Arizona Chickens

[Bobby Basham]

@Bobby Basham Oh to be a fly on your wall! Relax, breathe you will do just fine and so will those chickies. NOW you are going to need something with a cover in about 7-10 days or so as those little dinosaurs will be flying to the rim of your brooder! One person I know often uses one of those soft dog crates but I personally think a small/hopefully tall tent would be a great brooder! I also don't use a light to heat with but still it might work. Enjoy your new TV!

I already have the wood for a 4'x6' (24 inches high) brooder with double/split doors on top. That way, I drop a temporary partition to move the girls over to one side while I clean.

Something else...I was thinking of a safe way to suspend one of the clamp-on lamps and thought of the idea of getting a metal strap with holes in it. Attach the strap to an upper beam. Clamp the lamp to the strap then run a bolt through the clamp and one of the holes at desired height as a safety precaution.

I won't be using it because my Sweeter Heater from My Pet Chicken is supposed to arrive tomorrow and hope it will sufficient.

These chicks shipped on Monday, so they must have been born over the weekend, so I want the little butts out of here tomorrow or Saturday since some of them seem to be getting a little airborne.

It's nice to have a "permanent" seat in the bathroom to sit and watch them...LOL!

Please don't laugh, but I get sorta freaked out holding a chicken, especially when they're screaming and struggling. I have this Phobia of anything with a BEAK! I've been pecked by chickens before, but they were adults, and that hurt. That's what I get for watching that old Alfred Hitchcock movie when I was younger. --BB

 

[BlueBaby]

I already have the wood for a 4'x6' (24 inches high) brooder with double/split doors on top. That way, I drop a temporary partition to move the girls over to one side while I clean.

Something else...I was thinking of a safe way to suspend one of the clamp-on lamps and thought of the idea of getting a metal strap with holes in it. Attach the strap to an upper beam. Clamp the lamp to the strap then run a bolt through the clamp and one of the holes at desired height as a safety precaution.

These chicks shipped on Monday, so they must have been born over the weekend, so I want the little butts out of here tomorrow or Saturday since some of them seem to be getting a little airborne.

It's nice to have a "permanent" seat in the bathroom to sit and watch them...LOL!

Please don't laugh, but I get sorta freaked out holding a chicken, especially when they're screaming and struggling. I have this Phobia of anything with a BEAK! I've been pecked by chickens before, but they were adults, and that hurt. That's what I get for watching that old Alfred Hitchcock movie when I was younger. --BB

My 6 little newborn fuzz-butts come running up to the front of the brooder every time I go in there to peek at them. I have to put them back over by the heat lamp end.

 

[Bobby Basham]

My 6 little newborn fuzz-butts come running up to the front of the brooder every time I go in there to peek at them. I have to put them back over by the heat lamp end.

Mine run in terror when they see me, but some of the more curious ones will come running when I tap my finger on the feeder or the spilled feed on the floor. You know how greedy they are and want to get in on anything. I always talk softly to them and don't make any sudden moves and keep a small radio in there softly playing our 24/7 Classical station.

 

[BlueBaby]

Mine run in terror when they see me, but some of the more curious ones will come running when I tap my finger on the feeder or the spilled feed on the floor. You know how greedy they are and want to get in on anything. I always talk softly to them and don't make any sudden moves and keep a small radio in there softly playing our 24/7 Classical station.

One good thing if they are moving away from you, it helps in doing a quick check for any pasty butts. Mine are looking good so far on that.

 

[cavemanrich]

@Bobby Basham
I just thought I throw this lil info out.
Chicks will run away from things approaching from the top. Born instinct. If you would set up your brooder so the opening is on the side, you would be reaching for them at their eye level. You can also modify what you have by top still open covered with screen, and have one side hinge open. Reading your posts for a long time, I know you are pretty handy with wood projects.

 

[Bobby Basham]

@Bobby Basham
I just thought I throw this lil info out.
Chicks will run away from things approaching from the top. Born instinct. If you would set up your brooder so the opening is on the side, you would be reaching for them at their eye level. You can also modify what you have by top still open covered with screen, and have one side hinge open. Reading your posts for a long time, I know you are pretty handy with wood projects.

I've thought about this issue every time going into the bathroom, talking softly to them, and it really bothers me. They just arrived on Wednesday, so there's still hope. Back to the drawing board since I had planned on having this built tomorrow. All the plywood pieces are cut but can easily be modified.

It would be nice for them to see me approaching so they won't be surprised when I open that side door. You know that I like to draw up a bunch of plans which constantly change, so I'll work on some modifications. Thanks so much for your input.

Speaking of wood projects, I just spent several hundred dollars on a Miter saw today because part of my plan includes some 4x4 posts.

 

[BlueBaby]

Tried to do the candling tonight on these other eggs, but the green eggs are harder to see through than my tan Australorp eggs are. It does look like something is happening there inside of them, though.

 

[Parront]

I have this Phobia of anything with a BEAK!

Your pets will just peck for food. Don't feed them with your hand if you don't want a peck or two, just throw the food in front of them. A good way to tame chicks is to just let them hop up on your hand. Hold your hand still in the brooder, like a perch, and they will hop up! Fun for kids of all ages!

 

[FeatherPugs]

@josh L Depending where you are the earth ship style homes are great. If you are in an area where there is permafrost you might want to talk with someone from the area because that stuff melts and the outcome is no good. I would suggest ramps over stairs for animal areas as they are easier for getting outside. We ordered our chickens in, there are plenty of farmers in the various areas where you can barter, etc for animals. I don't know about the mini cows but I do know they have the fainting goats so you never know. Alaska is very upwardly mobile and is ahead or on par with many of the trends. There must be some type of homesteading Alaska facebook type group or blog. You'll have a blast getting to know everyone!

 

[Bobby Basham]

Your pets will just peck for food. Don't feed them with your hand if you don't want a peck or two, just throw the food in front of them. A good way to tame chicks is to just let them hop up on your hand. Hold your hand still in the brooder, like a perch, and they will hop up! Fun for kids of all ages!

I don't mean as far as them being inquisitive and coming up to my hand to see what's in it, and I'd be delighted with that, but it was the flapping, kicking and screeching when transfering them from their shipping container or trying to clean a pasty butt.