Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

For right now, if both of these 2 whites eggs hatch (Austra-Whites), I will have to mark them because I am still also hatching out more full breeders Australorp's from my flock too. I need to be able to tell them apart, so I don't sell the wrong ones. lol I had been reading up on the Austra-Whites, and thought about buying a few of the White Leghorns to start up my own bloodline of them going, since I already have my Australorp's. When I had the chance to grab those 2 eggs I couldn't resist, as I had my incubator going already!

 

[cactusrota]

Hmmm... I think if I were to do a project like that I would have chosen White Rocks instead. Especially since they'd be crossed with your nice birds instead of hatchery birds. That'd probably make a really nice bird.

 

[DesertBird]

Hello, everyone. Our local feed store is getting their chicks in sometime this week, and my family was planning on getting a few more. My question with that is, will they be able to be outside in this weather? I'd have asked in a separate thread, but I feel like I'd get a better answer with people that know the weather out here, especially in monsoon season.
It's a blocked in area, fully sheltered from birds, bugs, cats, rain, wind, etc., but it is still outside and stays at about 90 degrees throughout the day. Is that too hot for the chicks to be outside? We wouldn't put the heat lamp on them or anything except possibly at night, but we don't want to get them if it's too hot out for them because we can't bring them inside. Our current chickens were out in the same spot when they were chicks and are now moved into their pens, but that was back in April when it was way cooler.

And good luck if you start your own bloodline of Austra-Whites, @BlueBaby!

 

[BlueBaby]

@cactusrota

Well, I didn't have to buy any White Leghorn hens just to have these 2 eggs as an experiment project. I still want to see how they develop. The Australorp/White Leghorn cross (Austra-Whites) is supposed to have good heat tolerance. Besides, I don't know anyone around here that even has any white rock hens that I could try out for this project. I will still have my pure Australorp's in one pen that will not be crossed. Now, to start working on another one that I can put these Austra-Whites) in to see what goes on with them.

 

[DesertBird]

@cactusrota

Well, I didn't have to buy any White Leghorn hens just to have these 2 eggs as an experiment project. I still want to see how they develop. The Australorp/White Leghorn cross (Austra-Whites) is supposed to have good heat tolerance. Besides, I don't know anyone around here that even has any white rock hens that I could try out for this project. I will still have my pure Australorp's in one pen that will not be crossed. Now, to start working on another one that I can put these Austra-Whites) in to see what goes on with them.

Ooh, a heat tolerant breed would be amazing out here! My poor Barred Plymouth Rock's are apparently more cold hardy than heat hardy, and I feel bad for the poor things struggling out there all day. My RIR's are supposed to be heat hardy, but they still get super hot, too.

 

[BlueBaby]

Ooh, a heat tolerant breed would be amazing out here! My poor Barred Plymouth Rock's are apparently more cold hardy than heat hardy, and I feel bad for the poor things struggling out there all day. My RIR's are supposed to be heat hardy, but they still get super hot, too.

Well, that's a good reason for me to try this. These are being born right here in the desert in the middle of summer. I will be observing them.

 

[SonoranChick]

Blue Baby I will likely be a future customer I love the heat tolerance factor. I also have a barred rock, and she seems to do okay in extreme heat. We do have misters and I put ice trays and frozen gallons out for them. Out of all my girls, the Wyandotte, red star, and leghorns seem to Be most uncomfortable in hot days. My brown leghorn is very smart and knows how to cool herself off by sitting on top of the frozen jug! They are all fine with temps in the low 90's. Once it hits about 97 degrees in the coop, I turn on the misters.

 

[BlueBaby]

Blue Baby I will likely be a future customer I love the heat tolerance factor. I also have a barred rock, and she seems to do okay in extreme heat. We do have misters and I put ice trays and frozen gallons out for them. Out of all my girls, the Wyandotte, red star, and leghorns seem to Be most uncomfortable in hot days. My brown leghorn is very smart and knows how to cool herself off by sitting on top of the frozen jug! They are all fine with temps in the low 90's. Once it hits about 97 degrees in the coop, I turn on the misters.

I wonder if they pick up the being heat tolerance from the Australorp being mixed into them? Anyway's, I can watch them grow out and let you know how it goes.

 

[cactusrota]

Just feel like sharing this today.

For those who aren't aware of my Australorp adventure this year, in February I ordered a straight run batch of Black Australorps from Privett hatchery. Sexed them by wing and tail feathers, and turned out I had an even 50/50... how about that! There was one blue chick in the bunch that had me confused so I took pictures and emailed them. Apparently they had just acquired a new line of Blue/Black/Splash Australorps and they think one or two accidentally ended up in the Black pen. (the blues are listed in their price sheet now..)
Meanwhile, I've sold off all but two of the black pullets and the one blue one, and all but one of the cockerels have gone to freezer camp. (btw - Privett australorps do NOT make good dual purpose birds... never again)

So... Meet Gunner!!!
I'm 99.9% positive this guy has some of that blue line in him too. I could always tell him from the rest of the cockerels by glance because he was more of a dark gunmetal grey instead of pure black. He's also been the very last to mature, the biggest, and has way more personality. He's finally "dropping his tooticles" right now and getting punky, and is forming a very annoying yet kind of cute obsession. Biting my toes.

I may have to stop using the yard flipflops for awhile and go back to closed toe shoes. This guy follows me around wherever I go and waits, patiently, calmly, for me to drop my guard... then quick as a bunny runs up and bites a toe. If I turn around and try to block him he bites a finger. Never enough to draw blood or anything. Earlier today I caught him up and held him between my knees, his feet still on the ground, and just petted him and told him how much of a dork he was. He's still doing it. I'm pretty sure it's like a game for him now, a challenge. This little punk is going to make things interesting for awhile...

 

[DesertBird]

Just feel like sharing this today.

For those who aren't aware of my Australorp adventure this year, in February I ordered a straight run batch of Black Australorps from Privett hatchery. Sexed them by wing and tail feathers, and turned out I had an even 50/50... how about that! There was one blue chick in the bunch that had me confused so I took pictures and emailed them. Apparently they had just acquired a new line of Blue/Black/Splash Australorps and they think one or two accidentally ended up in the Black pen. (the blues are listed in their price sheet now..)
Meanwhile, I've sold off all but two of the black pullets and the one blue one, and all but one of the cockerels have gone to freezer camp. (btw - Privett australorps do NOT make good dual purpose birds... never again)

So... Meet Gunner!!!
I'm 99.9% positive this guy has some of that blue line in him too. I could always tell him from the rest of the cockerels by glance because he was more of a dark gunmetal grey instead of pure black. He's also been the very last to mature, the biggest, and has way more personality. He's finally "dropping his tooticles" right now and getting punky, and is forming a very annoying yet kind of cute obsession. Biting my toes.

I may have to stop using the yard flipflops for awhile and go back to closed toe shoes. This guy follows me around wherever I go and waits, patiently, calmly, for me to drop my guard... then quick as a bunny runs up and bites a toe. If I turn around and try to block him he bites a finger. Never enough to draw blood or anything. Earlier today I caught him up and held him between my knees, his feet still on the ground, and just petted him and told him how much of a dork he was. He's still doing it. I'm pretty sure it's like a game for him now, a challenge. This little punk is going to make things interesting for awhile...View attachment 1098320

Awe, what a cutie! Of course the cutie ones have to be punks. Do you have your toe nails painted? All of my chickens went crazy the first time they saw my toe nails painted in my sandals - thought I was gonna lose a toe!