave, I let them if I am there. In about a month I will be putting them in the grow out pen. I am letting the grasses grow right now, plus I plan on building them a temporary roosting shelter.

 

[Twinklin]

http://homeremedieslog.com/health-topics/pests/fleas/remedies-11/ Try this for flee control. I was looking up Campher Bush/Tree, and Campher as insect control, and yes it kill flees. But is it also toxic to chickens? It probably is, thankfully most chickens will not eat poisonous plants, on tast they spit it out, then there are creatures that will it really tarrable tastin stuff. this is what it looks like

The link looks very interesting, it has a lot of information nation. To get kill your fleas you may have to keep your girls locked up a few days and not lit the dog out in your yard, no matter what rout you take. I wonder if you can use a cat flea guard on chickens?

I know Borax works on fleas, once it gets wet it changes form and is used in fertilizers, it will not hurt the yard or chickens.

Luckily the fleas aren't in the house and so far neither the chickens nor dog have them. Our house is not very flea accommodating as we don't have any carpet. Yesterday I laid out a really good coat of DE over every inch of the lawn. Hopefully that will help, I didn't notice getting bit yesterday after I did it. Thanks for the link.

 

[Timskins]

Help please!

So I've been moving my twelve chicks back and forth between the run during the daytime and the parrot cage in my bedroom at night. Nine of the chicks are almost four weeks now and three of them are huge. I can't keep them in the cage for much longer.

Lows in Scottsdale are in the 60s. Under the brooder lamp it can get to 100+ depending on how I hang it. I actually have two lamps so I could create two warmth stations in the coop. They need the space. Can I leave them out at night?

Three chicks are only three weeks. Should I continue to bring them and the four week silkies inside at night? The younger chicks are all the same size or larger than the silkies already. I'm concerned that separating them at night might create flock relationship problems for them in the morning.

Opinions?

Im in the far north west valley and our lows have dipped into the upper fifties. I put mine outside a week ago when they were 5 weeks old with no heat. Would have put them out earlier if my coop had been done. When I bought the chicks I asked my breeder what temp she recommended for the chicks and she said they didn't need a heat lamp. I used a red flood lamp to up the temps a little since we keep the house pretty cool. They will huddle together for warmth if they get cold outside. If you already have it set up for a lamp in the coop then use it but I wouldn't make it too warm. Also as long as they can move in and out of the lamp coverage they will tell you if they need it or not by where they are laying.

 

[desertmarcy]

This is one reason I don't free range my birds. This mother bobcat was right outside my front patio yesterday around dusk. This photo was taken through my dirty sliding glass door:

Then I realized how cloudy the photo was through the glass, so I opened the door a foot and took some more:




Her kitten was heading off to the side, so I went out the door to get a shot. Unfortunately, my camera was not cooperating. I think there wasn't enough light for the setting I had it on, or maybe the batteries are getting weak, so it is blurry. And the kitten was not hanging around, it was heading for cover. However, mom did not leave until I waved my arms at her and told her to scat. As beautiful as they are, I do not like that they feel so comfortable around here.

 

[Twinklin]

This is one reason I don't free range my birds. This mother bobcat was right outside my front patio yesterday around dusk. This photo was taken through my dirty sliding glass door:

Then I realized how cloudy the photo was through the glass, so I opened the door a foot and took some more:




Her kitten was heading off to the side, so I went out the door to get a shot. Unfortunately, my camera was not cooperating. I think there wasn't enough light for the setting I had it on, or maybe the batteries are getting weak, so it is blurry. And the kitten was not hanging around, it was heading for cover. However, mom did not leave until I waved my arms at her and told her to scat. As beautiful as they are, I do not like that they feel so comfortable around here.

Well she is beautiful. If I lived in a more open or wooded area I probably wouldn't let mine free range either.