Arizona Chickens

[Happy Novogens]

Little worried about my new girls. The pellet food is new to them, as is the bucket feeder. I've seen them stick their heads in pretty far but it doesn't seem like they've eaten much. (I have pulled some pieces to the front several times.) I think I'm not trusting that they can actually reach the pellets far back/down in the plastic elbow.

-Picked them up Saturday. Gave them a little spring mix lettuce late afternoon. They didn't go after it voraciously... just more curiously.
-Sunday afternoon offered a little watermelon. Two picked at it. Other 3 were more timid. Still picking at it some this morn.
-Tried offering some fresh basil this morn. Again met with more curiosity than actual eating.

I'd think they'd be voracious on the extras if they were hungry. Yet it just doesn't seem like the level of pellets in the feeder is going down.

They're my first chickens, so no experience to fall back on. Are there any warning signs/behaviors to note that will let me know if they're starving?

 

[Timbers Run]

I have been searching all over threads & posts about starting chicks outside in hot weather but can't find what I'm looking for. Can I put 6 new chicks outside in a 4x2 foot brooder in AZ when temps are 100°-110° during the day and 90°'s at night? We have a predator proof 5x10 pen with a 3 sided & covered coop we would put the brooder in.

Would I still need a heat source at night? Can they survive the heat during the day in the shade with the outer coop misted down & water with ice cubes? We can provide a very shallow pan with cool water for them to stand in if it would help. Is it possible to do this at this time of year with days old chicks? Please be nice, new to chicks & can raise inside if needed.

 

[igorsMistress]

Little worried about my new girls. The pellet food is new to them, as is the bucket feeder. I've seen them stick their heads in pretty far but it doesn't seem like they've eaten much. (I have pulled some pieces to the front several times.) I think I'm not trusting that they can actually reach the pellets far back/down in the plastic elbow.

-Picked them up Saturday. Gave them a little spring mix lettuce late afternoon. They didn't go after it voraciously... just more curiously.
-Sunday afternoon offered a little watermelon. Two picked at it. Other 3 were more timid. Still picking at it some this morn.
-Tried offering some fresh basil this morn. Again met with more curiosity than actual eating.

I'd think they'd be voracious on the extras if they were hungry. Yet it just doesn't seem like the level of pellets in the feeder is going down.

They're my first chickens, so no experience to fall back on. Are there any warning signs/behaviors to note that will let me know if they're starving?

It will be like that. Keep in mind chickens need some time to adjust and they only eat 1/3 cup or so, maybe less, of food each day. They’ll get the hang of it! My girls are 5 or 6 months old and can reach the feed

 

[BlueBaby]

I have been searching all over threads & posts about starting chicks outside in hot weather but can't find what I'm looking for. Can I put 6 new chicks outside in a 4x2 foot brooder in AZ when temps are 100°-110° during the day and 90°'s at night? We have a predator proof 5x10 pen with a 3 sided & covered coop we would put the brooder in.

Would I still need a heat source at night? Can they survive the heat during the day in the shade with the outer coop misted down & water with ice cubes? We can provide a very shallow pan with cool water for them to stand in if it would help. Is it possible to do this at this time of year with days old chicks? Please be nice, new to chicks & can raise inside if needed.

How old are the chick's?

 

[igorsMistress]

I have been searching all over threads & posts about starting chicks outside in hot weather but can't find what I'm looking for. Can I put 6 new chicks outside in a 4x2 foot brooder in AZ when temps are 100°-110° during the day and 90°'s at night? We have a predator proof 5x10 pen with a 3 sided & covered coop we would put the brooder in.

Would I still need a heat source at night? Can they survive the heat during the day in the shade with the outer coop misted down & water with ice cubes? We can provide a very shallow pan with cool water for them to stand in if it would help. Is it possible to do this at this time of year with days old chicks? Please be nice, new to chicks & can raise inside if needed.

Probably won’t need a heat source at night in our temps. In my experience 110 is a bit much for very young chicks but they can do it. Inside might be better with short trips outside to get used to the heat might be better. Be sure you provide some ice or cool water to wade in each afternoon. That’s super important. They’ll cool themselves by getting their feet into the cool water or by standing on the ice. Electrolytes and frozen water bottles also help.

 

[Timbers Run]

We are getting 1 day old chicks on the 24th. We would keep them in the house for a few days at least, but would like to have them go outside as soon as possible to be raised as naturally as possible (with help during summers of course). I just wasn't sure if it can even be done with the temp ranges we have right now.
(We do have chick electrolytes and will be providing ice & plenty of ventilation.)

 

[springvalley123]

Little worried about my new girls. The pellet food is new to them, as is the bucket feeder. I've seen them stick their heads in pretty far but it doesn't seem like they've eaten much. (I have pulled some pieces to the front several times.) I think I'm not trusting that they can actually reach the pellets far back/down in the plastic elbow.

-Picked them up Saturday. Gave them a little spring mix lettuce late afternoon. They didn't go after it voraciously... just more curiously.
-Sunday afternoon offered a little watermelon. Two picked at it. Other 3 were more timid. Still picking at it some this morn.
-Tried offering some fresh basil this morn. Again met with more curiosity than actual eating.

I'd think they'd be voracious on the extras if they were hungry. Yet it just doesn't seem like the level of pellets in the feeder is going down.

They're my first chickens, so no experience to fall back on. Are there any warning signs/behaviors to note that will let me know if they're starving?

I'd lose the treats. Are their crops full before roost time? If you take some regular food, and sprinkle/scatter it on the ground, do they devour it like they've been starving? Maybe show some pictures of the bucket feeder--I think @igorsMistress has one, to make sure it should be OK.

 

[cavemanrich]

They're my first chickens, so no experience to fall back on. Are there any warning signs/behaviors to note that will let me know if they're starving?

Usually chickens do snack enough feed in the evening before roost time. Check their crop to see if it is somewhat full. You can visually see if it is full by looking at the bulge in front,, (slightly to their right). If it seems somewhat empty,, or soft,, then offer them a quantity of feed in an open dish also. They will learn to eat both,, from feeder, and dish. Remember to remove dish with feed for the night. You don't want to attract nighttime unwanted guests, looking for a meal.
You can encourage more eating by offering your chickens grain treats. I can already see some peeps consider doing this to me,,

,, for suggesting scratch grains. I know all about not overdoing it,, and keeping it down to 10%.
(reason,, scratch grains dilute the protein percentage of feed intake of chickens)
If you don't have scratch feed on hand,, get a small bag of wild bird seeds anywhere. They will LUV that as much as scratch.

 

[springvalley123]

Usually chickens do snack enough feed in the evening before roost time. Check their crop to see if it is somewhat full. You can visually see if it is full by looking at the bulge in front,, (slightly to their right). If it seems somewhat empty,, or soft,, then offer them a quantity of feed in an open dish also. They will learn to eat both,, from feeder, and dish. Remember to remove dish with feed for the night. You don't want to attract nighttime unwanted guests, looking for a meal.
You can encourage more eating by offering your chickens grain treats. I can already see some peeps consider doing this to me,,

,, for suggesting scratch grains. I know all about not overdoing it,, and keeping it down to 10%.
(reason,, scratch grains dilute the protein percentage of feed intake of chickens)
If you don't have scratch feed on hand,, get a small bag of wild bird seeds anywhere. They will LUV that as much as scratch.

Here's a picture of one of mine with a full crop if it helps.

 

[CaroleW]

I have been searching all over threads & posts about starting chicks outside in hot weather but can't find what I'm looking for. Can I put 6 new chicks outside in a 4x2 foot brooder in AZ when temps are 100°-110° during the day and 90°'s at night? We have a predator proof 5x10 pen with a 3 sided & covered coop we would put the brooder in.

Would I still need a heat source at night? Can they survive the heat during the day in the shade with the outer coop misted down & water with ice cubes? We can provide a very shallow pan with cool water for them to stand in if it would help. Is it possible to do this at this time of year with days old chicks? Please be nice, new to chicks & can raise inside if needed.

In metro Phx it's different so I have done the opposite of what most places do - I start putting the chicks outside at nite and bring them inside during day (when the temps are so extreme) and gradually put them out longer and longer making sure they are in the shade during the day. I would keep them in a shower stall during day where the bathroom vent is closed off so they don't get really cool in the AC.

I don't want to do that long (like 2 - 3 weeks max) because they'll be too big for the indoor space and create too much dust.