Arizona Chickens

[desertmarcy]

Not a good time to let a broody set. The eggs will bake with our temps and you'll want to break your broody girls. I have a Blue Copper Marans in a wire floored dog kennel under my grapefruit tree right now to break her of her broodiness. The wire floor allows for air to flow under her as well to cool her down. I have my livestock fans running continously right now so that should help. I also put a frozen water bottle in with her. Usually breaks them in 3 days. If you need to hatch eggs use the incubator.

Wait...it is 105+ degrees outside, what cool air is flowing under her??

I've used various methods to break broodies. The method used by @ChuskaMtns , wire bottomed cages work well most of the time but I hate to do that to them when it is so hot out since they can't cool themselves by digging in the dirt. I've moved them into a different pen with a bunch of "strangers" and that sometimes breaks them up, other times, they see the nest box in the new pen and it looks just dandy to them, so they move right in and continue broody behavior. I've put them in with aggressive males, so if they want to sit, the male takes that as an invitation to mount, which doesn't go over well with the hen. I've used the for sale method and the axe method as well if they really get to me.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

Wait...it is 105+ degrees outside, what cool air is flowing under her??
I've used various methods to break broodies. The method used by @ChuskaMtns
, wire bottomed cages work well most of the time but I hate to do that to them when it is so hot out since they can't cool themselves by digging in the dirt. I've moved them into a different pen with a bunch of "strangers" and that sometimes breaks them up, other times, they see the nest box in the new pen and it looks just dandy to them, so they move right in and continue broody behavior. I've put them in with aggressive males, so if they want to sit, the male takes that as an invitation to mount, which doesn't go over well with the hen. I've used the for sale method and the axe method as well if they really get to me.

I use the old fashioned A/C method - fan blowing on ice. The wire kennel is sitting on milk crates with blocks of ice under all of them. I have the large type livestock fans I purchased when one of the dairys closed, one is aimed towards the tree. I also have frozen bottles of ice in the crate and a wet towel draped over the back side. If you were to stand next to it you will feel a big difference in temperature. I replace the ice often to keep it cool. I did let her out of the crate this morning, she wasn't growling nor puffed up and ran over to join the flock.

 

[desertmarcy]

I use the old fashioned A/C method - fan blowing on ice. The wire kennel is sitting on milk crates with blocks of ice under all of them. I have the large type livestock fans I purchased when one of the dairys closed, one is aimed towards the tree. I also have frozen bottles of ice in the crate and a wet towel draped over the back side. If you were to stand next to it you will feel a big difference in temperature. I replace the ice often to keep it cool. I did let her out of the crate this morning, she wasn't growling nor puffed up and ran over to join the flock.

That's a great setup

 

[AZKat]

I'd just give them chicks, personally.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

I'd just give them chicks, personally.

I keep my roosters and hens separate during the warmer months so no chicks. I'm keeping a closed flock so only buy from a few breeders and it's too hot to get chicks shipped in.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

Hi everyone!

I'm doing some thinning of the flock as I have a breeding pair of Salmon Faverolles and some juvies coming in this weekend ... sooner than I thought!

I have:

Silver-Laced Wyandottes
2-3 months pullets (hatchery quality): $12
2-3 months cockerel ( from show/breeder quality stock at my place): $5 or free with the purchase of a pullet

Easter Egger (SLW x BBS Ameraucana)
2 month old pullet
No picture, yet, but looks a bit like her half sister, Penny, but with muffs!








Golden Pencilled Hamburgs
10 week old pullets from Murray McMurray: $12



Salmon Faverolles (bottom left of above picture)
2 10 week old pullets: $15
a little darker wheaten than I'd like, but not bad quality
five toes with good separation
beards and muffs

 

[desertmarcy]

I keep my roosters and hens separate during the warmer months so no chicks. I'm keeping a closed flock so only buy from a few breeders and it's too hot to get chicks shipped in.

A closed flock actually implies you don't bring ANY birds in from the outside. Only your own breeding stock is used to replenish your birds.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

A closed flock actually implies you don't bring ANY birds in from the outside. Only your own breeding stock is used to replenish your birds.

But if one owns multiple properties (which I do), then one can bring stock in from the UK or other breeders and still retain a closed flock.
In addition, to my Phoenix Valley home, I have a Navajo County home, a home on the Navajo reservation where many of my family live, and a home in VA that has caretakers living onsite, which is where my imports are sent.
So, I still say I do have and maintain a closed flock.

 

[desertmarcy]

But if one owns multiple properties (which I do), then one can bring stock in from the UK or other breeders and still retain a closed flock.
In addition, to my Phoenix Valley home, I have a Navajo County home, a home on the Navajo reservation where many of my family live, and a home in VA that has caretakers living onsite, which is where my imports are sent.
So, I still say I do have and maintain a closed flock.

It is not the number of properties you own, or where you live, or if you bring birds back and forth between your properties that matters. When one starts breeding birds, one has to get them initially from other people. Once a breeding flock is established and a breeder is line breeding, many people then decide to have a "closed flock" which means NO MORE BIRDS COME IN FROM OTHER BREEDERS. That is the definition of a closed flock. You can say you have a closed flock all you want but if you are importing birds or obtaining from other breeders, then you don't. There is a difference between quarantine and closed flock. Sounds to me like what you are doing is quarantining on a distant property.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

It is not the number of properties you own, or where you live, or if you bring birds back and forth between your properties that matters. When one starts breeding birds, one has to get them initially from other people. Once a breeding flock is established and a breeder is line breeding, many people then decide to have a "closed flock" which means NO MORE BIRDS COME IN FROM OTHER BREEDERS. That is the definition of a closed flock. You can say you have a closed flock all you want but if you are importing birds or obtaining from other breeders, then you don't. There is a difference between quarantine and closed flock. Sounds to me like what you are doing is quarantining on a distant property.

My VA birds have NEVER come in contact with my established flock. Yes, I own them but they are not breeding with my established flock nor are they the same. I have Silver laced and others there.