Arizona Chickens

[EmmaDonovan]

I have no desire to mess with your coop plans, but I have a friend who told me never to use aluminum frames for a greenhouse because of the high winds.

It's galvanized steel.

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

I just got the first pullet egg today from the pullet that was talking to me the other day and was squatting and letting me pet her. I figured that she was going to, the way that she was squawking and pacing around in there earlier this morning.

That's good news!

 

[BlueBaby]

They are already starting to prepare for the New Year's 2022 Hatch-a-long if anyone here want's to join in on it. There's a list there that tells you when you would have to set the egg's for whatever you were wanting to hatch out.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bycs-13th-annual-new-years-day-hatch-along-2022.1501149/

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

They are already starting to prepare for the New Year's 2022 Hatch-a-long if anyone here want's to join in on it. There's a list there that tells you when you would have to set the egg's for whatever you were wanting to hatch out.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bycs-13th-annual-new-years-day-hatch-along-2022.1501149/

The chicks would be the right age to go outside in February, and it's awful cold out then. Would that be an issue?

 

[BlueBaby]

The chicks would be the right age to go outside in February, and it's awful cold out then. Would that be an issue?

How old are they? Are they fully feathered? What are your overnight temp's?

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

How old are they? Are they fully feathered? what are your overnight temp's?

LOL! I'm not planning another hatch, just asking about that in general. Some members live in pretty cold places, and it seems like chicks might have issues with the cold.

 

[BlueBaby]

LOL! I'm not planning another hatch, just asking about that in general. Some members live in pretty cold places, and it seems like chicks might have issues with the cold.

Some people use those mother heating pad thing's.

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

Nobody's been laying here lately. In order to do a hatch, I'd have to get some eggs off eBay or someplace, and build another coop. So far, it looks like the 5 chicks from this past summer are 4 pullets and a cockerel. Big Ben and his son have been having early morning conversations (crow-a-thons), so whatever way they end up getting housed, there will need to be at least two separate flocks so the boys don't argue. And Gabriel is turning out to be handsome.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

You probably already know most of what I will comment. I think it's good to have a reminder of what we all experience.

We have a lot more ventilation even in the enclosed roosting boxes that are inside our covered runs and inside our pole barn. Like on 2 opposite sides there are open areas with hardware cloth or chicken wire (depending on perceived predator risk) for cross ventilation - kept open continually even in winter. Vents are above chicken head height when they roost.

I agree also with the wind comments - it's necessary to tie it all into the ground somehow on such a lightweight structure (even the roost boxes made of wood). I've made do with straps and concrete blocks on a temporary chicken tractor setup for my current grow pen, but I wouldn't want to rely on that if winter/monsoon storms are on the way.

Tarps may be trashed in the first big storm or microburst especially if they are not UV resistant material. If tarps stay mostly intact they act as a big sail to help the wind uplift a structure. Actually any roof may do that especially on an open air structure supporting the roof. One of my chicken tractors moved during a storm and trapped my favorite hens leg for hours before I went out to check everything (she survived and healed, miraculously).

I hadn't thought about venting the nesting boxes themselves. That's a good idea, I can figure something out for that. The henhouse opens up on two sides and the ceiling/top comes off... I can't imagine it needing more ventilation than that? Since it's inside the coop we'll probably default to leaving it open unless it's cold/rainy.

The tarp that comes with the coop is just a cloth thing - hahahaha, like that would last a day here. We're using a heavy-duty boat tarp until we can replace that with corrugated polycarbonate roof panels.

We're still working out tie-downs. The caliche is mostly at ground level around here. We'll probably have to go with tying it to cinder blocks or other above-ground weights.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

In addition to the many useful comments so far, here's my two cents:

I'd opt for the peaked roof version of this type of run because the flat top will hold rain and snow, which could cause it to cave in if the tarp doesn't give way first:

https://www.wayfair.com/pet/pdp/tuc...ith-wire-mesh-w004206153.html?piid=1308254432

I'd also opt for more ventilation (or for some ventilation) if I used the wood/enclosed coop within the run.

If you used the link that @wolfwalker provided, those fittings are exponentially stronger than any I've seen elsewhere, I'd bet the tarps are also superior. If you priced out something from that link, I'd bet you wouldn't need the extra enclosed wood structure--the tarps could be positioned to provide plenty of shelter from the wind and rain. You might need a tarp down 2 sides to accomplish this. I think @Parront has a great example of this.

Or, why not the cattle panel hoop coop/run? That could also provide complete security and shelter in a single structure.

For anchoring, I've had good luck with the trampoline stakes. My current coop/run uses about 10 stakes, but mine have pointed tips unlike the following link, to help pound them into the hard ground:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/4-Piece-Pure-Fun-Trampoline-Wind-Stakes-Anchor-Kit/640777742?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1148&adid=22222222222156462404&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=s&wl2=c&wl3=74354544743985&wl4=pla-4577954113650092&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&wl10=Walmart&wl11=Online&wl12=640777742_10000001205&wl14=trampoline stakes&veh=sem&gclsrc=ds

We went back and forth between peaked coops and the flat topped one. The flat topped one is slightly larger and we're getting a good deal on it. We don't get heavy snow here. The entire coop will be encased in 1/4" hardware cloth, including under the tarp, water can't collapse it with the hardware cloth under it.

The henhouse opens up on two sides and the ceiling/top comes off. Does it need more ventilation than that? We figured we'd leave it opened up like that most of the year.

I worked out the costs of the connectors at that site, I think it came out to about $125. That's not bad but custom drilling all the holes and adding bolts and making sure everything lines up correctly, etc. sounds like an expensive nightmare. I'd rather buy it all already done.

We considered a hoop coop. Delivery costs on the cattle panels put it out of our budget.

I love the screw-in trampoline anchors. I don't know if those would work with the caliche here but I'd like to give those a try in addition to some above-ground anchoring.