Arizona Chickens

Last night I candled the 16 eggs in the incubator. Eight of them had veins and looked good. Seven of them had dark areas and I'm not sure. Then there was the one laid by Bulova that I put in the incubator at the last minute because I really wanted to see what sort of patterning she might produce. It was the only clear egg in the batch.
Good luck with the good one's making it to hatch!
 
Hi!
I'm new here and even after looking at the tutorials am not totally sure I'm doing this right, so please forgive me if I goof this up! I was searching for some answers to a question I have about our desert heat, and I saw a couple of replies that directed the original poster to the AZ state thread. I can't post a new thread in here, though, and it looks like it's one humongous set of 'replies,' so I'll try and see how it goes.

We are in Casa Grande and would like to start a backyard flock. I have been looking at some hatcheries online to get a good idea of what breeds would be best here. We are looking for breeds that can handle our heat, that are good around kids, and that can handle confinement well. If you are in this area, can you let me know what breeds you have that have done well? I'd like to see if they match my list. For the record, my list includes: Red Star, Welsummer, Easter Eggers, Golden Campine (but I can't find the answers to all of my questions for each breed). We will only purchase one breed once we have done our research and have a good set up for them in the backyard.

Thank you for your help!!
Debbie
 
I can't post a new thread in here,
You post a new message here.. There are many active peeps here to give you answers.
There was a member in Casa Grande,, that kept chickens, but possibly not any longer.
I am a long distance friend here on this Az. Thread.
WELCOME,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and :welcome
 
Hi!
I'm new here and even after looking at the tutorials am not totally sure I'm doing this right, so please forgive me if I goof this up! I was searching for some answers to a question I have about our desert heat, and I saw a couple of replies that directed the original poster to the AZ state thread. I can't post a new thread in here, though, and it looks like it's one humongous set of 'replies,' so I'll try and see how it goes.

We are in Casa Grande and would like to start a backyard flock. I have been looking at some hatcheries online to get a good idea of what breeds would be best here. We are looking for breeds that can handle our heat, that are good around kids, and that can handle confinement well. If you are in this area, can you let me know what breeds you have that have done well? I'd like to see if they match my list. For the record, my list includes: Red Star, Welsummer, Easter Eggers, Golden Campine (but I can't find the answers to all of my questions for each breed). We will only purchase one breed once we have done our research and have a good set up for them in the backyard.

Thank you for your help!!
Debbie
Don't worry, you've done it right. Welcome to our AZ. thread!

Make sure that whatever breed of your choice that you go with will have plenty of shade and water in our hot summer's. Some people put out shallow pan's of water that the chicken's can stand in to help cool them off. Other's put up a small misting system. Make sure that your coop and run is predator proof, including the top to keep them safe from hawk's. Coyotes can jump a 6 foot fence. Many predator's also dig.
 
Hi!
I'm new here and even after looking at the tutorials am not totally sure I'm doing this right, so please forgive me if I goof this up! I was searching for some answers to a question I have about our desert heat, and I saw a couple of replies that directed the original poster to the AZ state thread. I can't post a new thread in here, though, and it looks like it's one humongous set of 'replies,' so I'll try and see how it goes.

We are in Casa Grande and would like to start a backyard flock. I have been looking at some hatcheries online to get a good idea of what breeds would be best here. We are looking for breeds that can handle our heat, that are good around kids, and that can handle confinement well. If you are in this area, can you let me know what breeds you have that have done well? I'd like to see if they match my list. For the record, my list includes: Red Star, Welsummer, Easter Eggers, Golden Campine (but I can't find the answers to all of my questions for each breed). We will only purchase one breed once we have done our research and have a good set up for them in the backyard.

Thank you for your help!!
Debbie
Hi, and welcome to our state thread! Yes, that's one thing about the state thread, you can only post a message, not start a sub-thread.

I live in a much cooler climate than you, I'm at the 4000 foot level, but still I have 100 degrees for at least part of many days in the summer. Where you are, I think it gets at least as hot as Phx. You may make some compromises with tolerance of extreme heat vs taking confinement and kid-friendliness. Bluebaby lives in the more extreme heat like you, but all I have to do is a misting system to help cool down some at roost time if it's still hot, blocks of ice, cool water, a puddle in the shade. When I was in a hotter climate I used a portable swamp cooler--one that was designed for a patio. If you go with the more calm birds, you might want something like that. And, a 2-3 sided coop with hardware cloth on the other side(s). You might check out "open air coops" or the "desert oasis" on BYC.

Best of luck, and feel free to re-post as you go!
 
I was thinking that the last time you posted the updates, a lot of turkeys! But I know someone who just cooks a whole chicken because it's just her and hubby anyway.
I guess the rest will just have to make due with whatever they can get, and be happy that they will even be able to have a meal to celebrate with.
 
Thank you everyone for your replies. Is there anywhere specific I should look to purchase chicks from? Is it just as good to purchase online as to try to find someone local?
I believe there are a few local people, so you may be able to avoid the shipping of mail order chicks. However if you end up buying from a mail order hatchery, my mistake was in choosing a hatchery in the south, thinking that the birds would have an easier trip and less chance of a delay from Texas as opposed to coming from Iowa. WRONG! My local post office explained that due to USPS consolidations, the birds from Iowa were actually making it on time, while the birds from "the south" like mine, took a third day.
 

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