Arizona Chickens

[deserteggs22]

Without doing a necropsy it is hard to say what killed them. At this time of year I would suspect heat and humidity, unless there was some illness running through the flock.

You might not have enough ventilation for your coop. I haven't had a problem, but my coop/run setups are super-ventilated (more wire than solid, but also lots of shade). I am southwest of Tucson. We've had a couple of days over 115 degrees at my place. There have already been a couple of nights when it was still well over 80 degrees at 2:30 am. Also, at this time of year the sun has been up for over an hour by 6:30 am and it is already getting hot. The heat came on fast this year and the chickens did not have much time to acclimate to it. So heat could definitely be a factor.

Another issue may be the humidity. The combination of heat and humidity is hard on chickens. Even though the temps have not been as high this week as they were last week, the humidity is higher and that may be causing your birds problems. Especially when they are locked up in the coop. Especially if the coop does not have sufficient ventilation.

Ventilation, shade, and lots of water are absolute necessities for chickens in Arizona.

Good luck.

I lost a hen about a week ago, and believe it was from the heat. It got really hot real fast that day. I put in a mister in the run right away, with one of those sunscreens over the top and sides of the area. I haven't lost any since, and now there is a small puddle of water under the misters that they can walk through. Walking through that water also helps to keep them cooler.

Thank you both for your help! Right now, I am building a new barn/hen house because my one right now does not have good ventilation. Thanks again!

 

[cactusrota]

During the summer i like to put out a clean kitty litter pan full of water in the shade for the chickens. They love soaking their feet in the cool water and will sometimes even dunk their butts and start bathing. This is the time of year they need to have a water source in the coop for sure, that's not just nipples.

 

[City farm]

Hay there...

Who has Egyptian spinach in their garden?

 

[Sill]

Dang - I wish I could get them to grow here!!

They will! You just need the right varieties. Edulis and Frederick grow great in the heat, can take some frost, make delicious fruit and shade.

while I was stationed in Hawaii I lost a foot race to a passion fruit on a March in kole kole pass. I know I saw it first. I had no idea they would grow here.

Hawaii is amazing for what can grow there! They have some passionfruits that don't do well here.

Ok I just want to say I'm super shocked right now. I am trying to sell my rooster and I want him to go to a good home but the people responding to me clearly want him for cock fighting!!! They don't own any other chickens and don't plan on owning hens. Not cool! What should I do? One person got very angry with me when I tried to tell him I already sold him.

Tease,tease, ...tease, tease. ...TEASE!

You know you just have to let me know when you're ready for one and I'll root you a cutting. You'll have plenty of room soon and a duck run to cover.

I planted two Passion flower vines years ago and even though I no longer live there, the vines are alive and well.

I love seeing plants thrive at houses I used to live at!

 

[Sill]

Has anyone else had chickens die out of no where lately? I went out of town, and the person that was watching my birds said that when she opened up the coop in he mornings, she found 3 dead hens just laying on the floor. I don't think it is from heat because she closes them up at 8:00 pm and then let's them out at 6:30 am. Any ideas?

These excessive heat days are very hard on chickens, especially when they are in stuffy nest boxes.

Hay there...

Who has Egyptian spinach in their garden?

I do! Small still but growing. Is this at the new house?

 

[City farm]

Has anyone else had chickens die out of no where lately? I went out of town, and the person that was watching my birds said that when she opened up the coop in he mornings, she found 3 dead hens just laying on the floor. I don't think it is from heat because she closes them up at 8:00 pm and then let's them out at 6:30 am. Any ideas?

These excessive heat days are very hard on chickens, especially when they are in stuffy nest boxes.

Hay there... Who has Egyptian spinach in their garden?

I do! Small still but growing. Is this at the new house?

No i wish, still trying to figure out where to put plant's. Building stuff and what not.

 

[ejcrist]

Anyone see the forecast for the next 10 days give or take? Looks like we're gearing up for the hottest days on Sunday-Monday. According to the forecasts it's supposed to be quite a bit hotter than the spell we had about a week ago. I never worried too much about it before but now that I have birds out in it I pay a lot closer attention. Guess I better get the ice water and pans of water to stand in ready.

 

[BlueBaby]

Anyone see the forecast for the next 10 days give or take? Looks like we're gearing up for the hottest days on Sunday-Monday. According to the forecasts it's supposed to be quite a bit hotter than the spell we had about a week ago. I never worried too much about it before but now that I have birds out in it I pay a lot closer attention. Guess I better get the ice water and pans of water to stand in ready.

Yes, it is going to continue being hot, and July isn't even here yet! I already added a misting system to my chicken run, after I lost a hen to the heat about a week ago. I also put one of those sunscreens over the top and sides of where my misters are at. It has really helped them to stay cooler. I also added more containers of water at different places in the run. The misters also has created a small puddle of water below them so the chickens can walk through it to help them cool off.

 

[ejcrist]

Yes, it is going to continue being hot, and July isn't even here yet! I already added a misting system to my chicken run, after I lost a hen to the heat about a week ago. I also put one of those sunscreens over the top and sides of where my misters are at. It has really helped them to stay cooler. I also added more containers of water at different places in the run. The misters also has created a small puddle of water below them so the chickens can walk through it to help them cool off.

What kind of bird did you lose? I have a covered run (corrugated metal about 10' high at the peak) so there's plenty of shade but even with shade it doesn't do a whole lotta good when it gets to 115 F and higher. I'm kinda glad the hottest day is supposed to be Sunday so I'll be home and can watch them closely. I'm figuring on changing their "standing in" water about every 3 hours or so and maybe adding some ice. They'll be on their own Monday though but it's supposed to drop a few degrees then.

 

[DesertChic]

Hay there...

Who has Egyptian spinach in their garden?

I have seeds, but didn't plant it yet. Do you think it's too late?