Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

I finally found my way back! I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I've been lucky so far, but it's been a lot of work to keep my birds cool. I haven't hooked up the A/C in the chicken cabin yet, but I suspect that's coming in the near future.

We also planted a couple pomegranate trees last weekend which will hopefully grow well and provide additional shade. Eventually I hope to have created a nice micro-climate around all of my coops to keep everyone happy without having to resort to extraordinary measures.

I'm glad to see that you found your way back! How are those SGD's doing?

 

[MagicChicken]

What kind of tubs do you use? We installed misters and shade cloth, but I can tell in the heat of the day, they're hot.

I use the big black rubber feed bowls from the feed store. They are a bit pricey but they hold up well. I also use them in winter because they are easy to kick the ice out of.

Don't expect to keep the water clean. The chickens will stand there with their muddy feet and the water gets dirty fast. And then they poop in it. And sometimes lay an egg in it. (Yuck. I don't eat those.) I change the water out a couple of times a day when I'm home. Dumping the dirty water in the run helps keep the run cool, and the hens like to dig in the dampness. The only time I don't dump the water in the run is when we've had a lot of rain. I try not to let the run get too muddy.

 

[DesertChic]

I'm glad to see that you found your way back! How are those SGD's doing?

They're holding up surprisingly well. So far the only thing I've had to do is keep their feed wet and hose down the ground occasionally so they have cool places to scratch, stand, and mud bathe. And they're SUPER affectionate. One of my pullets went broody already. It took me three days of removing her from the eggs before she stopped, but that's it. The eggs are now between 1.4 and 1.6 ounces, so they're getting closer to being hatchable, but not just yet.

 

[BlueBaby]

@DesertChic I'm glad to read your positive posting on the SGD's coming along well. I'm still waiting on someday getting one or two of those for my broodies.

I had kept 3 male Australorps from my New Years Day hatching to grow them out. I decided to keep the Blue one, and I gave away the two Splash ones. I didn't need another Splash one. I am very pleased with the way that the coloring is coming out on my young Blue roo. He has even started crowing now too, although he is still trying to run away from the hens!

 

[cactusrota]

I've been very impressed so far with my birds that I brought down from Utah. Four hens, just under a year old, temps up to 106 and still getting 3-4 eggs a day. No signs of stress. A little bit of panting and sticking wings out, mostly by the EE's. All they have is plenty of shade and two sources of water.. one is a regular waterer and the other is a dish tub they can stand in if they want but I haven't seen them get into it yet.

 

[BW56]

I lost my Boy a little over two weeks ago. Very suddenly as he was young and huge. The girls have a citrus tree with a mister under it and the cooler draining there also. The coop only gets direct sun at noon, shade before and after. I designed it to self draft the heat out the top pulling in cooler air from below. My silkie is hatching some of his work now and shows no heat signs. Hatching date is 6/12.

 

[nicollee]

Wow, it's been a busy couple of weeks...
I finally figured out why I wasn't getting updates.... BYC Moved! (duh)
now I have to figure out why it says I'm not subscribed to threads, or just resubscribe. I've got a young hen, who is either broody, or hiding from the other hens, (I had to get rid of her buddy/protector HE was to loud for my neighbors) .
Is it to hot to find her eggs to hatch? or how do I get her out of the nesting box?
If, it's ok to find her eggs... does anyone have some fertile Maran eggs I can buy?

 

[nicollee]

Poop boards ... !

Thank-you... the board closed before I was able to thank you for answering me

 

[nicollee]

Having trouble figuring out how to return here in a click or two .... I don't see a subscribe button, and I don't see a personal subscription list... In order to get here I have to go to account, click my name, click my postings, click on a posting, then go to end of forum.
ANY suggestions?

 

[azurbanclucker]

Alerts is probably the fastest way. When a reply comes in on a thread you're subbed to it'll trigger an alert.