Arizona Chickens

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We just finished the fence on the garden expansion and it's looking great! We still have a lot of work to do, but it's coming along. I let a few of the girls out of the run to check things out and they were so curious, albeit a bit cautious :rolleyes: @meetthebubus I was wondering about your 360 coverage, do you use netting? Their run/coop is totally secure but the garden will be much more open and free. Which makes me very nervous...
 
cactusrota said:
So, with my overabundance of cockerels right now, and new chicks due to hatch next week, I'm trying to push myself to make some decisions on the unlucky ones to send to freezer camp...
This guy here is really pretty, but not really what I'm looking for. I'd feel bad about not offering him up for rehoming first. The red guy behind him is slated to go sooner as he's turning into a bully. I also have a small Bresse cockerel that would make a good boy for a layer flock, but not really meaty enough to breed for dual purpose.
I'd let either of them go for $10 each.
I'm located in Fort Thomas (by Safford) but we are going to Tucson for the Gem show tomorrow, and I may be heading to Phoenix/Glendale in another week.View attachment 1247159
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I'm picking out cockerels for a batch to process tomorrow morning. This guy is going to be included unless someone speaks up. I also have a Bresse cockerel that's going to be included too, he's the smallest/least meaty of my Bresse. I also have a pure bred Light Brahma cockerel that I'm holding onto incase someone wants him. I keep himhawing on him because I really am not too interested in pea combs or the fully feathered feet, but he has a nice wide stance telling me he may fill out into a really nice heavy boy. But this laced naked neck boy, and the thinner Bresse boy will be processed first thing tomorrow unless someone speaks up. I'll also be processing a Jersey Giant cockerel, and probably another black Naked Neck, I think... these decisions are so hard, but I have 39 eggs in the incubator due to hatch Thursday, so really need to be pickier than I have been...
IMG_20171230_112305.jpg
 
Bobby Basham said:
Chickens are social critters, and I would get more than two in case one should have a mishap. You don't want a lone chicken. If you're gonna go to the trouble of building a coop, surely you can house more than two.

A coop for two birds sounds more like a honeymoon suite. Might as well get a big cardboard box. Do some research and look at the other forums about coop design and space requirements before you buy any lumber, screws and nails.

Don't limit yourself to this AZ thread, but familiarize yourself with chicken keeping in general, and explore the BYC website. There is so much information here, and you'll be well prepared when you get your chickens.

BYC website, as a whole, is awesome, and you can view all the different topics and eventually narrow down and tailor all the requirements that work for you.

Going through the AZ thread, it seems like most folks deal with diet, heat, hydration, shelter, ventilation, predators and picky eaters...LOL. And, I forgot processing (aka: butchering).

I spent the entire week going through another forum that had over 7,000 messages, to avoid posting a redundant question that had been answered a gazillion times.

Anyhoo, Welcome to the AZ forum! We have covered so many topics here, and occasionally, I go back a few hundred pages (that's how I roll) to refresh my brain of all the topics covered. It's just educational and entertaining. --BB

ETA: Sorry if I came off sounding like a grump. You've discovered a gold mine and I'm just encouraging you to go the whole nine yards and absorb as much info as you can.
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HI Thanks for the reply! So When i first posted i was thinking of getting 2 chickens but i had actually changed my mind to more like four. I can have 4 where i live at the most. My concern is neighbors calling on me if they are too noisy.I would love to have 10 or 20 but i will see how four goes! I do appreciate the help and did not think you sound like a grump! I appreciate any and all help. U gave read more this week then i have in years! i am all about the research. I want to do right by chickens and so there is never too much info coming my way! Have a great day and thanks again!! Shannon :wee:celebrate
 
cactusrota said:
I'm picking out cockerels for a batch to process tomorrow morning. This guy is going to be included unless someone speaks up. I also have a Bresse cockerel that's going to be included too, he's the smallest/least meaty of my Bresse. I also have a pure bred Light Brahma cockerel that I'm holding onto incase someone wants him. I keep himhawing on him because I really am not too interested in pea combs or the fully feathered feet, but he has a nice wide stance telling me he may fill out into a really nice heavy boy. But this laced naked neck boy, and the thinner Bresse boy will be processed first thing tomorrow unless someone speaks up. I'll also be processing a Jersey Giant cockerel, and probably another black Naked Neck, I think... these decisions are so hard, but I have 39 eggs in the incubator due to hatch Thursday, so really need to be pickier than I have been...View attachment 1249866
Click to expand...
I seriously talked to my husband for a long time about getting your NN boy, but in the end I decided not to. I really wanted to save him from his freezer camp fate, but I'm working with an all-female flock right now and I'm going to keep it that way for the time being. Between Bluebaby and her hatching addiction :p, the awesome little svart Hona chicks that just popped out (GORGEOUS), and the many beautiful NNs I see here, I have been so tempted!! I know where to go when I am ready to add to the flock. No more far-away hatcheries for me, my Arizona locals will have my back :cool: Once this garden project is complete I will be bugging you guys. Good luck with your roo processing tomorrow...I know it's not exactly the best part about chicken keeping but I admire and commend anyone who is able to cull, process, and eat their own meat. I can't think of a more responsible way to eat. Plus it's just part of raising chickens, you've gotta do what you've gotta do.
 
@SonoranChick we used galvanized fencing, the same kind as fence that surrounds them. Since bobcats can jump and are heavy I didn't want anything to get up on the top and be able to get through by accident or purposefully so it's strong.

Now for our garden we used chicken wire up top. cheaper and moldable and safe from airial predators.

You might also consider hardware cloth but that can be expensive
 
cactusrota said:
I'm picking out cockerels for a batch to process tomorrow morning. This guy is going to be included unless someone speaks up. I also have a Bresse cockerel that's going to be included too, he's the smallest/least meaty of my Bresse. I also have a pure bred Light Brahma cockerel that I'm holding onto incase someone wants him. I keep himhawing on him because I really am not too interested in pea combs or the fully feathered feet, but he has a nice wide stance telling me he may fill out into a really nice heavy boy. But this laced naked neck boy, and the thinner Bresse boy will be processed first thing tomorrow unless someone speaks up. I'll also be processing a Jersey Giant cockerel, and probably another black Naked Neck, I think... these decisions are so hard, but I have 39 eggs in the incubator due to hatch Thursday, so really need to be pickier than I have been...View attachment 1249866
Click to expand...

Do you think that the Breese boy is smaller because he was pushed away from food by the others?
 

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