Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

I have several NNs with pea comb and it really doesn't make a whole lotta difference in their heat tolerance. Body composition is much more important. My meatier NNs pant the most irrespective of comb or color.

Thank you for answering my question. I am more interested in the NN's that lay the eggs though, than the meat one's. I think that I would be better off going with the blue or green egg laying ones, as it would be easier for me to tell the difference between them in my incubators. Yes, I have 2 incubators now set to fire up for the spring hatches!

 

[Ianthomps]

Hi , I'm looking for Australorp baby chicks from a reputable breeder . I live in Phoenix Arizona . Thank you . God bless.

 

[azurbanclucker]

Hi , I'm looking for a australorp baby chicks from a reputable breeder . I live in Phoenix Arizona . Thank you . God bless.

@BlueBaby

 

[BlueBaby]

Hi , I'm looking for Australorp baby chicks from a reputable breeder . I live in Phoenix Arizona . Thank you . God bless.

Hello, and welcome to BYC! I see that you are new here. I am a Non-hatchery breeder of the standard sized Australorps in the Black, Blue, and Splash colors. How many chicks are you looking for?

 

[Bobby Basham]

I'm going to buck the conventional wisdom here and suggest that heat tolerance has less to do with fluffy feathering and more to do with body composition. I say this because I've noticed massive differences in fat accumulation and content in the birds I've butchered, and those with more body fat have definitely had a harder time dealing with the heat than my leaner birds irrespective of feathering. Just my two cents of experience.

Body composition kinda reminds me of the latest show I discovered on Animal Planet: "My Big Fat Pet Makeover", or something like that. Pet owners spoiling their pets with treats to no end.

Could some of that be going on with our birds? Treats should be in moderation and should be a small part of their overall nutrition. I've read that some breeds, like those Cornish crosses, are actual pigs and will eat as long as they have food in front of them, but others [usually] know how to regulate themselves. Just a thought.

 

[BlueBaby]

Body composition kinda reminds me of the latest show I discovered on Animal Planet: "My Big Fat Pet Makeover", or something like that. Pet owners spoiling their pets with treats to no end.

Could some of that be going on with our birds? Treats should be in moderation and should be a small part of their overall nutrition. I've read that some breeds, like those Cornish crosses, are actual pigs and will eat as long as they have food in front of them, but others [usually] know how to regulate themselves. Just a thought.

I have to agree with you on the treat thing. Even us human's get fat, if we eat too many of the wrong things in our diets. We can't just sit around eating cake all day long, everyday. That's why when I have a little treat, I mix a smaller amount of it into the wet feed. That way they are eating the feed that they need for the nutrition too, and not just the treat to get full.

 

[Bobby Basham]

I would like to know if you folks leave feed available 24/7, or just feed in the mornings and late afternoon? I'm still in the planning stages and like the idea of those tube feeders made from PVC pipes

--BB

 

[Diannastarr]

I like the idea of swamp cooling for outside, but I would NEVER use it in my house because of the excess humidity and all my wood furnishings. Years ago, I bought a beautiful 1973 RCA XL100 console TV from a coworker who had swamp cooling. You older folks know what I'm talking about with those big beautiful cabinets. The top and the base of the cabinet had warping all over the place and part of the finish was cracked and peeled.

Sorry if I strayed a bit, but I don't want any swamp cooling on my indoor prized possessions. --BB
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i get that , but i use a swamp cooler inside and i have a priceless piece from the 14 hundreds from England, its an angel exactly life size in hand carved mahogany wood that belonged my mother , and nothing has ever happened to it here..? plus i moved it here from fla , a very humid place compared to AZ , maybe its just to old to warp....lol....??? HA but i designed my home to share all that cold swamp cooler air & send it all out into my open air coop, i designed it to work that way , so all my birds are protected from the AZ heat and this design cools both our home and also cools our open air coop nicely, even my flock who free range all day, do tend to hang around their very cool coop & lay more eggs , plus my design makes it all very affordable, so there is no extra bill for cooling my home and all my special girls i designed several homes over the years , i even built my first home with my own 2 hands in my 20's then sold it & continued on building more for resale along with some we remolded , but i consider this one my favorite & best ever since it serves the best purpose for us all...!!! i would never have it any other way . i found the best way to really enjoy raising chickens in AZ ...!!! with no more worries about the sizzling AZ heat causing them harm I would not be affraid to use a swamp cooler for your open air coop and im sure your chickens will thank you for it ..!!!

 

[Diannastarr]

I would like to know if you folks leave feed available 24/7, or just feed in the mornings and late afternoon? I'm still in the planning stages and like the idea of those tube feeders made from PVC pipes
View attachment 1170730 --BB

at my place ,feed is always available 24/7 , but i do make up an extra meal of a wet mash layer with extras, vitamins and more with all the nutrition i want them to have, they eat it all just before bed time, i read years ago you should always feed a good meal just before they go to sleep, plus they also must have food to eat when they first wake up and some feed to munch on when they want daily . i do this even if they are free range .

 

[igorsMistress]

I would like to know if you folks leave feed available 24/7, or just feed in the mornings and late afternoon? I'm still in the planning stages and like the idea of those tube feeders made from PVC pipes
View attachment 1170730 --BB

I leave it available all day. Fermented goes in a bowl first thing in the morning and there's always dry in the coop in case of a storm, etc.

Treats are often a mixture of greens, sometimes fruit or other vegetables, or animal protein of some sort. I substitute a whole grain FEED for scratch, usually scratch & peck or a pigeon feed. So when my chickens think they're getting snacks, well they're healthy snacks and treats anyway.

I've given my flock cooked jasmine rice twice, a stale piece of homemade bread a couple of times, but I don't clean out the fridge and let 'em have at it. If it can't go in the compost pile, it goes in the trash.