Arizona Chickens

[BackyardMarana]

Another thing im sorry if I'm annoying

, does anyone have baby chicks .I am going to need some in 4 more days my two splash marans (sisters ) went broody and are going to need some babies .I am open to any breed except the bantams , let me know what you have thanks

 

[deserteggs22]

I just wanted to let you guys know that I lost 6 chickens to the heat lately. Right now, it's reaching 115 at my house. To keep my birds cool, I put ice in their water's I give them a lot of shade, and I put a fan in there henhouse. Is there any other things I can do to keep them cool? I don't want to loose anymore. I also wet the ground were there laying sod they have a nice cool spot to lay in.

 

[MagicChicken]

I just wanted to let you guys know that I lost 6 chickens to the heat lately. Right now, it's reaching 115 at my house. To keep my birds cool, I put ice in their water's I give them a lot of shade, and I put a fan in there henhouse. Is there any other things I can do to keep them cool? I don't want to loose anymore. I also wet the ground were there laying sod they have a nice cool spot to lay in.

I am sorry for your loss. I would guess that the henhouse does not have enough airflow. You can give the birds bowls of water to stand in. Not slippery bowls. Bowls that give them some traction so the chickens feel secure standing in them. I use large black rubber bowls from the feed store.

You also need to get more heat-resistant birds. Breed is not as important as breeding. Get birds from a reputable local breeder who has sturdy stock bred to survive in the desert heat. Don't get any more birds until AFTER you re-design your henhouse.

My coop/run setups are more wire than solid walls. They are well shaded on the sides as well as the top. And I still cut an extra vent window into one side of the main coop the other day because heat was getting trapped in that corner. It is much better in there now.

Ventilation, shade, water, and birds bred for the climate.

 

[deserteggs22]

I am sorry for your loss.  I would guess that the henhouse does not have enough airflow. You can give the birds bowls of water to stand in. Not slippery bowls. Bowls that give them some traction so the chickens feel secure standing in them. I use large black rubber bowls from the feed store.

You also need to get more heat-resistant birds. Breed is not as important as breeding. Get birds from a reputable local breeder who has sturdy stock bred to survive in the desert heat. Don't get any more birds until AFTER you re-design your henhouse.

My coop/run setups are more wire than solid walls. They are well shaded on the sides as well as the top. And I still cut an extra vent window into one side of the main coop the other day because heat was getting trapped in that corner. It is much better in there now.

Ventilation, shade, water, and birds bred for the climate.

Thank you so much! I am getting lumber this week and I'm starting to design the new shed. I know I've asked this before, but what breeds do best in the heat?

 

[DesertChic]

I just wanted to let you guys know that I lost 6 chickens to the heat lately. Right now, it's reaching 115 at my house. To keep my birds cool, I put ice in their water's I give them a lot of shade, and I put a fan in there henhouse. Is there any other things I can do to keep them cool? I don't want to loose anymore. I also wet the ground were there laying sod they have a nice cool spot to lay in.

I'm so sorry to hear that. It's 115 here at my house too. I've got portable and window A/C units in the chicken cabin (it has 4 pens inside it), plus I'm doing all you indicated, plus I got out every hour to check on the birds, cool down the soil by spraying it with water, have misters running, feed them frozen and chilled treats, and also keep a hose running to create a stream of cool water for them to scratch in. If any of them "tell" me they're on the verge of heat stroke, I bring them into the air conditioned house and store them in my enclosed shower until they cool off. (I keep the temp in the house around 72 degrees.)

Yeah...I'm working overtime to keep my birds alive.

 

[DesertChic]

Thank you so much! I am getting lumber this week and I'm starting to design the new shed. I know I've asked this before, but what breeds do best in the heat?

Of all the breeds I have, my Naked Neck Turkens do the best in the heat. When other birds are panting heavily they seem nearly unfazed. That said, even they are panting a bit and digging down into the cool dirt to combat this heat today. I've actually begun breeding not only for meat and egg laying in my flock, but have begun crossing my NNs with all other breeds because they've proven so hardy in our desert climate with minimal attention required.

My little Silkie is also doing quite well, followed by my Austra Whites, Barred Rocks, White Rocks and Australorps.

 

[deserteggs22]

I'm so sorry to hear that. It's 115 here at my house too. I've got portable and window A/C units in the chicken cabin (it has 4 pens inside it), plus I'm doing all you indicated, plus I got out every hour to check on the birds, cool down the soil by spraying it with water, have misters running, feed them frozen and chilled treats, and also keep a hose running to create a stream of cool water for them to scratch in. If any of them "tell" me they're on the verge of heat stroke, I bring them into the air conditioned house and store them in my enclosed shower until they cool off. (I keep the temp in the house around 72 degrees.) 

Yeah...I'm working overtime to keep my birds alive. 

Thank you! I do freeze corn and any of my fruit scraps in little muffin tins.

Of all the breeds I have, my Naked Neck Turkens do the best in the heat. When other birds are panting heavily they seem nearly unfazed. That said, even they are panting a bit and digging down into the cool dirt to combat this heat today. I've actually begun breeding not only for meat and egg laying in my flock, but have begun crossing my NNs with all other breeds because they've proven so hardy in our desert climate with minimal attention required. 

My little Silkie is also doing quite well, followed by my Austra Whites, Barred Rocks, White Rocks and Australorps. 

I only have 2 naked necks right now. I had 5, but a neighborhood dog dug into my coop and got 3 of them. Would you by any Chance have any hatching eggs or chicks available any time soon? I need more of them.

 

[desertmarcy]

This is the worst year for me for the chickens and heat since I've been keeping chickens. I lost 6 in the first heat wave and 2 Barred Rock hens went today. They all have water to stand in and mister but some of them just can't take it. I can only do so much. Hopefully the ones that survive will pass on their heat resistant genes to the next generation. The coyotes are eating well around here.

 

[aviddamy]

Surprisingly it's hotter here than forecasted (119) but mine have all survived. Today I am going to grab a mister and set it up for the rest of the week.

 

[DesertChic]

Thank you! I do freeze corn and any of my fruit scraps in little muffin tins.
I only have 2 naked necks right now. I had 5, but a neighborhood dog dug into my coop and got 3 of them. Would you by any Chance have any hatching eggs or chicks available any time soon? I need more of them.

I would strongly recommend against feeding them corn, even when frozen. Corn actually raises their body temperature. Stick with peas, fruit, etc. Save the corn for the cooler months.

I almost always have fertile eggs if you're interested, but I typically don't hatch during the summer. I've found that it's a little too hard on the chicks. I do have 3 NN chicks that are about 5 weeks old and raised by a broody hen right up until today. This morning she decided they were grown up enough and she had to lay an egg, so she left them in their pen and started living the life of a free hen again.