Arizona Chickens

[DesertChic]

Cool! Good luck on the hatching! Your hubby finally let you hatch out some more chicks!

He has...though he looks remarkably fearful that I may never stop.

 

[Diannastarr]

I think it depends on what kind of orpingtons you're looking for, basic egg layer/pets, show quality, or English Orpingtons? I don't think they are a huge thing in AZ because they don't handle the heat as well, at least you don't see very many people that keep them on here. You can order the really nice English ones from Carolina Rare Chicks but their website has been down recently, not sure why. Cackle probably has some nice ones too. Checking out the poultry shows at the fairs and such are a good place to find breeders. If you just want regular pet quality, you're best just getting them from Privett Hatchery which is where most of the feed stores in this state get their chicks from, but they have a minimum of 25 chicks, so it would probably be better to wait until spring when the feed stores start carrying them again.

cackel gets 100 stars from me!!! they are very good & they ship the chicks with green gro gel in with the chicks to eat on their journey , so they arrive in great condition HERE is the Description: of GroGel is a delicious gelatin that chicks won't be able to resist. It helps provide hydration, vitamins and nutrients, along with beneficial bacteria (probiotics) & B. vits ,all to help babies get off to a good start.

 

[igorsMistress]

I'm taking a break from byc for a while. Got plenty of things to keep me busy around here. Happy New year everyone!

 

[Diannastarr]

I'm taking a break from byc for a while. Got plenty of things to keep me busy around here. Happy New year everyone!

yes and happy new year to you and yours, dont be away to long we will all miss you ...!!!

 

[Salty Skroob]

Well I finally got the bunker completed enough to get them out there. I have a few more small odds and ends to wrap it up.

My chickens seemed to enjoy the extra space but were totally confused when the sun went down and their normal bed spot wasn’t there.

 

[FeatherPugs]

@Salty Skroob Looks good! A roosting space or two and a little something to do and they should be happy campers. Lid and steps to that nest box too. Yep they should really like it!! Is that contractor's sand or child's play sand? The play sand will clump and the contractor's sand will soak up the wet. Enjoy!

 

[MagicChicken]

View attachment 1221740 View attachment 1221741 View attachment 1221740 Well I finally got the bunker completed enough to get them out there. I have a few more small odds and ends to wrap it up.

My chickens seemed to enjoy the extra space but were totally confused when the sun went down and their normal bed spot wasn’t there.

Looks good so far. You will probably want a lot more shade on that run when the weather heats up. And maybe some more wind protection. Summer storms will drive rain from all sorts of weird angles. A couple of dividers at different angles might give the birds a sheltered spot no matter where the sun/wind/rain is coming from.

My kennel coop is a 10' x 10' chain link dog run with a tarp over it, a roost bar, and a nest box. The thing gets totally soaked when we get one of those storms with sideways rain. I wound up tying large pieces of light plywood, tarps, and shadecloth to every side of the kennel coop for sections of shade and wind/rain break. Now there is some shelter no matter which direction the wind and rain come from. At first I used feed bags zip tied to the chain link because it was cheap and I had it on hand. That worked pretty well for a few months, until the bags started to disintegrate and I wound up with bits of plastic all over the yard. I don't think the neighbors were too happy about my choice of coop décor, but it worked for a while.

 

[SonoranChick]

@Salty Skroob it looks great! All that hard work paid off What a nice gift for your chickens!

 

[meetthebubus]

So anyone who has molting chickens how are they doing? I have 3 girls laying again, 2 who should be laying, I'm afraid they won't ever lay again although they're only 11/2 yrs.

They are also pretty picky and spoiled now so as soon as my last girl finishes regrowing feathers I will cut down on treats and make them only eat feed again lol

 

[FeatherPugs]

@meetthebubus I still have girls hard molting AND I just saw one of the girls I thought was done with little feather thingees on her head - the quill ends where the feathers come in that show white on a darker bird. I thought she had finished. She's older and doesn't lay much but geez louise! Be done already!