Welcome to BYC!Hi all! New to the chicken scene here in Phoenix and looking for some tips and advice. I started reading some older threads but there's just too many to read.
I started building my coop this past weekend, I searched for a perfect spot to build it, I have it under a big oak tree and there's one to the west of it and some trees to the east so it gets some sun in the morning and about an hour or so around noon then it gets filter light for the hot part of the day.
Im building this coop like a tank, I have 4 dogs. So its built out of 4x4s and 2x6s and I'll be adding cattle fencing, stronger than hardware cloth, its actually used to keep cattle, hogs and horses in their areas so I hope it'll keep the dogs out too. The dimensions are 16' wide x 8' deep by 8 high. I wanted a taller pen to allow the heat to rise up and away from the chickens. Its going to be pretty mush an open coop / run. I also plan on putting 12"x12" pavers around the base to prevent digging by the dogs. The hen/nesting house is 4ft x 3ft by 4ft high, again Im building this to allow the hot air to escape through the top. I plan on installing a misting system to help keep things cool if needed and have the option to install a box fan on one end. I also plan on having the top made of the cox panels with shade cloth over it.
So... what type of chickens do I get? Im only looking for about 4 maybe 5 max. Also, how do the chickens do with flooded irrigation? I live on a 1 acre horse property and we get flooded irrigation and I can either add dirt and sand around the coop to keep water out but then again, would it be wise to allow the water to "wash" the coop floor every 2 weeks in the summer?
Thanks in advance!
Rick
What are your goals for owning chickens? Egg production, pets, meat... all of the above? Probably not meat if you only want 4-5, but just asking. That will determine to some degree what breeds you choose. The heavier breeds don't do well in the heat unless you can cool it off for them to some degree.
Chickens don't do well with overly wet conditions, but in AZ in the summer, it's not too much of an issue unless things don't dry out. Respiratory diseases are an issue if mold is allowed to grow in humid conditions.
My chickens don't like to get wet, but they appreciate the air being cooled off in the heat of the summer. Hope this helps, I'm sure others will have more to add.
