Arizona Chickens

[City farm]

We raised them here in Tucson and like K9Dave said having raised hutches and shade is imperative. Also you can freeze water bottles to put in their cages. We kept ours in a rabbit tree (a building) with a fan and misters as rabbits can get heat stroke fast. Other than that they are very easy to raise.

For everybody using misters, I have a big question here... when do you turn them on/off during the day and how?  On a timer?  Most irrigation timer on market only gives me 2 hours of misting, is that enough?

Just turned on the misters the other day to try out.. Forgot them so it was wet in part of the run.. We usually turn then on for about 2-4 hours in the hottest parrt of the day..

 

[City farm]

Your post totally give me a new idea of installing a solar powered fan for my future rabbit hub! 


Thanks Dave, Do you have a roof on top of the hutches? Or just trees?

Yeh we had corrugated metal roofs on them. Simple design. Maybe like a 3ft square box made from 2x4's lined with wire mesh. Bottles hang on the side. Can't remember what thread it was but so wine posted a very good posting about Not helping your warm blooded animals out in the summer as it does more harm than good. I very much know this to be true, just have to remind myself because it's easy to fall back in to. The more you help them stay cool, the more their bodies will need it. Hutches under shade and plenty if water is sufficient no matter where you are. We did keep a Trough of water semi-under their hutches and evaporative cooling lowers the areas temp by like 15 degrees it something. This is not a rapid cooking way and is a better way to cool off. With a trough near by, you'd just fill it up every morning and you can see how much water is evaporating and cooling.

Yes agreed.. Our run is along the side of the house between our block home & block wall.. So I do feel that our flock can get a bit warmer if they can not free range.. The mister system is only about 6 misters.. Small area.. We have never lost a chicken to the heat..

 

[a little chiken]

For everybody using misters, I have a big question here... when do you turn them on/off during the day and how? On a timer? Most irrigation timer on market only gives me 2 hours of misting, is that enough?

so most Hutches have a nest box and the pen/ wire cage part for the doe although you can add wooden nest boxes to cages at any time they do not have to be built on.
When we were young we had 300 rabbits in our rabbit tree and I have raised them with my mom as an adult. We covered at least 3/4 of the top of the cage with shade. We used wood and the misters can be used from 1-3 or from 2-4 that is the hardest part of the day. If you can have them in a shady area that helps. Raising them in a structure you MUST have ventilation. The new zealand whites of Flemish giants make good breeds also now people add californians to the new zealand. The apple juice bottles are a great Idea for them not to push it around so much.
We used 2 liter bottles and added one a day. You need to make sure their water bottles are in a shady spot or if you will be raising several I suggest you put in an automatic watering system.


This is a common breeders set up. automatic waterer, nest boxes on back of doe cages, covered pens and the bucks live on top as they do not need nest boxes. nest boxes must open for access. Just add a few trees and this is a great set up.

 

[City farm]

I only turn mine on when the temps are expected to exceed 110. Last year I didn't use them at all since all the birds seemed to be doing O.K. I used to turn them on for 15 min. or so at a time every hour between noon and three. I use a hose timer from Home Depot. You can program it to come on up to four times in a day for however long you want them on. There are probably better things for this job, but for the money it has worked well for me.

That's the new model of my timer that internally flooded on Sunday. It's in full sun in the summer, and spent the winter in the shed, so I'm sure something just cracked or dry-rotted inside. I love this timer because it's so freaking easy to use and program, which is why I'll probably get ANOTHER one (this would be my 3rd or 4th) but all the other ones have croaked during monsoons because water (usually rain water) gets into the battery compartment and rusts out the battery connection. So, fyi, love the timer, but the battery compartment is seriously flawed. Not a probably as long as it's not exposed to the rain. Okay, I guess that would make me pretty dumb to get another when I know of the problems it has...maybe time to move on!

Thank you for chiming in on the flaws.. We will be getting a new one soon... Gallo, we love that you cut and paste all of the wonderful things you do..

 

[City farm]

Hi y'all ! So happy I found this thread ! Im new to BYC , but not new to chickens. I've lurked all day, so Im all caught up.... : )
Im in Tucson, near the zoo. We have a small flock of chickens, a herd of New Zealand white rabbits, doing the tilapia and aquaponics thing...have a pack of dogs and a gazillian kids and grandkids under foot. oh. Cant forget the cats. We have those too. Doing some serious thinking about adding a pair of miniature goats to the craziness, but haven't taken the plunge.
According to some web sites, I am doing everything wrong. My chickens are mostly free range. My rabbits are also. Chicken feed? (the chickens look at me as if to say "you expect us to EAT that?") Rabbit feed...again..." *&^%$#@ "  . Its always put out there, but I think the wild birds eat most of it. I hit up Market On The Move on a regular basis. What we don't stuff down our faces, goes to the critters. Dogs and cats eat a lot of raw stuff too.
Oh and I was one of those moms that spanked their kids when they needed it and told them all they were my favorite. My grandkids now get this illustrious treatment. I look forward to reading all the goings on , knowing Im not the only insane person in the Old Pueblo e .
Thanks for all the info!

Ha!! You rock!!! So glad you are on board!!! Please don't mention mini goats here.. I can't start day dreaming about another farm animal...

 

[a little chiken]

Hi y'all ! So happy I found this thread ! Im new to BYC , but not new to chickens. I've lurked all day, so Im all caught up.... : )
Im in Tucson, near the zoo. We have a small flock of chickens, a herd of New Zealand white rabbits, doing the tilapia and aquaponics thing...have a pack of dogs and a gazillian kids and grandkids under foot. oh. Cant forget the cats. We have those too. Doing some serious thinking about adding a pair of miniature goats to the craziness, but haven't taken the plunge.
According to some web sites, I am doing everything wrong. My chickens are mostly free range. My rabbits are also. Chicken feed? (the chickens look at me as if to say "you expect us to EAT that?") Rabbit feed...again..." *&^%$#@ " . Its always put out there, but I think the wild birds eat most of it. I hit up Market On The Move on a regular basis. What we don't stuff down our faces, goes to the critters. Dogs and cats eat a lot of raw stuff too.
Oh and I was one of those moms that spanked their kids when they needed it and told them all they were my favorite. My grandkids now get this illustrious treatment. I look forward to reading all the goings on , knowing Im not the only insane person in the Old Pueblo

.
Thanks for all the info!

Welcome Syl

Hey I was spanked as a kid and somehow I managed to survive and my kids get it when they need it.
You and your animals know what is best on feeding them, we all try to get it right but it really is whatever works for that person and as long as all are healthy and happy. I cannot free range as I have 17 dogs most of whom are rescues and not all of them understand that the chickens guinea pigs rabbit ducks geese goats and pigs are friends not food. ***sigh**** but we try our best to feed as much veggies and fruits as possible. We utilize MOM and I have a garden too. I am out west by old Tucson. Maybe we can have a Tucson meet up for all us Tucsonians one of these days.

 

[City farm]

Just trying to post up photos. Here it goes. . our baby rooster I think?

yep looking like a boy to me.

Yes we hope so since we are giving our neighbor our rooster.. This one is so sweet.. At this point.. He is from your hen.. He looks a lot like the dark girl you gave us.. I named her Fiona.. Have not named him yet, still waiting to see who is a roo..

 

[a little chiken]

This is my doeling that I am getting memorial weekend. I used to show dairy goats but cant anymore. I am so excited my boys are joining 4-H so they will be showing.



and this is my pot bellied pig I am getting in June








and this is what my sons rabbit looks like




I love my little farm.

 

[City farm]

This is my doeling that I am getting memorial weekend. I used to show dairy goats but cant anymore. I am so excited my boys are joining 4-H so they will be showing. and this is my pot bellied pig I am getting in June and this is what my sons rabbit looks like I love my little farm.

Agh, I love your farm too...

 

[MagicChicken]

Quote: Thank you for chiming in on the flaws.. We will be getting a new one soon...
Gallo, we love that you cut and paste all of the wonderful things you do..

I've had several versions of these timers over the years and never had the kinds of problems you are describing. Maybe because I usually keep them covered with old bath towels?

The towel thing started the first winter, when I covered the timers in anticipation of a freeze. Yes, I know the instructions say don't leave the timers out in freezing weather. I leave them out anyway because I use them all year round, and I hate messing with them once I've got all the fittings connected. The towels protect them from the sun and help keep them from freezing in all but the deepest of freezes here. It's possible the towels also take the brunt of the monsoon downpour, so the rains aren't driven into the cracks of the battery compartment.