Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

You'll have to be more specific.. I personally think 1 week Olds are too hard to tell it's either first day or a little older although I do admit that with 19 there is a higher possibility for a mistaken roo

We have plans in place just in case and none include freezer camp

I was referring to that one on the right side in the bottom picture that you can see the whole body of. Let me know if I am right later.

 

[Bobby Basham]

I love my Delaware! She's a total ditz but she handled last summer like a champ. I am waiting until next summer to really see who can tolerate the heat best. Mine were in the brooder until July so we missed those god awful days that were 120 degrees thank goodness. Husband and I are looking on craigslist for a old swamp cooler to throw on the nest box area, because my barred rock likes to sit on her eggs for hours and hours. Does that mean she's gone broody? She's not aggressive, I can pick her up and collect the eggs. But she will sit. all. day. on her nest. I'm worried about next summer.

I had thought about putting narrow, screened openings on the side/dividing walls of the external nest boxes, just above their little bean heads, to create some ventilation, and an additional narrow screened opening extending along the rear to create some cross ventilation.

I wouldn't wanna sit in a box when it's 108 out there.

 

[SonoranChick]

"Little bean heads" I'm going to call them that when they're being stinkers. I like the idea of a vented box. Mine has a big open door on it, so they can get some air. But air flow and getting a draft would be ideal.

 

[Diannastarr]

I love my Delaware! She's a total ditz but she handled last summer like a champ. I am waiting until next summer to really see who can tolerate the heat best. Mine were in the brooder until July so we missed those god awful days that were 120 degrees thank goodness. Husband and I are looking on craigslist for a old swamp cooler to throw on the nest box area, because my barred rock likes to sit on her eggs for hours and hours. Does that mean she's gone broody? She's not aggressive, I can pick her up and collect the eggs. But she will sit. all. day. on her nest. I'm worried about next summer.

yes i have a few that just sit around on the eggs ..? i think if given enough time they would be broody, i have several Delawares , but yeah that old cooler is the best idea to cool down your coop , and one other thing if any one wanted a fair size holding pen i have used the old cooler cages for that purpose , i drilled holes into the metal cage part , after taking out the cooler working parts and i wired some stiff wire fencing with the smaller holes cut to fit to the cooler cage openings making a nice sturdy pen that will last for ever..! , you can use some old refrigerator or oven wire shelving to make a door on one side, so a you got one good sturdy free cage or pen, its pretty easy to make , so dont toss out those old broken coolers every one, they make great holding cages and i made those cages for the animal rescue volunteer people who wanted to help spay and neuter the wild cats in the release program and needed a place to keep them to recover before they released them & these cages became very help full for that purpose ...!! i lend them out for that purpose , plus i bet that the dumps are full of those old coolers and also i found a few old metal bed frames & i wired fencing on them & using them for a large gate and fence panels, and those old metal bed head boards the old fashioned fancy kind from around the turn of the century the size for a single bed make beautiful garden gates...!! HA so i say go for it people...!! and do your thing...!!!

 

[Diannastarr]

I had thought about putting narrow, screened openings on the side/dividing walls of the external nest boxes, just above their little bean heads, to create some ventilation, and an additional narrow screened opening extending along the rear to create some cross ventilation.

I wouldn't wanna sit in a box when it's 108 out there.

good thinking thats it but the tiny screen may not be the best choice a stiff wire panel will do as well , the screen may turn out to be a head ache collecting all the dust and bedding in it...!! then you need a vacuum to clean it ..? so a bit larger holes could be more helpful...?

 

[Diannastarr]

OMG its 4 oclock again , i have to run and get all my birds ready for bed....lol. making their dinner and all...lol... TAKE CARE ALL BBL

 

[Bobby Basham]

good thinking thats it but the tiny screen may not be the best choice a stiff wire panel will do as well , the screen may turn out to be a head ache collecting all the dust and bedding in it...!! then you need a vacuum to clean it ..? so a bit larger holes could be more helpful...?

Oops, sorry. When I say screen, I mean quarter-inch hardware cloth. I wouldn't use anything else. Everything will be quarter-inch, including the run.

 

[Diannastarr]

well so ok im back and every one is in bed locked up safe and sound for the night so just talked to the cal ranch store in sierra vista AZ & they have lots of chicks RIR buff orps and so forth , if you have a cal ranch close by and wanted a few breeds of sexed chicks they are open till 9 every night , sundays till 6 , i was thinking of picking up a few buff orps to add to my collection i was always thinking of getting a few orps since i hear they make great chicky mamas...? so i guess i will be finding that out when ever ..? and i could use a few more good layers , but im still interested in the dorkings & NN to...!!!! & those great NN cross Breese...!! chicks i sure do want some of those girls.!!! but then i just want some good laying hens that are also great broody mamas i can pick up this month ..!l

 

[SonoranChick]

What breeds?

 

[meetthebubus]

@BlueBaby I will