Arizona Chickens

[rockmissjess]

I'll have to take some more pics since we've added a lot of stuff so it may be a little while.

kkkk just post em when u got em!

 

[dnx717]

Thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for. So if I go ahead with my current order they will be shipped 4/30/14. Will it be too hot to keep them in the garage if they are needing around 90°? Does anyone know what this is? http://www.idealpoultry.com/item.html

 

[jubilation]

I live in San Tan Valley, east Phoenix valley. I'm wanting a flock of six but can't really find hens of the breeds I want. I'm thinking of doing mail order chicks from ideal poultry or some site like that but I have no idea what I'm doing regarding rearing chicks. Can someone give me a brief overview of how to care for chicks so I can decide if that is for me or not? Also, I know they need particular consistent heat based off of age so how old before they can be kept in the coop? I have no birds yet, this will be my first experience with chickens or any livestock (I guess that's the right term?)

Any advice would be appreciated and I'm not looking for a book (so to speak), just some tips and general faqs type of stuff.

Thanks!

Btw, I'm wanting 4 golden sex links and either an Easter Egger and an Araucana or two Araucanas. Didn't think they'd be so hard to find...

This is what I do. I have some baby chicks right now and I usually put them into a large enough box, etc. with a heat lamp at one end and space for them to get out of the heat. I have never had to dip any beaks in water after 50 years of raising chicks. If you buy them from a local feed store, tractor store, etc., they usually already know what the water is. Make sure your chicks are vaccinated for Merecks disease. I usually start them on a high quality chick starter feed. After approx. a week and a half or two weeks you'll want to put a bowl of small grit in for them. Chickens need rocks, etc. to help with digestion. If it's warm out, you can put your chicks out when they are fully feathered. Do watch for pasty butt and keep an eye out for any really loose poop or any that's really watery. Little chicks have a more watery poop than the older ones do. Slowly reduce the heat from 90 for the first week to 85, etc. Until they are completely feathered out they will need heat at approx. 75. When they do start looking like little dinosaurs I usual put a small roost in and they love that. If you want chickens that are not flighty and afraid you'll want to spend time with them. That's it in a nutshell. Oh yes, wood shavings in the bottom of the box and absolutely no cedar shavings, pine only as cedar gives off a toxic resin that will kill your chicks.

 

[Sill]

Pics of what?

The chicken's covered run.

 

[jubilation]

The chicken's covered run.

Chickens don't have a covered run. No coyote, fox, etc. problems here.

 

[Timskins]

Thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for. So if I go ahead with my current order they will be shipped 4/30/14. Will it be too hot to keep them in the garage if they are needing around 90°? Does anyone know what this is? http://www.idealpoultry.com/item.html

I have kept my last 2 batches in the garage. Ones in their now and the others were a month before. Its much harder to regulate the temp but I had temps as low as 80 on week olds and just under 100 over the past weekend. The chicks didn't seem to mind either temp variation. Like I mentioned just keep an eye on their behavior. Your link doesn't go to a specific product just a main page.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I live in San Tan Valley, east Phoenix valley. I'm wanting a flock of six but can't really find hens of the breeds I want. I'm thinking of doing mail order chicks from ideal poultry or some site like that but I have no idea what I'm doing regarding rearing chicks. Can someone give me a brief overview of how to care for chicks so I can decide if that is for me or not? Also, I know they need particular consistent heat based off of age so how old before they can be kept in the coop? I have no birds yet, this will be my first experience with chickens or any livestock (I guess that's the right term?)

Any advice would be appreciated and I'm not looking for a book (so to speak), just some tips and general faqs type of stuff.

Thanks!

Btw, I'm wanting 4 golden sex links and either an Easter Egger and an Araucana or two Araucanas. Didn't think they'd be so hard to find...

The BYC Learning Center is also a great place for information. There are a couple of basic overviews on raising chicks, like this one and this one.

 

[City farm]

Our daughter and grandson spent the day in Tempe at the Aloha festival.  They had so much fun. DH and I spent the weekend in the garden.  Picking weeds, pulling up some radishes, planted cucumbers, zucchini, watermelon, sunflowers and string beans.  Praying for a better harvest than last year.  Hoping my timing is OK.  Chickens and bunnies were free ranging all weekend.  New rolling composter is built thanks to DH.  I just love this time of year!!! Happy spring all! 

I found more cat poo in our front yard garden this weekend. I have now decided to add to the number of pot to grow from..
Durring the summer in the smaller pots I might do seasonal flowers.. Has anyone tried that?
Happy spring to you too.. e

 

[City farm]

Ended up going to Amado for a new plastic waterer for the ladies, ended up with 3 peeps and more baby food! ha! My daughter picked out one Rhode Island Red, one Red Sex link and one Gold laced Wyandotte. Wife gave me the look...I told her it was my daughters deal. *snicker
The wind picked up on Sunday, something fierce. Blew everything, everywhere. Now the pergola is coming loose and some boards are cracked. Going full carpenter here on the days off. Other than that, the kids are out of school (spring break), and we are Roasting a full chicken (Beer Can Chicken) and enjoying some great Hefe-weissbier. Yup, springs here, all is well. So glad all of you are doing great.

Congradulations on your new babies..

 

[rockmissjess]

CHICK ORDER ARRIVING TOMORROW!!

*runs around like a chicken with its head cut off*