Arizona Chickens

[AZKat]

Personally, I prefer to add chicks in the spring or early summer. I've got a pretty good set up, and I haven't had a problem with a lot of losses in the summer, but my girls generally stop laying, or slow down a lot during the summer. Early summer chicks are ready to lay once the weather cools down, so with supplemental light I have tons of eggs in the winter and spring, without having to feed a bunch of unproductive adults during the summer.

 

[aviddamy]

Does anyone grow fodder successfully here during summer? My house isn't cool enough so I was having issues with mold even when using GSE. Our A/C is having issues so our home has been 80+

 

[desertrocks]

Personally, I prefer to add chicks in the spring or early summer. I've got a pretty good set up, and I haven't had a problem with a lot of losses in the summer, but my girls generally stop laying, or slow down a lot during the summer. Early summer chicks are ready to lay once the weather cools down, so with supplemental light I have tons of eggs in the winter and spring, without having to feed a bunch of unproductive adults during the summer.

We started up with 1 week and 3 week old chicks in May. Reading some of the posts here, we consider ourselves very fortunate to have gotten all 25 birds this far with no losses. Having not done this before, I have no real reference point as far as how fast they are growing due to the heat although I am inclined to think that as soon as it cools just a bit they will have a growth spurt.
The flock we have now are going to be layers, 23 pullets and 1 cockerel in the pen. The cockerel and the EE pullet came to us together and are inseparable. They are a couple weeks older and scratch and roost as a pair. So far he has shown little interest in the rest of the pullets so we are thinking that we can isolate those 2 from the rest and let them do their own thing as it were.
The more we learn about chickens, the more interested we become in also taking on a couple of Heritage Breeds to purebreed as well as round out the color of the layers.
This being said, we will be looking for some locally bred purebred chicks in the spring.
Still researching what would be the best breeds for the climate so input again is always appreciated.

 

[desertrocks]

Does anyone grow fodder successfully here during summer? My house isn't cool enough so I was having issues with mold even when using GSE. Our A/C is having issues so our home has been 80+

I am curious about this as well in addition to exactly what type of wheat seed I should use. The rest of the process seems pretty straight forward so I am good where that is concerned.

 

[FeatherPugs]

Does anyone grow fodder successfully here during summer? My house isn't cool enough so I was having issues with mold even when using GSE. Our A/C is having issues so our home has been 80+

I get the idea but am unsure what can be grown and where that what can be obtained. I got a small bag of field grass and am growing that right now. Takes a bit longer but is doing okay in the heat of my back room. I expect it will take at least another week before I can put it out for the girls.

 

[desertrocks]

I get the idea but am unsure what can be grown and where that what can be obtained. I got a small bag of field grass and am growing that right now. Takes a bit longer but is doing okay in the heat of my back room. I expect it will take at least another week before I can put it out for the girls.

What do you mean by field grass? like a rye or a bermuda?
From what I could glean, I think it is red wheat seed that is what is used of which I am told I can buy in a #50 sack for about $15 but am not positive.
This is something I am very interested in as my girls are very serious about greens.

 

[FeatherPugs]

What do you mean by field grass? like a rye or a bermuda?
From what I could glean, I think it is red wheat seed that is what is used of which I am told I can buy in a #50 sack for about $15 but am not positive.

This has Fescue (sp?) grass, orchard grass, alfalfa, rye and a hybrid type of white clover. I got it at CAL Ranch. I don't know where to get any of the other types of seed around my area. Guess I should let my fingers do some walking

 

[desertrocks]

This has Fescue (sp?) grass, orchard grass, alfalfa, rye and a hybrid type of white clover. I got it at CAL Ranch. I don't know where to get any of the other types of seed around my area. Guess I should let my fingers do some walking

Local feed store is where I found the seed. I asked about sprouting it for fodder and the guy on the phone assured me I would be able to but then I have heard a lot of thiings from feed stores so I guess we will invest the $15 for the seed and set up some trays. We have plenty of trays laying around to work with as we do tomatoes and such in the spring.
I will update after I get the seed and try to run a set of trays.

 

[City farm]

...

I am so dang sick of the heat!!  I have toted frozen water bottles, fed frozen treats and high protein and yes those girls are hanging in there but the mommy rooster is fading fast in the heat!!  Maybe its a little stress related as my DH has a shoulder replacement in Tucson on Tuesday and I learned last Thursday there is a mass on my adrenal gland - which is probably cancer again.  I need to get my DH at least 6 weeks post-op before I can have surgery to remove the adrenal.  Yes it will be a fun time - so the heat needs to go!!  Off to the chicken yard to check on the cluckers and to sit in the mister to try to destress and plan, plan, plan!!  Stay well and safe friends - its now 107 in the shade on my front porch and not quite 1pm!!   


Oh bless your heart. Lifting you up in prayers. . I think of Job and what God put him threw to prove that God's chosen would not waver in time of distress. . It is hot here too dear.. i think the only chickens i lost in the heat was our lovely Faith, the bielefelder. . She was such a sweet chicken.. @Sill & some other GF had dim sum for lunch today. She mentioned she had a couple of bielefelder barnyard mixes she could give us.. we lost about 5 to different stuff. Mostly i think the roundworms. . Keep your eye's on Him..

 

[City farm]

Does anyone grow fodder successfully here during summer? My house isn't cool enough so I was having issues with mold even when using GSE. Our A/C is having issues so our home has been 80+

Not fodder, but our FF has a weird grayish film on top. I went and got organic crumble feed for a while. . I do the FF only enough for 3 day's. . It still shows up, so not sure if it is mold or a film. . I don't remember seeing the film in the winter. .