Arizona Chickens

[NuggetMama]

Also if you have ground squirrels they will dig holes under and into your coop, and snakes will also use those squirrel holes to get into your coop.

We are planning on using a layer of 1/4" hardware cloth under our coop to prevent that.

I might have to do that too! We live right by the base so there is a LOT of open land behind us meaning we can easily get snakes and other critters that are in that open land.

The bypass is there too with a lot of traffic during the day but once it hits late at night there is barely any traffic so we can easily get coyotes and other things coming. We already have roadrunners and dove in our yard. The lizards are coming out by the dozens too.

 

[Happy Novogens]

Going to be a hot one today!

Spent the morning opening up the roosting area for more airflow.
Also covered the run- - half with a tarp (for a dry area) & the rest with shade cloth.

 

[BlueBaby]

Going to be a hot one today!

Spent the morning opening up the roosting area for more airflow.
Also covered the run- - half with a tarp (for a dry area) & the rest with shade cloth.

Yes, and I think tomorrow too. How's Lucky and the 2 Biel girl's doing?

 

[Happy Novogens]

Yes, and I think tomorrow too. How's Lucky and the 2 Biel girl's doing?

They're doing well. Integrated well with the other 4. The biel girls have definitely grown larger than the others. Freydis is laying an egg every day. Hennah started laying more recently, so she's laying almost 1 per day.
Lucky is a great roo & looks after his girls. He & the other 2 are gentle taking food/snacks from our hands.
It's so fun having a rooster!

 

[CopaMom]

Hello and welcome ! Which part of Arizona are you at ? I am personally in Sierra Vista and I am setting mine up the same exact way! We are just fighting with the fact that this housing tract has rocks all over the gosh darn yard. We are removing that and then doing the exact same thing you are ! Fingers crossed it works out for the both of us! I'm pretty sure it will as long as it's enclosed and the wire is down at least a foot and a half under ground so nothing can dig into their run area!

Also because BlueBaby pointed it out to me , watch out for snakes and ants. You can get some nasty ants that will attack your babies and of course the snakes will go in and eat whatever they can get their mouths around!

I am in Maricopa, which is about 20 miles south of Phoenix. I never thought about snakes, but I have never seen a snake in my yard. We also have rock on the side of the house, so we will have to remove that, as well.

 

[CopaMom]

Welcome to our AZ. thread! I just said hello to you in the newby welcomes. I do not free range mine. If you have any predators over where you are at, chicken wire will only keep the chicken's in but it won't keep what wants to eat them out.

I have never seen (or heard of) coyotes in our neighborhood but have heard of them on the main street which isn't too far away. Mine will be in their run unless we are in the backyard with them, then we will let them free range. But only when we can watch them. That's our plan for now

 

[CopaMom]

Make sure you can keep them that close to another persons house. Some jurisdictions regulate the distance. Even if there is no regulation be prepared to move them if your neighbor complains of noise or pest problems (rodents, flies, etc...) due to locating coop so close to the house. You want to be a good neighbor.

Oh, absolutely! I am friendly with my neighbors, so I plan to talk to them first. And offer fresh eggs!

 

[BlueBaby]

They're doing well. Integrated well with the other 4. The biel girls have definitely grown larger than the others. Freydis is laying an egg every day. Hennah started laying more recently, so she's laying almost 1 per day.
Lucky is a great roo & looks after his girls. He & the other 2 are gentle taking food/snacks from our hands.
It's so fun having a rooster!

I'm glad that you are happy with him!

 

[BlueBaby]

I am in Maricopa, which is about 20 miles south of Phoenix. I never thought about snakes, but I have never seen a snake in my yard. We also have rock on the side of the house, so we will have to remove that, as well.

I'm here in Maricopa too, not far from the Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino.

 

[cavemanrich]

I'm here in Maricopa too, not far from the Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino.

Small world