Arizona Chickens

[SonoranChick]

I hate to say it, but it sounds like she may have egg peritonitis.

I hope not, but she is showing a few of the symptoms (lack of egg laying being the main one). It's confusing though because only her crop is swollen, not any part of her body. She has been "off" for an entire week, but has not gotten worse. If anything she's acting more like herself (being dominant, dirt bathing, going for treats) compared to last Friday. Her main issues are constantly full crop, not eating much food, and watery number twos. If it is indeed EYP, how long do you think she would go on like this until succumbing to the infection? Thank you for your input, I am always trying to learn more about raising chickens.

 

[SonoranChick]

How hot, is too hot to put my new babies outside, they are rapidly outgrowing the brooder cage. Normally I try to get chicks in October to avoid this.... but :shrug: they are sooo cute View attachment 1475572

Mine went out at 6 weeks old last summer, in mid July. It was hot but we were getting some clouds and rain. They had misters and ice blocks and did fine. However, it wasn't quite as hot as it's supposed to be this coming week (looks like more record heat ) So I would agree with @meetthebubus and maybe start by acclimating them first. If I remember correctly it was lower 100's when I put mine out last year. Anything warmer than that and I probably would have waited until some relief from the high heat. Your chicks sure are looking great though, happy and healthy! Can't believe how fast they grow!

 

[BlueBaby]

Mine went out at 6 weeks old last summer, in mid July. It was hot but we were getting some clouds and rain. They had misters and ice blocks and did fine. However, it wasn't quite as hot as it's supposed to be this coming week (looks like more record heat ) So I would agree with @meetthebubus and maybe start by acclimating them first. If I remember correctly it was lower 100's when I put mine out last year. Anything warmer than that and I probably would have waited until some relief from the high heat. Your chicks sure are looking great though, happy and healthy! Can't believe how fast they grow!

With all that hatching that I was doing all last year during the summer, I put mine out in my grow out pen in the run at 4 week's old. They handled it ok. Make sure there is ventilation, shade, and lots of water.

 

[meetthebubus]

I hope not, but she is showing a few of the symptoms (lack of egg laying being the main one). It's confusing though because only her crop is swollen, not any part of her body. She has been "off" for an entire week, but has not gotten worse. If anything she's acting more like herself (being dominant, dirt bathing, going for treats) compared to last Friday. Her main issues are constantly full crop, not eating much food, and watery number twos. If it is indeed EYP, how long do you think she would go on like this until succumbing to the infection? Thank you for your input, I am always trying to learn more about raising chickens.

Well it sounds like she's doing better, @DesertChic has more experience than I do but when I read about it i didn't think it sounded like it personally. Besides her crop and poo issues the egg laying break is perfectly normal in my book, not only bc she's dealing with the impact, but hens go need their breaks

My buffs often take breaks now. Punky laid everyday her first year and huge eggs now she just came back to laying after 2 months of rest and really every buff girl is breaking. Right now I just have Dina laying from them, and now punky is coming back. Goldie takes the longest breaks, probably gives me Only 100 a year

Anyhow I think the break is normal

 

[nicollee]

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Make sure there is ventilation, shade, and lots of water.

Thank-you
There is plenty of shade in my backyard, the mini coop I will put them in to integrate them is covered by a huge tangelo tree. But even in my house at 85degrees, I can see them get heat stress. Husband thinks brooder is too small, and they "want" adventure.... It is adorable to see them jump on the edge of the cage when I open it to say hello, or change food and water.
We put them in a pen in the grassy area in front of the house, and it was fun to watch them. But I can't stay out there all day, and the sun beats that area down after a few hours in the am

 

[meetthebubus]

I remember now putting an ice bottle in the buffs brooder bc they got hot bc together they do create heat, it was a small 16 oz small ice bottle

 

[Parront]

Thank-you
There is plenty of shade in my backyard, the mini coop I will put them in to integrate them is covered by a huge tangelo tree. But even in my house at 85degrees, I can see them get heat stress. Husband thinks brooder is too small, and they "want" adventure.... It is adorable to see them jump on the edge of the cage when I open it to say hello, or change food and water.
We put them in a pen in the grassy area in front of the house, and it was fun to watch them. But I can't stay out there all day, and the sun beats that area down after a few hours in the am

When I lived in the desert some of my friends with chickens used misters to help keep them cool. The twisty ones like they sell at Home Depot.

 

[azurbanclucker]

My rabbit trade girls. Mixed breds that should lay bright blue eggs

 

[BlueBaby]

@azurbanclucker Blue egg's are nice!

 

[azurbanclucker]

@azurbanclucker Blue egg's are nice!

Agree! I have ONE lavender Ameraucauna right now and she lays a very pretty robin blue egg. My Ee's and isbars are in the green range, but I want more blues.