Arizona Chickens

[ChicksnMore]

I have 8 so far. Will most likely add more in the spring. We separated the inside of the building in order to have a bantam flock and a “big girl” flock. We live in the desert desert so we have had to do major predator proofing agains bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, snakes, hawks, Etc. I actually had a Cooper’s Hawk fly into the wall of our temporary run, which was just 3in horse fencing with shade cloth on top. So very happy to finally have our coop/run done.

Good looking set up and love the room you have

 

[EmmaDonovan]

I have 8 so far. Will most likely add more in the spring. We separated the inside of the building in order to have a bantam flock and a “big girl” flock. We live in the desert desert so we have had to do major predator proofing agains bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, snakes, hawks, Etc. I actually had a Cooper’s Hawk fly into the wall of our temporary run, which was just 3in horse fencing with shade cloth on top. So very happy to finally have our coop/run done.

That's beautiful! Well done. Lucky birds!

 

[Happy Novogens]

I have 8 so far. Will most likely add more in the spring. We separated the inside of the building in order to have a bantam flock and a “big girl” flock. We live in the desert desert so we have had to do major predator proofing agains bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, snakes, hawks, Etc. I actually had a Cooper’s Hawk fly into the wall of our temporary run, which was just 3in horse fencing with shade cloth on top. So very happy to finally have our coop/run done.

Lovely setup! Looks sturdy and substantial.
We have 8 hens and a rooster, but only 2 were raised from chicks. They are the ones we can hold. Any future chickens we will raise from chicks so we can have our lap chickens, lol. So fun that way as clearly you already know.

Is your user name from being an Azure Standard customer?

 

[BlueBaby]

@Happy Novogens I finally got mine down to 12 hens and my rooster. I will probably have to eat one of the male ducks though, as he was never rehomed and I only have the one female duck. The ducks will be 6 months old on the 20th of this month, and I already seen one of the males breeding her.

 

[AzureValleyHomestead]

That's beautiful! Well done. Lucky birds!

My husband is a structural engineer, so he over engineers everything lol.

 

[AzureValleyHomestead]

Lovely setup! Looks sturdy and substantial.
We have 8 hens and a rooster, but only 2 were raised from chicks. They are the ones we can hold. Any future chickens we will raise from chicks so we can have our lap chickens, lol. So fun that way as clearly you already know.

Is your user name from being an Azure Standard customer?

 

[AzureValleyHomestead]

Lovely setup! Looks sturdy and substantial.
We have 8 hens and a rooster, but only 2 were raised from chicks. They are the ones we can hold. Any future chickens we will raise from chicks so we can have our lap chickens, lol. So fun that way as clearly you already know.

Is your user name from being an Azure Standard customer?

We had a long hard think about our homestead name…. We live in a great little desert spot that always has blue skies so hence the azure. I had to lookup azure standard. Lol.
It’s so fun raising chicks. They definitely imprint and they like me best.

 

[AzureValleyHomestead]

@Happy Novogens I finally got mine down to 12 hens and my rooster. I will probably have to eat one of the male ducks though, as he was never rehomed and I only have the one female duck. The ducks will be 6 months old on the 20th of this month, and I already seen one of the males breeding her.

Do you find it hard to cull? I have the two unexpected Roos and I’m trying to see if we can show them at 4H fair for breed before we decide to cull. I’d really like to rehome, but it seems like EVERYONE is trying to get rid of roos.

 

[BlueBaby]

Do you find it hard to cull? I have the two unexpected Roos and I’m trying to see if we can show them at 4H fair for breed before we decide to cull. I’d really like to rehome, but it seems like EVERYONE is trying to get rid of roos.

I had someone come over here before a few years ago that showed me the three methods, but that was done for 3 mean roosters that I needed gone. I have a different breed now that the boys haven't been human aggressive, and I havent had to cull any of these because the nice boys were rehomed. If you are going to raise chickens, then you need to learn how to do it.

I haven't tried to cull a duck yet and heard that the arrangement in the insides are different then chickens, so I will have to give some study to that before I do it.

Yes, Craigslist has a bunch of roosters that they are trying to sell. Even if I was looking for a rooster. I wouldn't pay the price that most are asking. There are also a few there trying to sell off thier flock, which are probably getting where they won't be laying egg's much longer. Some sell those off to make room for new hatchery chicks in the spring.

 

[igorsMistress]

Do you find it hard to cull? I have the two unexpected Roos and I’m trying to see if we can show them at 4H fair for breed before we decide to cull. I’d really like to rehome, but it seems like EVERYONE is trying to get rid of roos.

It gets easier with time, IE it’s easier to detach from the process, but it’s always a sad day. If you spend any time with your flock you can become attached even though you know you’re going to have to do the deed. If I need a few new girls I’ll let a broody hatch some eggs, but I decide how many she gets to keep so I can limit how many chickens I end up with. Some people hatch sex linked breeds so they can kill cockerels at hatch and not bother feeding them. You could always try that, although I don’t think dropping baby cockerels in a bucket of water to die would be an easier than culling an older bird for some of us.