Arizona Chickens

[Salty Skroob]

Hello from Laveen Arizona (SW corner of Phoenix). New to chickens, wife’s family raised turkeys.

Brooder is all assembled, working on getting the coop set up.

Looking for advice as to where to buy some chicks in Phoenix area. Looking for good layers that will do well in the heat.

Was thinking about Dominiques, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island or New Hampshire reds. Would also like to know about white leghorns, specifically if the can handle the heat.

 

[BlueBaby]

I have Australorp's, and they are good in our summers. I currently have a few Australorp chicks that are 5 day's old now, plus I have more eggs to hatch out in about another week in my incubator.

 

[igorsMistress]

@Bobby Basham the hand fed treats will win them over. You're doing great! I'm so happy your babies are getting used to you. Pretty soon they're going to mob you the second they see you.

Mine seem to have learned to tell time. If I'm late with their snack in the afternoon they're all standing outside the back door waiting. Usually I get scolded for my lack of punctuality.

 

[igorsMistress]

Hello from Laveen Arizona (SW corner of Phoenix). New to chickens, wife’s family raised turkeys.

Brooder is all assembled, working on getting the coop set up.

Looking for advice as to where to buy some chicks in Phoenix area. Looking for good layers that will do well in the heat.

Was thinking about Dominiques, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island or New Hampshire reds. Would also like to know about white leghorns, specifically if the can handle the heat.

Welcome, you'll get great advice in this thread from very experienced folks.

I got my first chicks from stockmans at 75th Ave x Buckeye. I've also had one from Pratts in Glendale that didn't make it. I would very much suggest you talk to @BlueBaby about her Australorps. She has excellent stock, bigger and hardier than hatchery stock. My Aussie girl who is laying already is a sweet natured girl that keeps up with my production reds in the egg department. Also, @DesertChic sometimes has eggs or pullets for sale, gorgeous Naked Necks that do great in our heat too.

Good luck! I hope you enjoy keeping chickens.

 

[Bobby Basham]

@Bobby Basham the hand fed treats will win them over. You're doing great! I'm so happy your babies are getting used to you. Pretty soon they're going to mob you the second they see you.

Mine seem to have learned to tell time. If I'm late with their snack in the afternoon they're all standing outside the back door waiting. Usually I get scolded for my lack of punctuality.

My last two butt cleanings went very well and I stayed very calm. They were quiet most of the time, and when they got to chirping, I just clucked at them a little bit. One seemed to enjoy it and didn't chirp for the rest of the ordeal.

The feeding frenzy went well two times yesterday, just checking their reaction. I don't want to over do it, and wait several hours to make sure that they are getting their feed first. They really like those mashed hard-boiled eggs.

I leave those vanity lights off over the mirror, but turn them on when I want to make myself known. Kinda scary having a hand reaching in from the darkness. I want them to recognize my ugly mug...LOL.

They still run to one end of the brooder when I need to refill their feed/water, not as frantically, but still freak out when I need to catch one for a butt cleaning, but about 10 seconds later with their short attention span, it's as if nothing happened.

 

[Salty Skroob]

31DE04B2-FBB5-47BE-A343-C972B8474B2A

• Salty Skroob
• Nov 21, 2017

Wife decided to get some chicks tonight. Had to run out and get the heating pad. Decided to go with the mama heating pad method. Gonna check in all day and see how it heats up. Worst case, I can stack some more scraps of wood to elevate the sleeping area.

 

[Salty Skroob]

The heating pad is not heating up real well.....

 

[SonoranChick]

Hello from Laveen Arizona (SW corner of Phoenix). New to chickens, wife’s family raised turkeys.

Brooder is all assembled, working on getting the coop set up.

Looking for advice as to where to buy some chicks in Phoenix area. Looking for good layers that will do well in the heat.

Was thinking about Dominiques, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island or New Hampshire reds. Would also like to know about white leghorns, specifically if the can handle the heat.

Hi and welcome! I've got a mixed flock including a barred rock, a RIR, and a white leghorn. The white leghorn is an excellent layer, and the RIR is close behind! So far they have all fared well in the heat, provided that they have shade and fresh, cool water available. We love australorpes and naked necks on this thread for their heat tolerance and egg production. I would also recommend buff orphingtons, Delawares, and isa browns. Perhaps I'm a bad person to ask...I love em all

 

[Parront]

I still got two pasty butts to clean in a few minutes, which I'm dreading. One has a huge one that looks like a beaver tail and shiny (hopefully still soft) and the other has a small piece.

One thing about it...while all the butt screaming and kicking is going on, the rest of them are stuffing their faces like, "That ain't my problem," and kept chowing down.

I just went into the bathroom and sat on the floor and did the soft clucking and laid out my hand full of mashed hard boiled egg, and the FEEDING FRENZY BEGAN! Even the loner was in the center of it all, and eventually crawled up to my wrist and took a quick nap after picking my wrist hair...LOL.

I'm not necessarily looking for lap chickens and lavish all over them, just some that don't mind being petted on occasion. Let them make the first move to approach me, showing their trust. They can have their feed any time, but the treats will be hand fed. I hope they go crazy when they get some meal worms once they get a little bigger.

'Fess up, now, Bobby B -- you are on the way to lap chicken parenthood!

 

[BlueBaby]

I was just getting ready to go out by the road and check the mailbox. The chickens started making a bunch of noise. I seen there was a hawk over by the covered run attached to my coop. Geesh, to think that hawk could have grabbed one of my 6 week old chick's out there if I was one to let my flock free-range!