Arizona Chickens

[grussell48357]

We have a couple of Rhode-Island Reds and the rest, I was told, are Red-Star. We have a White-crested Black Polish Rooster too. They were all young-adult birds when we got them, so we thought the rooster was a hen at first. Then he started to crow. Getting 11 large, well formed (and tasty) eggs a day from 11 hens.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

Here are the new arrivals

They are adorable! How are Tiny and her chicks doing? They must be bigger than her by now!

 

[flower]

We use a box or a plastic tub for a brooder, yes home depot has the light you need. We use tree dropping's from our yard for bedding outside, or pine from a neighbor. In th e brooder we use paper towels. Easier to change 1-2x a day. Not exactly sure on when their feathers come in but probably at least 1 1/2 months.. We have hens that do all of that..post up photos.. If I were you I would post up for a local breeder and get a variety of chicks.. Trust us when we all say chicken math is a for real thing..

CHICKEN MATH is for sure ! Especially when you have four hens that like to be mommies. Enjoyed all the beautiful pictures.

 

[MagicChicken]

@Born2blove , there are lots of ways to raise chicks. In the brooder the birds need unheated areas as well as heated areas. The more exposure they have to the cold the better acclimated they will be to both cold and heat, because their feathers help insulate them from both cold and heat. Once you see pictures of baby chicks out in the snow with their mothers you will realize that the little guys are much hardier than people think. Always give them a warm place, but give them the opportunity to get into cooler areas if they choose. They will be healthier.

You really should check out the Learning Center for information on basic chicken raising:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

I put my birds outside in the coop when they are fully feathered, usually around 4-6 weeks old. They don't roost on their own right away. They usually sleep in a pile in a corner until they are a few months old, then they start sleeping on the roosts. Not sure how typical that is but all my chicks have gone through that same process. They are fine as long as they have a big pile of clean bedding to insulate them. If it is going to be really cold I will make them a sleeping box - a big cardboard box with a pop door and some vent holes, and several inches of pine shavings or other bedding material. I usually have to put them into the box at night but they come out on their own in the morning.

In the winter the birds in the coop will have more problems from condensation and lack of ventilation than they will from being too cold. Read the Coops Forum threads for information on building coops with good ventilation.

Shade, water, food, lots of ventilation, and room to run are the critical needs for chickens in Arizona.

After they have feathered out and moved to the coop, let them acclimate. If you heat them in the winter and cool them in the summer they do not get a chance to adapt to the cold or heat, and they are more likely to have problems if the power happens to go off. You want hardy birds. They get hardy by being gradually exposed to temperature extremes. The key word is "gradually." Don't take a bird that has been in a brooder at 90 degrees and put it outside in below freezing temperatures and expect it to be okay.

If you watch your birds carefully they will let you know if they are comfortable. If they clump together they are cold (may be ok for older birds, not ok for young chicks). If they are all as far from the heater as they can possibly be, they are too hot. If they are randomly spaced and bouncing around like happy chicks, they are just right.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

[AZGardenFarmer]

During the Summer here, run a Misting System. It helps keep them cool. Shade & ventilation isn't enough. My hens lovee the misters I have running around their pens. And the mud even more.

 

[City farm]

We have a couple of Rhode-Island Reds and the rest, I was told, are Red-Star.  We have a White-crested Black Polish Rooster too.  They were all young-adult birds when we got them, so we thought the rooster was a hen at first.  Then he started to crow.  Getting 11 large, well formed (and tasty) eggs a day from 11 hens.

 

[City farm]

Out of 9 egg's 1 not fertile, the last 3 did not progress. The last 2 photo's, the middle yellow chick
kind of seems to me that it has sprawled leg.. She-he is a wheaten ameracans,
From left - right, isbar, WA, WA, Isbar,isbar..very happy with 5.
On the down side, Pretty is in time out.. She has let her Son the bielefelder go off on his own, and YES!! Trying to go broody.. Brat..

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

10$ For an olive egger chick that's pretty steep.

Also I have a couple of incubator up for rent if anyone is interested in doing a small hatch. Mine only hold 6 eggs. I've tested them both and had good hatches.

Also looking for chocolate orps. Eggs chicks or adults.

What brand is the 6 egg incubator?

 

[allsummedup]

I have an Rcom mini which auto turns three eggs but if don't mind hand turning can fit 6. Automatic humidity and different settings for diffident kinds of eggs. Very slick little set up.

And

A dasp mini which hold six and requires no turning I find it great for shipped eggs that have rolled air cells. It's a little less user friendly but still very effective if you don't mind taking your time with it.
I wrote a review on it
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/774021/dasp-mini-digital-incubator-trial-and-review

 

[desertmarcy]

Barred Rocks are great! Usually friendly, smart, and hardy. My barred rock chick survived a hawk attack!
If you do get Barred Rocks... pick the ones with the darkest feathers and the most black on the front of their legs. You'll be more likely to get pullets then.
Also, any time you get chicks make sure you check each one for deformities or injuries. Check the beak and toes, especially.

Home Depot will have the lamp and Walmart usually has the red bulbs. If you use the regular white bulbs it disturbs their sleep at night.
You can put them outside when they are fully feathered but you might want to have them adjust to the cold gradually.
Mesa Feed barn has small waterers, feeders and chick starter.

Have you been able to find red heat bulbs less than 250 watts? Because the 250 watt bulbs are wicked hot and will burn you if you accidentally touch one. I have used 150 white heat bulbs, not particularly crazy about the fact they are white, but couldn't find red in a lower wattage. I have not had any problem with the white light when brooding chicks or turkey poults although I've read it can cause picking problems.