Arizona Chickens

[kacklinkelly]

So, guess make a coop where the other critters can't get in? small rabbit wire maybe?
There is an abundant amount of wild life. Just saw a Turkey Vulture eating, it looked like a ground squirrel in the neighbors yard, but only 20' from my office window.
was planning to put the coop close to the house with a shade screen.

Our tractor is very heavy (I can't lift or move it by myself). We used the "rabbit wire" on the entire bottom portion of the A frame tractor. We fastened it with washers and screws to the wooden frame. Our son's dog took a running dive at the chickens when he first saw them and no problem with the wire. He then became insistent and started bouncing on and off the wire. I was really glad we used that instead of chicken wire. I also am really careful about the chickens feed. I do not want to invite mice or other rodents, so I don't scatter feed on the ground for the chickens and only feed them what they will finish. It might not be the easiest way to do things, but it's clean and so far rodent free. (for the last year and a half - Although I have found a rodent in our pool skimmer though

).

 

[kpgoldstar]

going today to get the coop. Since I know Nothing.... I think I'll just get some Red Sexlinks, they have and hopefully still do have them at the AJ feed store.
In all of you guys opinion...... are the Red Sexlink hens a good place to start?

I just got chickens in October and did minimal research prior to taking the plunge. We decided on hatchery RIR's due to their somewhat heat tolerance. If I'd known about this thread and site several months prior I would have gotten a couple different varieties and from people here rather than a feed store. I love my girls (4) don't get me wrong, but they pretty much all look the same. They do have names and different personalities but they are hard to tell apart without looking at leg bands.

I would prefer now to have some different colored hens, therefore eggs as well. All 4 lay slightly different colored eggs but I can't tell whose is which. We also bought a pre-fab coop to house just a few chickens and added on a run that was twice the size of the coop. I have one girl now who has decided to peck me about once a week, so I have to skirt her when she is out freeranging and have to look for the blue band. Sure would be easier and more colorful if one were white, one red, one spotted, etc.

I can't have more than the ones I already have and when I see all the breeds and pics on here I get a little jealous. It never occured to me to have a variety as when I was growing up we had all RIR's! If I ever lose one or two or when they finally get up in years I will start replacing them with different breeds.

eta: Or when I decide I've had enough of Dottie's pecking and she becomes dinner

 

[kacklinkelly]

I have an easter egger that used to peck me once in a while. I finally had enough of it and when she did it the last time, I flicked her with my finger (out of reflex). She was pretty startled. She's not pecked me again. I guess it was enough to get her attention. I'm not sure if you are supposed to do that or not. We still remain buddies - she jumps on my legs when I'm sitting outside and put my feet up.

 

[rhondita55]

Just got home and set up a temp brooder. Got 1 Americauna and 2 Buff Orpingtons. They "said" only a 10% chance of a roo.
Question: They had me put a big heat lamp on it.... I raised it up pretty high on a stand, but that still seems sweltering to me. The chicks have medicated food, water and pine shavings and are quiet. It just seems hot. I keep the house at 80° anyway. just seems hot.

We have a wire dog crate I could put rabbit wire around. Do you think that would be better or a deeper tub.

OH, I do have the ceiling fan going in that room for circulation. Any help will be appreciated so that I don't wake up to 3 dead chicks.

"edit:" the heat lamp was just to hot I think. Even over 2 ' above the chicks. they were laying down with wings out. 1 was on it's side a bit. I put a drop of water on my finger and touched their beak and got them to drink. Turned off the heat lamp and turned on the room light. They seem much happier. I think I'll be a typical mother and be checking on them all night.

 

[rhondita55]

I have an easter egger that used to peck me once in a while. I finally had enough of it and when she did it the last time, I flicked her with my finger (out of reflex). She was pretty startled. She's not pecked me again. I guess it was enough to get her attention. I'm not sure if you are supposed to do that or not. We still remain buddies - she jumps on my legs when I'm sitting outside and put my feet up.

so funny.

 

[Sill]

going today to get the coop. Since I know Nothing.... I think I'll just get some Red Sexlinks, they have and hopefully still do have them at the AJ feed store.
In all of you guys opinion...... are the Red Sexlink hens a good place to start?

I have red sex links and they are great starter chickens. They are pretty quiet and personable plus consistent layers.

We might have read her post wrong, I thought, how to store them for regular use. Not incubation..

Thanks everyone for your input. Yes for incubating. Right now we are just eating them but I'll be setting some in the incubator eventually. Good to know room temperature is OK.

Just got home and set up a temp brooder. Got 1 Americauna and 2 Buff Orpingtons. They "said" only a 10% chance of a roo.
Question: They had me put a big heat lamp on it.... I raised it up pretty high on a stand, but that still seems sweltering to me. The chicks have medicated food, water and pine shavings and are quiet. It just seems hot. I keep the house at 80° anyway. just seems hot.

We have a wire dog crate I could put rabbit wire around. Do you think that would be better or a deeper tub.

OH, I do have the ceiling fan going in that room for circulation. Any help will be appreciated so that I don't wake up to 3 dead chicks.

How old are the chicks? Newly hatched chicks need 90 degrees plus but as long as you have them set up so they have a temperature gradient they can hang out in the part of the brooder that is the most comfortable. You can raise or lower the heat light according to how the chicks are acting. If they are huddled under the light they might need it a little warmer. If they are hanging out as far from the light as they can get they are probably too hot and you can raise the light up higher. Home Depot sells an extension cord with a rheostat and if you use that to plug your heat lamp into you can up the amount of heat and light without having to raise or lower the light. I love using it for chicks! It saves electricity too.

 

[carnivore]

CHICK DAY, TAKE 2

Got the phone call at 6:10 this morning (or text in my case, I am totally deaf, and the post office knows it). I had ordered 8 Partridge Cochins from MPC, 6 pullets and 2 roos, got 1 DOA. Also ordered 18 Black Jersey Giants, 15 pullets and 3 roos from Cackle Hatchery, they all arrived in good health. My older chicks were somewhat overwhelmed with the new influx of furballs, so I moved them out to the run. They were getting a little stir crazy in the brooder anyway. They are now exploring the run and pecking at anything that moves (or even if it doesn't move!). Will post some pics later today, the Cochins are particularly cute. At this stage, they are a dark cinnamon color. The Jerseys still look like buzzards.

OK, promised some pics later, so here they are. First pic is of chicks still in the boxes. After final headcount, I received 7 Partridge Cochins, and 20 Jersey Giants.




these 2 pics are some closeups of the Cochins, one is a little blurry due to zoom on camera.





And these pics are of the older chicks checking out the new run. The sex link is saying "MOM! There's an ant on my leg!"









I think they like it!

 

[rhondita55]

I have red sex links and they are great starter chickens. They are pretty quiet and personable plus consistent layers.

Thanks everyone for your input. Yes for incubating. Right now we are just eating them but I'll be setting some in the incubator eventually. Good to know room temperature is OK.

How old are the chicks? Newly hatched chicks need 90 degrees plus but as long as you have them set up so they have a temperature gradient they can hang out in the part of the brooder that is the most comfortable. You can raise or lower the heat light according to how the chicks are acting. If they are huddled under the light they might need it a little warmer. If they are hanging out as far from the light as they can get they are probably too hot and you can raise the light up higher. Home Depot sells an extension cord with a rheostat and if you use that to plug your heat lamp into you can up the amount of heat and light without having to raise or lower the light. I love using it for chicks! It saves electricity too.

They said they are a week old. I raised the light and turned off the fan. put an outdoor thermometer in there. Don't know if I'm just fussy, scared or what. 1st timer...... I'll let you know what happens.

 

[rhondita55]

here are some pictures. Is this normal? Is there something wrong or are they just tuckered out. The thermometer says 90°. It's hard to take a pic with the heat lamp, but you can see where there is a shadow from the box and the water and food are on the other side out of the direct light. I just don't like how they flop down with legs out.

 

[carnivore]

I call it the "faceplant" sleeping method, or the "dead chicken disguise". No problem, they're just tuckered out. The one on it's side is not real normal, they usually start doing that when they're too hot. If they are not panting or lifting their wings, they're probably all right. A chicken's body temp is 107, so what feels too warm to us is comfortable for them.