Arizona Chickens

[LadyKotaDoria]

Hello!  First post at BYC.  I'm in Tucson, and yes, today it is incredibly nasty, especially downtown.   I'm in the midst of building a small coop and run (from the Garden Coop plans), modified a bit to fit my yard and our climate.  It'll look really pretty, but I have already spent more on the coop than I'd spend on a decade's worth of eggs! 

Because of the size of the coop and run, I think I'm sticking with bantams.  I'm hoping the smaller chickens will handle the heat better as well????  The coop/run will be shaded but obviously it'll still be hot. 

Let's see, I'm planning on having 4-6 chickens total.  For eggs, I'm planning on getting Bantam rhode island red, barred rock, easter eggers...and because they are irresistible, I'd like a couple of sizzles or silkies or frizzles. 

In Tucson, where do y'all get your chicks?  If you know of any place or person that has sizzles available, please let me know! 

One more thing I was looking for advice on--I am planning to head over to the Pima County Fair small animal auction later this month...looking for some 4-H chickens to buy.  I was hoping to get a couple of  sizzles or silkies from a 4-H kid.  I don't even know if chickens are part of the small animal auction--I'm assuming broiler chickens will be auctioned off, but what about the little bantams?   If they are, it's probably not a good idea to get 4 birds from 4 different owners and throw them in a coop together? 

Silkies, not for eggs, great pets and clowns. As for eggs..... I am looking at this as a hobby and pets, that happen to give me eggs. Start up always coasts. If you were to do it on the cheep, 3 pallets tied/nailed togather, and old tarp, for coop, buckets cut down for nests. But! We want it to look good as our homes, be comfortable for our girls, and most of all safe. It is worth building/getting a good coop in the long run. I love my girls and am losing money on every treat I get them. I look at great eggs and company.

I'm building a new coop for my girls. Open sides (screened) for ample air circulation with a shade material for shade on three sides for summer. Putting fittings for attaching sold sides for winter. I am going with 4 nesting boxes, only need 3. 1/3 ratio.

Buy the way, is anyone going to the Mericopa County Fair in Phoenix area? Has anyone ever been to our fair?

 

[alohachickens]

I just got a call from Ideal Poultry - the Speckled Sussex that I've been on a wait list for are available NOW. Unfortunately, my brooder is going to be TOTALLY full of my own hatched chicks and I won't have room for more!

If anyone is willing to raise some chicks until end of May (about six weeks) I'd compensate you by letting you keep a few of the chicks. These would be about 15 Speckled Sussex pullets. PM me if interested - I have to respond to Ideal by tomorrow at noon! Thanks!!!

 

[City farm]

The Tucson Poultry and Pigeon Fancy Fowl Club, of which I am a member, has many members who keep bantams. Some of us will have birds at the County Fair Open Show which is the Friday through Sunday before the 4H show. You can talk with exhibitors and possibly find what you want. Anything you buy from a breeder/shower is going to be infinitely better than feed store/hatchery stock! And you will be supporting the local folk. I only raise large fowl, so can't help you out with bantams.

ok great info.. I have not attended at fair since I was a child.. The only reason I would go would be chickens..
Thanks.

 

[pipemum]

Great, thanks for the advice. I'll definitely be at the Pima County Fair, probably annoying everyone with chicken questions.

 

[Demosthine]

I just got a call from Ideal Poultry - the Speckled Sussex that I've been on a wait list for are available NOW. Unfortunately, my brooder is going to be TOTALLY full of my own hatched chicks and I won't have room for more!

If anyone is willing to raise some chicks until end of May (about six weeks) I'd compensate you by letting you keep a few of the chicks. These would be about 15 Speckled Sussex pullets. PM me if interested - I have to respond to Ideal by tomorrow at noon! Thanks!!!

We'd be willing to raise them for a bit for you. My wife absolutely loves chicks, so I'm sure she'd be ok with it! Not that I need any more girls of our own. We already have 8 hens/pullets and 3 roosters. I'm actually just started building our second and larger coop today. The 11 are definitely outgrowing the 3'x5' one that I initially had set up for the 4-6 hens that I had wanted.

I'll PM you with more of my information.

 

[jeepgirl13]

Wow. Freak thunderstorm in my area. Totally awesome except for he fact every time I get my coat and boots on when the rain dies down to go feed my horses it starts POURING! I am now sitting inside, baking in my coat waiting for the rain and wind to die down. 115lbs gets blown around pretty easily out here! XD especially since its just flat open desert here. No wind blocks.

 

[jeepgirl13]

Ooo! The maricopa fair is the one at the fair grounds in phoenix right? They have always had an awesome livestock exhibition everytime I've been there. I've only been like five times but that was ALWAYS my favorite area. It smells sooooo good and the animals are always very beautiful and well cared for. Its definitely worth going.

 

[jeepgirl13]

Silkies, not for eggs, great pets and clowns. As for eggs..... I am looking at this as a hobby and pets, that happen to give me eggs. Start up always coasts. If you were to do it on the cheep, 3 pallets tied/nailed togather, and old tarp, for coop, buckets cut down for nests. But! We want it to look good as our homes, be comfortable for our girls, and most of all safe. It is worth building/getting a good coop in the long run. I love my girls and am losing money on every treat I get them. I look at great eggs and company.

I'm building a new coop for my girls. Open sides (screened) for ample air circulation with a shade material for shade on three sides for summer. Putting fittings for attaching sold sides for winter. I am going with 4 nesting boxes, only need 3. 1/3 ratio.

Buy the way, is anyone going to the Mericopa County Fair in Phoenix area? Has anyone ever been to our fair?

 

[countrygirl74]

Wow. Freak thunderstorm in my area. Totally awesome except for he fact every time I get my coat and boots on when the rain dies down to go feed my horses it starts POURING! I am now sitting inside, baking in my coat waiting for the rain and wind to die down. 115lbs gets blown around pretty easily out here! XD especially since its just flat open desert here. No wind blocks.

Oh to be 115lbs again!!!! But I guess you did give me another good reason to be slightly chunky - I won't blow away!

We haven't got the moisture, yet... although earlier in the day, there were actually a few teeny, tiny snowflakes blowing in the wind. Then it just sprinkled long enough to make the dust stick to everything.
Chickens stayed out in it all day! It was cold, NO windblocks here at all - lost a portion of the tin off the roof off their coop.
Where are you at where it's thunderstorming?

 

[City farm]

Ooo! The maricopa fair is the one at the fair grounds in phoenix right? They have always had an awesome livestock exhibition everytime I've been there. I've only been like five times but that was ALWAYS my favorite area. It smells sooooo good and the animals are always very beautiful and well cared for. Its definitely worth going.

I think it is around I-17 and grand.. Can't wait..