Arizona Chickens

[aviddamy]

Eggs are pretty much nonexistent over here. I have some ladies losing feathers all over and they are a year old. I think it's because of the type of chicken they are. I expect their life spans will be shorter than normal. They are broilers. I just couldn't bring myself to kill the girls they are so sweet. Their mean brothers went to freezer camp long ago.

 

[desertrocks]

Yeah, 107 was almost a relief today.
The kiddie pool with sand in it appears to be a big hit in the pen. The mister system gets the sand just damp and draws quite a crowd.
Being one of those who spoils their furry and feathered family members, each afternoon around 4 or so we have a visit with the girls with ice cold fruit. It is a combination of spread out and hand fed. It gives me a chance to get a really good look at everyone and it cools them off some.
Everyone seems to have adjusted to the mister system and it may even force them to take in more water as it does most on their feathers which keeps them preening and cleaning.

 

[Sill]

The chickens have almost stopped production. Thankfully the quail are going full force despite me moving most of the groups less than two weeks ago, and the ones that didn't get moved got new neighbors. They cut way back for a few days but now are back up to over 80% producing eggs. What cute little egg laying machines they are.

 

[desertrocks]

What a glorious morning. 7am and it is 86 with a light breeze. The pen is quite lively this morning as everyone is enjoying the morning. They are more active this morning than they have been since this latest run of +110° days started. Raw sunflower seeds will be the morning treat today.

 

[City farm]

It says 92' here in Tempe. . It will pass soon.. we live in a desert.

I hope so. I work outside for 12 hours from 6 am to 6pm with no air conditioning by the time I get off work I am barely functioning.

Awe, . It is cooling down soon..

 

[City farm]

Hi, is there anything that I can do to keep my chickens water cool? And, I have this huge Colorado river toad that I find in the water tubs daily, and I know that they are poisoness. Will they harm my hens?

Freeze some water bottles and put them in the water. That will help some. Hang in there, we are due for some relief.
The up side is that when winter comes and most are trying to keep their birds warm, ours will be singing in the sunshine.
If the toad is too big too eat, with any luck they will leave him alon e. You might try putting the pans up on bricks so the toad isn't able to get in them. A couple inches may be enough.

Great advice, x2..

Not sure about the toad issue.. Some chickens will eat anything..
When it is over 107' I will give them a block of ice from the water store.. Spoiled brats.. Our misters are not working due to the calcium build up.. I need to work on that... Will add to the already LONG list.. Praying for helpers..

 

[desertrocks]

Awe, . It is cooling down soon..

I can relate, one of my daughters lives in Tempe and we are 1/2 way between Sun City and Wickenburg here.

 

[City farm]

Just NW of Phoenix here, 117 on Saturday, !!4 yesterday, calling for +110 today. Supposed to drop back to 105 or so by Tue end of the week.
Scary when you look at 105 as a break in the heat.

I agree with you completly?. I love the heat up till 105'..

 

[City farm]

 
Since I don;t have vacinations and my flock is a mix of npip and non I think that voids any mpip anyway so it is like starting from scratch. I will call the number and see what all I would have to do now

okay I contacted them and filled out a form we will see where this goes from here

All right I have filled out the form to get started will see what is involved and the cost as I go

To get started I went to agriculture.az.gov then to animal services then to premise id

I have read on other Fourm's some people that got certified, wish they did not.. Most likely due to the Avarian flew out break this year... They got reported from "someone" whoever that may be.. And must of tracked who bought what from who.. Then "they" disrroyed all of their birds & egg's..

 

[City farm]

Gee...it only got up to 103 at my house today. I almost ran to get a sweater. It hit 111 on Saturday and my husband ran out and bought a second portable A/C unit for our chicken cabin. This heat is brutal! But so far....no losses. I have one Cochin mix and a few Bielefelders that look less than stellar at the peak of the heat each day, but they're still holding on. Oh...and why on earth are my pullets turning broody when it's this darn hot?!? My Silkie girl and my Cochin pullet are baking themselves sitting on whatever real or fake eggs they can hoard under them. Crazy, crazy chickens!

On the plus side, my egg production hasn't dropped off at all and I'm now getting 12-13 eggs per day from 15 laying chickens. And.....the first of my Bielefelders laid her first egg today, just a day before turning 24 weeks old. It's a lovely rosy brown spotted egg weighing in at 1.41 ounces. Not too bad for the new girl. 

A sweater!!
Portable A/C unit.. defiantly spoiled rotten brats you have there.. Last summer our girl's went broody as well.. That's why we have a whole new flock, with the exception of a few.. I miss our biefelder yeah crying over a chicken.. Us GIRL'S cry..