Arizona Chickens

[Timbers Run]

Last time I ordered was 2020 from Murray McMurray. In what part of AZ are you located? I ask because you might team up with someone nearby to split an order. It also depends how many you can have/want if there's a ordinance in your town/county on how many or no roosters, etc... or maybe your down the road from someone here who is hatching!

I think there are some hatcheries (like McMurray) that you can order as few as 6 as long as it's not during early spring or in late fall.

I am in a no ordinance area in the country on 5 acres North of Phoenix. We can have them with no worries. We already have goats & LGD's, and have had horses & the random heard of cattle. Lol

We were looking at Cackle because they had a smaller required amount of only 3 or 6. I worry about buying local due to the chance of getting older hens, unknown health issues, higher risks of unsexed chicks, etc.

I guess I should have stated that we are new to chickens as well. I do thorough research and get lots of info from a large variety of places/people before I bring new animals to our small ranch. So after A LOT of reading, I'm close to ready for chicks in the next month or 2. We even had some hens here that we'd rescued for a short time, just to see what is required in their daily care. We were sad when we gave them to the home we had found for them. Lol

 

[CaroleW]

I am in a no ordinance area in the country on 5 acres North of Phoenix. We can have them with no worries. We already have goats & LGD's, and have had horses & the random heard of cattle. Lol

We were looking at Cackle because they had a smaller required amount of only 3 or 6. I worry about buying local due to the chance of getting older hens, unknown health issues, higher risks of unsexed chicks, etc.

I guess I should have stated that we are new to chickens as well. I do thorough research and get lots of info from a large variety of places/people before I bring new animals to our small ranch. So after A LOT of reading, I'm close to ready for chicks in the next month or 2. We even had some hens here that we'd rescued for a short time, just to see what is required in their daily care. We were sad when we gave them to the home we had found for them. Lol

Even with hatcheries the sexing is not foolproof it's only 90% accurate (more foolproof if you get a sexlink). So just be aware that you could still get a roo even if buying all females from a reputable hatchery.

And make sure the hatchery doesn't add roosters (to keep the rest warm on minimum/small orders - they are packing peanuts to keep the females alive in transit - maybe not so much for Phx bound shipments).

 

[BlueBaby]

I am in a no ordinance area in the country on 5 acres North of Phoenix. We can have them with no worries. We already have goats & LGD's, and have had horses & the random heard of cattle. Lol

We were looking at Cackle because they had a smaller required amount of only 3 or 6. I worry about buying local due to the chance of getting older hens, unknown health issues, higher risks of unsexed chicks, etc.

I guess I should have stated that we are new to chickens as well. I do thorough research and get lots of info from a large variety of places/people before I bring new animals to our small ranch. So after A LOT of reading, I'm close to ready for chicks in the next month or 2. We even had some hens here that we'd rescued for a short time, just to see what is required in their daily care. We were sad when we gave them to the home we had found for them. Lol

I know what you mean about those unsexed chick's. That's why I'm going with this auto-sexing breed, because I am able to tell the boy's from the girl's as soon as the egg's hatch, instead of having to wait week's or month's to know what sex that they are.

 

[CaroleW]

He said that he doesn't want the whole yard full of coop's.

Like me? That's what my DH loves to do - build pens and coops, roosts, etc. It keeps him off the street and in breakfast food...LOL

 

[BlueBaby]

Like me? That's what my DH loves to do - build pens and coops, roosts, etc. It keeps him off the street and in breakfast food...LOL

Are you trying to say that he's running around being a bad boy unless he has a new coop to build? Maybe you should keep him busy building them then?

 

[CaroleW]

Are you trying to say that he's running around being a bad boy unless he has a new coop to build? Maybe you should keep him busy building them then?

Yes, and yes...LOL... But he's not had the chance to be a bad boy though because he's ALWAYS building a coop or something!

 

[BlueBaby]

Yes, and yes...LOL... But he's not had the chance to be a bad boy though because he's ALWAYS building a coop or something!

Well, if you lived closer maybe I could pay him to build me another coop. That would help him to stay out of trouble. I don't think that I will be needing 100 coop's here though.

 

[arizona_chicken_noob]

I buy feed from The Western Ranchman and they have an ever-changing roster of chick breeds which they say they buy sexed and from Texas. So perhaps from Ideal. I'll probably go there in a week's time and I'll take a look at what breeds they have in stock. I think I have seen Rhode Island Red at one point but not yet New Hampshire.

 

[Happy Novogens]

Yes you can use pet carrier - put some straw in bottom, a 2-3 in each depending on size of carrier and size of birds.

I've used moving boxes (medium to heavy duty, medium sized boxes) with holes cut in them on sides for ventilation and handholds, put a couple holes in top to slide some velcro or tape thru so there's air but no one escapes. Add some straw at bottom so they can nestle in or get footing. NO water - your box will get wet on bottom and may collapse and cause escape.

You can cut an X and fold back to make whatever size hole in the boxes for ventilation and handholds or tape/velcro looping points. Test fit how many boxes you can put into your vehicle so everyone still has air and you don't have to tip anyone over to do it. I put a couple full size in each box or maybe up to 3 smaller birds.

Thank you! It looks like I'll be picking up some 4-5 month old pullets on Saturday. I pulled down my carriers today. I believe the white one is going to be too small to use period. The larger one, would it hold 3 pullets of that size? (standard gallon paint can for size perspective)

 

[BlueBaby]

Thank you! It looks like I'll be picking up some 4-5 month old pullets on Saturday. I pulled down my carriers today. I believe the white one is going to be too small to use period. The larger one, would it hold 3 pullets of that size? (standard gallon paint can for size perspective)

The larger one should be ok as long as you don't have far to travel with them. I wouldn't try to put more then 3 in it though.