Arizona Chickens

[kpgoldstar]

Coop with chickens for $100:

https://tucson.craigslist.org/grd/4684871013.html

Oh man, I want those hens! Too bad I am so far away

 

[kpgoldstar]

Thanks for the information. I'll compare prices and see where I can get it. I need to go check out Yuma feed anyway. I called Welp Hatchery today and my chicks were sent out on time yesterday. Looks like they might be arriving in the morning. Yikes! I'm excited!

edit: after comparing prices, looks like tractor supply is the cheapest, even than wayfair. I just need to check yuma feed, but I have to actually go there to see the price. =D

Do you have food for them yet? Better hurry up! Just asking since you haven't been to the feed store yet! I didn't need to have my coop ready until about 4 months and I got mine this same time last year. Kept my brooder in the garage.

@pipemum has had several attacks from predators as well as @desertmarcy . I am in Havasu and also was unaware of the number of predators who like chicken when I started. We have been fortunate so far, but the coyote attacks are rampant here especially on small dogs. Right in the middle of town, too. There are multiple sightings of bobcats and even a mountain lion. If you are in a neighborhood then loose dogs can be a real problem. They won't kill to eat like a wild animal, but just for the sense of killing. Even your own dogs can kill your chickens. Can't remember if it was @cyborg or @K9Dave but his dog killed all but one of a large number of chicks in one rampage.

 

[cyborg]

Yes, it was me. 16 Black Jersey Giant 6 week old chicks killed by my own dog in less than 5 minutes. After that, I wired my whole run with electric fence. Problem solved. And a whole new flock of BJG's growing out now.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

$70--Six black copper marans hens on the northwest side of Tucson. I'm full up now! I can't get them.

http://tucson.craigslist.org/grd/4654739195.html

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

Keep the coop. The chick bug will strike again in the Spring

Oh, it's not mine. I was just posting ads so other people could see them.

 

[aviddamy]

Oh yes I have food. I'm ready. I have even been playing with the heat lamp to see when I might need it. I just hadn't been to that particular feed store. I've been to Lowe's, Tractor Supply, and all over the internet learning things. This feedstore is local though so I'll be going there for as much as I can get. They have feed, waterers, feeders, and even baby chicks. ...silkies, silver laced wyandottes, and barred rocks. They were adorable. I was tempted, oh yes I was, but mine are arriving tomorrow and I can only have 20...maybe later when the broilers are gone.

I'm keeping 13 and I figure some of those will end up being roosters, can't have those, and then one or two will die from something or another. So I should have room in a few months.

As far as dogs attacking my chickens, oh yes, I'm aware, and cats. I was just surprised to think that coyotes, bobcats, or another larger predator like that would venture into town that far. I've been in the Tucson area before and I know there are predators there (I've camped there.), but I've never heard of anyone mentioning them or seen/heard one here. I know that doesn't mean they aren't here though.

The feedstore had hardware cloth, but only one roll, so they are ordering me more. I hope they get it in within a few weeks or I'm going to have to make my brooder much larger or buy the hardware cloth at tractor supply. It was about $10 cheaper to get it from the feedstore.

 

[K9Dave]

Any Guinea experts on here? I'm hatching Guineas and have some odd colored keets. Having not seen the parents since these were shipped eggs I do not know what colors they all are. I am also selling them if anyone wants any. I have 6 so far. 8 eggs still in the hatcher.

I want a pair please.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

This is day 22 for my Trader Joe eggs under my broody, Penguin. So far, nothing. She is pretty mellow about me poking around so I did that just now and didn't see anything happening. I'm picking up some chicks to give her today. How long should I leave her on the eggs?

 

[kpgoldstar]

Oh yes I have food. I'm ready. I have even been playing with the heat lamp to see when I might need it. I just hadn't been to that particular feed store. I've been to Lowe's, Tractor Supply, and all over the internet learning things. This feedstore is local though so I'll be going there for as much as I can get. They have feed, waterers, feeders, and even baby chicks. ...silkies, silver laced wyandottes, and barred rocks. They were adorable. I was tempted, oh yes I was, but mine are arriving tomorrow and I can only have 20...maybe later when the broilers are gone.

I'm keeping 13 and I figure some of those will end up being roosters, can't have those, and then one or two will die from something or another. So I should have room in a few months.

As far as dogs attacking my chickens, oh yes, I'm aware, and cats. I was just surprised to think that coyotes, bobcats, or another larger predator like that would venture into town that far. I've been in the Tucson area before and I know there are predators there (I've camped there.), but I've never heard of anyone mentioning them or seen/heard one here. I know that doesn't mean they aren't here though.

The feedstore had hardware cloth, but only one roll, so they are ordering me more. I hope they get it in within a few weeks or I'm going to have to make my brooder much larger or buy the hardware cloth at tractor supply. It was about $10 cheaper to get it from the feedstore.

I got my chicks on Oct. 6th last year and they were 2 wks already. My garage stays about 95-105 right now and was still in upper 80's last year by the time they were ready to go into the coop outside. I only used the heat lamp a couple of times, otherwise the temps were just perfect for brooding.

I heard a pack of coyotes about 1 lot away this winter and panicked. Got up around 2AM and blasted a shotgun into the air. Heard them again a few nights later. My neighbor behind me in not so many words told me he had taken care of them. Don't ask, don't tell. He has 2 little shitzu's. I haven't heard any since. We are about 4 houses away from a major wash that runs down to the lake so we could be vulnerable. I think as long as the bunny and little dog population keeps them fed, it is easier pickin's than jumping my wall and digging under my hardware cloth to find them in the upstairs roost.

 

[aviddamy]

Its so warm in my utility room that I'm more worried they won't be cool enough than it won't be warm enough. I probably will only use the heat lamp at night, but I will watch them to make sure they are warm enough. When I checked it today it was almost 100 under the heat lamp and it had been on all night. Do you guys think that is too warm? I know the temps are getting ready to start falling so I'll keep the thermometer in the brooder to make sure they are staying warm enough.