Arizona Chickens

[City farm]

I was! We moved down here a few months ago and I brought my birds with me!! I just have to downsize a bit to make my flock and friends flock more manageable.

Post photos and details about your flock. Welcome and what part of the valley are you in?

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

Wow, what great dog’s & cockerel. Hope everything is ok?

OK, a quick update. Out here in the middle of nowhere, it's really dark at night. All I could see was blackness and flames, and the flames were so large that I thought the fire was at one neighbor's when it was actually at a place a bit further away. When everything is black, you lose the place markers that tell you perspective and distance. As I kept checking on it, the flames look like they were spreading in this general direction. It looks like things are under control, but it's still smoking. Can't see flames any more.

It seems I may have an alarm chicken. Big Ben must not have liked the smell, because he usually doesn't crow at such an early hour or sound like that. His crazy crows seemed to upset the dogs, and they usually don't care about his crowing.

You know how it is with Arizona and fires, so I'm glad it didn't spread. Just an eventful morning. Whew.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

OK, a quick update. Out here in the middle of nowhere, it's really dark at night. All I could see was blackness and flames, and the flames were so large that I thought the fire was at one neighbor's when it was actually at a place a bit further away. When everything is black, you lose the place markers that tell you perspective and distance. As I kept checking on it, the flames look like they were spreading in this general direction. It looks like things are under control, but it's still smoking. Can't see flames any more.

It seems I may have an alarm chicken. Big Ben must not have liked the smell, because he usually doesn't crow at such an early hour or sound like that. His crazy crows seemed to upset the dogs, and they usually don't care about his crowing.

You know how it is with Arizona and fires, so I'm glad it didn't spread. Just an eventful morning. Whew.

Sounds like they all have good danger/alert instincts!! Good to have them all!

 

[BigPil]

So, is it normal for chicken math to begin before you even get chickens? I was planning on starting with 20, but it’s starting to seem like too small a number now. Heh. When my hill gets graded down, I should have enough space for about a 60’x24’ run and plenty of space for my garden. The remaining topography will not allow for any free ranging, unfortunately. 40 or 60 chickens sounds like a better number to me all of the sudden... . Am I crazy?

 

[BlueBaby]

OK, a quick update. Out here in the middle of nowhere, it's really dark at night. All I could see was blackness and flames, and the flames were so large that I thought the fire was at one neighbor's when it was actually at a place a bit further away. When everything is black, you lose the place markers that tell you perspective and distance. As I kept checking on it, the flames look like they were spreading in this general direction. It looks like things are under control, but it's still smoking. Can't see flames any more.

It seems I may have an alarm chicken. Big Ben must not have liked the smell, because he usually doesn't crow at such an early hour or sound like that. His crazy crows seemed to upset the dogs, and they usually don't care about his crowing.

You know how it is with Arizona and fires, so I'm glad it didn't spread. Just an eventful morning. Whew.

I'm glad that you are ok, and that it wasn't any worse than that.

 

[BlueBaby]

So, is it normal for chicken math to begin before you even get chickens? I was planning on starting with 20, but it’s starting to seem like too small a number now. Heh. When my hill gets graded down, I should have enough space for about a 60’x24’ run and plenty of space for my garden. The remaining topography will not allow for any free ranging, unfortunately. 40 or 60 chickens sounds like a better number to me all of the sudden... . Am I crazy?

No you aren't, because if you get them as small chick's some of them will be boy's even if you order them as pullet's only. If the top of your run isn't covered or the fencing for it, then some predator's will still find a way in there.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Well Daisy is just picking on Elsa, cornering her, not letting her pass. Essentially just being a mean girl. They sleep together just fine, but Elsa doesn't dare leave the coop to wander into the run area. Minnie is just fine with her. I know it is normal pecking order stuff, but poor thing gets terrorized.

If i open the door, she runs right out and hops on my arm, makes herself flat, and hides her face. I might need to make her a chicken diaper and just carry her around the house for the next 10 years.

 

[jeepgirl13]

Ok, well welcome to AZ. What general area of AZ. did you move to, and what are you trying to rehome to downsize?

We are in east mesa. We have australorps, a white leghorn, new hampshire reds, red star which were mareks vaccinated at the factory, and black sex links.

 

[BlueBaby]

Well Daisy is just picking on Elsa, cornering her, not letting her pass. Essentially just being a mean girl. They sleep together just fine, but Elsa doesn't dare leave the coop to wander into the run area. Minnie is just fine with her. I know it is normal pecking order stuff, but poor thing gets terrorized.

If i open the door, she runs right out and hops on my arm, makes herself flat, and hides her face. I might need to make her a chicken diaper and just carry her around the house for the next 10 years.

I don't think that I could deal with having house chicken's. It was such a relief for me to just get those 10 chick's out of the brooder in the room yesterday and move them outside to the grow-out pen. I still have to clean up that room now, as I was too tired last night to do it. I'm still picking up the mail and taking care of the animal's next door to me, and also doing my normal house stuff.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

I don't think that I could deal with having house chicken's. It was such a relief for me to just get those 10 chick's out of the brooder in the room yesterday and move them outside to the grow-out pen. I still have to clean up that room now, as I was too tired last night to do it. I'm still picking up the mail and taking care of the animal's next door to me, and also doing my normal house stuff.

You're too nice pet sitting.. i know it is hard work!!

So far these guys have been pretty easy as house chickens.. the little coop i got is just perfect for the house, since it has removable trays. I really only "work" one morning a week to dump the trays and refill food and water. I guess as much work as it would be w a rabbit in there (although ive done litter boxes for past rabbits). They are super quiet other than the morning egg song. Dust is normal arizona dust.. which is more than ive had in any othee state, but same amount of pre-chicken cleaning. My daughter does use a kitty litter scooper daily tho to scoop poop, but that takes her a couple minutes.

I think Elsa might work in my office with me.. ill have to figure out the logistics!