Arizona Chickens

[Gallo del Cielo]

Living in the middle of a city, with dogs in the yard, other than said dogs, hawks, owls, or maybe a random cat, what else could be after them? I'm not aware of any other predators so I'm curious as to what else there might be so that I can deal with it accordingly of course. I think I'll have more of a challenge keeping my dogs out than any other predator. I'm pretty sure I'm going to put the coop on the other side of the yard, on the other side of the fence, so the dogs can't get to it.

I hope I'm coming across okay. I'm really curious what else might be here. I've lived here years and I've never seen anything, but I know that chickens will draw them. LOL.

By the way, I live in Yuma. There aren't any larger predators here and I live in the middle of town far from the edges. There might be some in the foothills or closer to the mountains, but as bad as it is here, I can't imagine I'd ever see any.

You're coming across just fine.

I live smack dab in the middle of Tucson and we regularly have coyotes that try to get into the coop and we have bobcats, raccoons, skunks, foxes and the usual arial predators. I think that many first time chicken raisers here in Tucson are surprised by the number of predators because, like you, they never see them. These animals manage to do quite well here by avoiding human contact, moving through alleyways and washes and being more active at night. I really don't know how many predators Yuma has, but dogs will always be a problem, sometimes even your own. If you read enough of this thread you'll find many heartbreaking stories of predators decimating flocks. I always feel I have to warn new people about the risk of chicken wire; it's really something best learned from reading about other folks' tragedies than from experience. It's worth reading a few of the search results from the BYC Predator forum on "chicken wire." If hardware cloth or welded wire does not fit the current budget for the whole project, consider making the coop very secure (no chicken wire) and using the chicken wire for the run. Then you can securely lock up the chickens at night when the risk is greatest. Down the road you can upgrade the wire on the run as the budget allows.

 

[Sill]

I just saw this automatic dog waterer on this interesting and innovation product website. I wonder if it work for chickens:

https://www.thegrommet.com/pets/waterdog-outdoor-pet-fountain

This is the crate with the mesh lip from the collapsible laundry bin ($6.98 clearance at Target):



I realize that the mesh probably will shred over time and I should use a wire/finished edge there, too, as well on the side. But I think it's pretty cool.

I was looking at that waterer and it looks as if it is activated by the proximity of the animal and then emits a stream of water. I don't think a chicken can drink well from something like that and it would probably waste a lot of water, and make a muddy mess of your coop/run.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

My husband isn't handy. He'd rather have someone else do it, so I end up building anything I want made myself. And honestly, I'm smart but I'm not super skilled with tools. I have to build a chicken coop. This thing is going to be a mess when I'm done, but it will be done. I'm modifying an old metal shed. I've removed two of the sides and I'm going to make two sides into light frames with chicken wire then I'll put them back where the old walls were. Should be easy except for finding the old screw holes and making holes into the frames that match. I'm thinking hold it up in place and use a pencil to mark the holes, then I'll drill into the frames and then use the nuts and bolts that were on the original frame....yeah a mess. LOL,

The only scrap I have laying around are doors(one is a screen door I'll probably use on the coop), 4 or 5 2x4s, some metal poles from a trampoline, and metal sheeting from the shed. So, soon I'll be making a trip to buy some lumber and chicken wire. I found some there that is 4ft x 150ft for $62. That's not horrible. 

I got pretty lucky with most of my coop materials. Quite a few homes around here were sold & the new owners completely gutted them. Doors, windows with panes and all kinds of wood were pild outside. I asked if I could have some & they all said yes! 5 different houses too so except for the clasps & hinges, I really didn't buy much, even reused the screws from the old housing material.
As far as predators, you'd be surprised where coyotes and even bobcats reside. Just because you don't see them doesn't mean they're not out there. I have to agree with Gallo, go with hardware cloth. I forgot that I did have to buy that too, wasn't in dh's stash of stuff, I got the 1/2" & used washers & screws rather than the staples to secure it.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

@CityFarm Here is Bo and Quatie the Alpacas and Katie (Christian my oldest sons) new puppy

You've got Huacayas! Don't alpacas have the cutest faces? Did you shear them yourseelf? And do you spin the fiber? Cute puppy! Looks like a small breed. I love the colors.

 

[Sill]

@CityFarm Here is Bo and Quatie the Alpacas and Katie (Christian my oldest sons) new puppy

So cute!

You're coming across just fine.

I live smack dab in the middle of Tucson and we regularly have coyotes that try to get into the coop and we have bobcats, raccoons, skunks, foxes and the usual arial predators. I think that many first time chicken raisers here in Tucson are surprised by the number of predators because, like you, they never see them. These animals manage to do quite well here by avoiding human contact, moving through alleyways and washes and being more active at night. I really don't know how many predators Yuma has, but dogs will always be a problem, sometimes even your own. If you read enough of this thread you'll find many heartbreaking stories of predators decimating flocks. I always feel I have to warn new people about the risk of chicken wire; it's really something best learned from reading about other folks' tragedies than from experience. It's worth reading a few of the search results from the BYC Predator forum on "chicken wire." If hardware cloth or welded wire does not fit the current budget for the whole project, consider making the coop very secure (no chicken wire) and using the chicken wire for the run. Then you can securely lock up the chickens at night when the risk is greatest. Down the road you can upgrade the wire on the run as the budget allows.

I got pretty lucky with most of my coop materials. Quite a few homes around here were sold & the new owners completely gutted them. Doors, windows with panes and all kinds of wood were pild outside. I asked if I could have some & they all said yes! 5 different houses too so except for the clasps & hinges, I really didn't buy much, even reused the screws from the old housing material.
As far as predators, you'd be surprised where coyotes and even bobcats reside. Just because you don't see them doesn't mean they're not out there. I have to agree with Gallo, go with hardware cloth. I forgot that I did have to buy that too, wasn't in dh's stash of stuff, I got the 1/2" & used washers & screws rather than the staples to secure it.

X3 on the hardware cloth, so much safer for your poultry. Owls, hawks, foxes, dogs are most common here and I'm in the middle of the Phoenix metro area. I even had a roadrunner trying to eat my quail! At least the chickens didn't have to worry about that predator.

I found cheap and free wire on Craigslist, it's worth it to keep an eye out to see what might be offered.

 

[cyborg]

Living in the middle of a city, with dogs in the yard, other than said dogs, hawks, owls, or maybe a random cat, what else could be after them? I'm not aware of any other predators so I'm curious as to what else there might be so that I can deal with it accordingly of course. I think I'll have more of a challenge keeping my dogs out than any other predator. I'm pretty sure I'm going to put the coop on the other side of the yard, on the other side of the fence, so the dogs can't get to it.

I hope I'm coming across okay. I'm really curious what else might be here. I've lived here years and I've never seen anything, but I know that chickens will draw them. LOL.

By the way, I live in Yuma. There aren't any larger predators here and I live in the middle of town far from the edges. There might be some in the foothills or closer to the mountains, but as bad as it is here, I can't imagine I'd ever see any.

Bobcats, coyotes, raccoons. Yes. Even in town.

 

[cyborg]

I'm looking to grind meat and soft bone. KitchenAid was actually a consideration for me because it does so much more. I know where a used one is that IS the commercial white KitchenAid but is not complete. There's a large hand crank one for $165 on CL. It's real old with a huge wheel. Don't know how well it would work nowadays and how much I want to crank a wheel. Lol
What about none for that one? I'll be grinding chicken and turkey necks and such.

I've never done bone with it, don't know how that would go. I cube my meat before I grind it.

 

[aviddamy]

Wow thanks everyone. I knew everything wants to eat them. I guess I couldn't imagine those types of predators in a city lol. I will look into hardware cloth. It is more. I've been watching for materials but so far no luck.

 

[a little chiken]

You've got Huacayas! Don't alpacas have the cutest faces? Did you shear them yourseelf? And do you spin the fiber? Cute puppy! Looks like a small breed. I love the colors.

I did not sheer them, I get to learn this year. They are so much FUN!!!! we are already in love with them. We do not Yet spin the fiber but we plan on it. The puppy is a Catahoula and Shetland Sheep dog cross.

 

[Sill]

I did not sheer them, I get to learn this year. They are so much FUN!!!! we are already in love with them. We do not Yet spin the fiber but we plan on it. The puppy is a Catahoula and Shetland Sheep dog cross.

I was guessing a sheltie, but I guessed half right!

Wow thanks everyone. I knew everything wants to eat them. I guess I couldn't imagine those types of predators in a city lol. I will look into hardware cloth. It is more. I've been watching for materials but so far no luck.

Where are you located? A while back we went to pick up some feed at a store that also sells welded wire. We bought a small roll but they also had a lot of scrap and partial pieces that wouldn't go back around the rolls of wire, quite a bit of it. My DH offered them a fraction of what it would have cost for all of it if the wire had been "whole" and the store owner said sure! She was happy to be rid of it. So we got some nice wire for very cheap and we don't mind having to piece together enclosures we make when we were able to get the wire for less than retail cost. Maybe you can find a similar deal at a feed store near you.