Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

Hermits Garden said:
You must have special Google skills!


@BlueBaby

When you're ,GOOD,,,,,,,,,,you know , you're good

Basically, I just get too curious sometimes. Year's back, I went to a training school to even learn how to even do the basic's on computer. The teacher and the student's did too much gabbing about at home stuff that didn't even have anything to do about computer's, and I was there to learn. I was always getting into trouble for getting "lost" on the computer during classes, because I was trying to learn where everything went to while they were doing all of the BS gabbing.

 

[Hermits Garden]

Basically, I just get too curious sometimes. Year's back, I went to a training school to even learn how to even do the basic's on computer. The teacher and the student's did too much gabbing about at home stuff that didn't even have anything to do about computer's, and I was there to learn. I was always getting into trouble for getting "lost" on the computer during classes, because I was trying to learn where everything went to while they were doing all of the BS gabbing.

You wild rebel, you.

I have no flock yet, but have elicited a "yes, it's possible we can have a coop and run by winter this year" from the hubs. I've drawn and redrawn the plans a gazillion times (much like I did the house we built in 2020), but I think I have it all sorted. Kept changing things to accommodate my increasing age (these knees aren't going to want to squat to collect eggs five or ten years from now) and the potential to have a bachelor pad, etc.

We have enough dog-kennel-run panels to make a run 260 sq ft, fitting around a combination shed/coop, with the coop being 80 sq ft, and a brooder/bachelor pad area in it, poo boards, etc. I can't blame the husband for the delay--had surgery in April which required 2 months of no-lifting post op. But NOW, dang it, I'm ready!!!

I won't get birds til this next spring, but I'd like to have the coop and run up, so I can paint, do all the interior stuff I want, etc...

Sorry to ramble so. I've been a lurker for some time now, but maybe once I actually HAVE the danged chickens, I'll have something to contribute.

 

[BlueBaby]

You wild rebel, you.

I have no flock yet, but have elicited a "yes, it's possible we can have a coop and run by winter this year" from the hubs. I've drawn and redrawn the plans a gazillion times (much like I did the house we built in 2020), but I think I have it all sorted. Kept changing things to accommodate my increasing age (these knees aren't going to want to squat to collect eggs five or ten years from now) and the potential to have a bachelor pad, etc.

We have enough dog-kennel-run panels to make a run 260 sq ft, fitting around a combination shed/coop, with the coop being 80 sq ft, and a brooder/bachelor pad area in it, poo boards, etc. I can't blame the husband for the delay--had surgery in April which required 2 months of no-lifting post op. But NOW, dang it, I'm ready!!!

I won't get birds til this next spring, but I'd like to have the coop and run up, so I can paint, do all the interior stuff I want, etc...

Sorry to ramble so. I've been a lurker for some time now, but maybe once I actually HAVE the danged chickens, I'll have something to contribute.

What breed or breed's are you thinking about getting, just egg layer's or dual-purpose?

I understand about hubbies having surgeries. Mine had a back surgery a few month's back. I had to do the cleaning and re-bandaging for him, and right after he got it done he wasn't supposed to try to lift anything over 5 pound's.

 

[Hopeful homesteader]

Basically, I just get too curious sometimes. Year's back, I went to a training school to even learn how to even do the basic's on computer. The teacher and the student's did too much gabbing about at home stuff that didn't even have anything to do about computer's, and I was there to learn. I was always getting into trouble for getting "lost" on the computer during classes, because I was trying to learn where everything went to while they were doing all of the BS gabbing.

My mom was a computer teacher for quite a while, I still call her all the time for help with mine and she asks what's the matter with me for not knowing all the basic stuff so I remind her she never really taught us anything outside of how to create and save documents, typing speed and accuracy games, and how to download and launch apps from disks. After teaching all day she was computered out at the end of the day. Now my kids ask how do I do this and I just get lost and tell them to call Nana lol I can hardly find things on my phone, if it weren't for dh being a gamer in his youth I'd be lost there too

 

[Hermits Garden]

What breed or breed's are you thinking about getting, just egg layer's or dual-purpose?

I understand about hubbies having surgeries. Mine had a back surgery a few month's back. I had to do the cleaning and re-bandaging for him, and right after he got it done he wasn't supposed to try to lift anything over 5 pound's.

Oops--I didn't make it clear that it was my surgery, not his. Either way, it took a chunk out of what would have been a productive spring, so...one. more. year. We'll get there.

I'm considering Chanteclers, after considering and rejecting sooooo many. Or finding reasons to change my mind. I want ALL THE CHICKENS--all of 'em. But I only have room for 10 or 15, and I can't even digest eggs all that well. These fit the bill as being fairly fast maturing, white (nice carcass), and decent layers who can handle winters up here. I've read they can be broody, handle confinement (we have considerable predator pressure in our woods), and are calm/docile. Any of you have experience with them?

Kinda the opposite to what you'd raise, down there in the Frying Pan, but we got three feet of snow in January, all over a day & a half. Locals tell me that's not the norm; it's supposed to be a half a foot, then melt, then repeat. But we did get down to 3 -F at one point.

 

[Parront]

Oops--I didn't make it clear that it was my surgery, not his. Either way, it took a chunk out of what would have been a productive spring, so...one. more. year. We'll get there.

I'm considering Chanteclers, after considering and rejecting sooooo many. Or finding reasons to change my mind. I want ALL THE CHICKENS--all of 'em. But I only have room for 10 or 15, and I can't even digest eggs all that well. These fit the bill as being fairly fast maturing, white (nice carcass), and decent layers who can handle winters up here. I've read they can be broody, handle confinement (we have considerable predator pressure in our woods), and are calm/docile. Any of you have experience with them?

Kinda the opposite to what you'd raise, down there in the Frying Pan, but we got three feet of snow in January, all over a day & a half. Locals tell me that's not the norm; it's supposed to be a half a foot, then melt, then repeat. But we did get down to 3 -F at one point

Those are from Canada, at least here in Prescott, the summer is warm enough to need more heat tolerance. I have some NNs I got from @BlueBaby that have laid well in the heat, and were fine last winter in the snow. I think you might be at a similar elevation, we are zone 7 here. We got down to 8 degrees last winter, and I lost a rose bush, but no chickens! Good luck choosing a breed, but do not be afraid you get too cold.

 

[Hermits Garden]

Those are from Canada, at least here in Prescott, the summer is warm enough to need more heat tolerance. I have some NNs I got from @BlueBaby that have laid well in the heat, and were fine last winter in the snow. I think you might be at a similar elevation, we are zone 7 here. We got down to 8 degrees last winter, and I lost a rose bush, but no chickens! Good luck choosing a breed, but do not be afraid you get too cold.

We lived in Prescott Valley for five years before we moved here & built a house. I thought the climate would be similar, but a couple differences have become apparent. First off, we're in zone 6, but a bigger thing is that we live at 7100 ft elevation, and get quite a bit of snow. Not Flagstaff snow, but more than I was expecting.

I see your point about the heat tolerance--although several have said their Chanteclers do fine so long as they get the same kind of heat-care other heavy breeds do. The main thing that may shy me off them is a low fertility rate. Not because they need their fluff trimmed, just a low fertility--even Cackle rates them at around 50%. I may still try a few, just to see how it goes.

Most likely I'll end up just going with common dual-purpose breeds, and then maybe later, once I have more experience, I'll get adventurous.

Sorry you lost your rose bush--I hate when that happens!

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

Basically, I just get too curious sometimes. Year's back, I went to a training school to even learn how to even do the basic's on computer. The teacher and the student's did too much gabbing about at home stuff that didn't even have anything to do about computer's, and I was there to learn. I was always getting into trouble for getting "lost" on the computer during classes, because I was trying to learn where everything went to while they were doing all of the BS gabbing.

I hear you. Last week somebody asked me how to download an app, and I told them I usually do stuff like that by handing my phone to a young person or calling someone for help.

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

It's fun to dream and research breeds. I had a few picked out, then went to a poultry show and got something completely different, LOL. Now I'm glad I got the ones I did, because they're a great fit. Lots of eggs, no good for meat.

 

[BlueBaby]

I hear you. Last week somebody asked me how to download an app, and I told them I usually do stuff like that by handing my phone to a young person or calling someone for help.

I'm old school. I leave my cell phone turned off unless I'm going out of town. I still have a house phone that hang's on the wall. I do not text or go online as my cell phone is one of those older dumb phone's and cannot do it. I either answer the wall phone, or the answering machine will pick up where a message can be left.