Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

For those of you who have exposed nest boxes that have nothing over them (like the pic below) to protect them from the summer sun, do they ever get so hot the hens won't use them? Do you ventillate them?

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My nest boxes are inside of my coop with no outside access. I have to go into the coop to get them. How would one keep the higher winds from blowing them open?

 

[EmmaDonovan]

You'd have to close them with a hasp or something to make sure other critters didn't get into them and take the eggs.

 

[BlueBaby]

That's right, because we aren't the only ones that like to eat eggs. Even though my nesting boxes are in the coop, the door to my coop has a padlock on it, and I keep the key in my pocket.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

You used to be able to store anything in your backyard here but in the last 2-3 years people started stealing everything that isn't nailed down. We have a double fence and several big dogs and they nearly cleaned us out one afternoon in summer! It was 108F that day. Who goes out then, let alone to steal stuff?? We were all at the other end of the house with the A/C on high and fans going so we didn't hear them.

We don't have a garage or shed or anything like that so we had to move the remainder of our backyard stuff into the house and store it all in the back bedroom which is unfortunately also my home office. Now I share my office with lumber, potting soil, several bicycles and the lawnmower.

Any coop we build will have to be all locked up. I do worry a bit about keeping chickens here. You can lock everything securely and someone can still use wire cutters and clip right through the hardware cloth and get into the coop.

We put in security cameras after the theft and I have a game camera that I also use for the backyard so at least we'll be able to keep an eye on things!

 

[BlueBaby]

You'd have to close them with a hasp or something to make sure other critters didn't get into them and take the eggs.

Sorry that happened to you. It seems that more of that stuff has been happening the past couple of years.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Thanks, it was a shock! We reported it to the police, we won't see our stuff again but they need to know about crimes for statistics and budgeting and shift assignments.

They told us something interesting: scouts will case a property in advance then tag it for their buddies to come by later and rob. They use chalk or paint to make a little sign somewhere or leave an unobstrusive marker like a bread bag clip hanging on a fence to let their friends know they should steal from that property.

They said we should check our perimeter regularly for stuff like that. Haven't found anything yet but about five years ago someone kept spray painting a small green dot on our car port. I'd find it, paint over it, and it would show up again in a different spot a few days later. I figured it was just local kids messing around but now I wonder. So creepy. I'm glad we have cameras today.

 

[BlueBaby]

Thanks, it was a shock! We reported it to the police, we won't see our stuff again but they need to know about crimes for statistics and budgeting and shift assignments.

They told us something interesting: scouts will case a property in advance then tag it for their buddies to come by later and rob. They use chalk or paint to make a little sign somewhere or leave an unobstrusive marker like a bread bag clip hanging on a fence to let their friends know they should steal from that property.

They said we should check our perimeter regularly for stuff like that. Haven't found anything yet but about five years ago someone kept spray painting a small green dot on our car port. I'd find it, paint over it, and it would show up again in a different spot a few days later. I figured it was just local kids messing around but now I wonder. So creepy. I'm glad we have cameras today.

Did they ever catch who did it?

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Nope. One of the things they stole was a vacuum cleaner my roommate was using to vacuum her car (that's why it was outside). It's a specific type that isn't very common. We watched Craigslist for months to see if it would turn up there but it didn't.

 

[ChicksnMore]

I moved the baby chicks outside yesterday. They hatched 2/14, so about 2.5 weeks old. The grayish one between the waterer and feeder is the "baby baby" because it had a hard time. I had cleaned pasty butt and thought I'd lose it. It was half the size of the others, now it is just very far behind in feathering. Facing that one is the most-feathered one. These are sapphire splash, gem & olive egger from TSC/Hoover's.

Beautiful chicks

Loving this nicer weather!

A couple days ago, my new cockerel, Lucky, did his first cockle doodle doo!

Been busy getting the house ready for a visit from my son and daughter-in-law. They are flying out Saturday. Somehow getting ready ended up including re-painting the guest bathroom. ... which led to new shower curtain, new mat, change of wall hangings (haven't figured those wall hangings out yet).

Sounds like a fun way to get ready for guests!

Nope. One of the things they stole was a vacuum cleaner my roommate was using to vacuum her car (that's why it was outside). It's a specific type that isn't very common. We watched Craigslist for months to see if it would turn up there but it didn't.

Sorry you have to deal with that. Maybe you can talk to your neighbors and all watch out for each other? Sometimes nosey neighbors can be a blessing!

I do all my nest boxes inside too. Either the coop or covered run areas. Have to enter to collect eggs. I enjoy that time...get to say hi to all my ladies while I'm collecting

 

[cavemanrich]

EmmaDonovan​

If you go outside after dark, or if you hear something suspicious during day, Pack heat.