Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

They should be able to start on an all-flock/grower feed in the crumbles now. Just make sure that it isn't the layer feed with the calcium.

 

[Happy Novogens]

They should be able to start on an all-flock/grower feed in the crumbles now. Just make sure that it isn't the layer feed with the calcium.

Great. Thanks. My other chickens all get an all-flock feed. I keep Oyster shell available in the run for the layers.
Guess I'll crumble some tomorrow for the 2 chickies.

 

[BlueBaby]

Great. Thanks. My other chickens all get an all-flock feed. I keep Oyster shell available in the run for the layers.
Guess I'll crumble some tomorrow for the 2 chickies.

That's good then. Lucky will never lay an egg, so he doesn't need layer feed neither.

You can crumble that up and make some wet feed out of it to help get them used to eating it.

 

[cavemanrich]

How is your flock doing up there? Are you adding any new to your flock this year?

I probably will not this year. 3 large, and 5 bantams is enough at this time. My oldest is now 11. Not sure how long she will pull?? If she crosses over,,, I will likely get a large one as replacement.
But of course,,,, Year's not over,,,, as Curly would say.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Make sure you can keep them that close to another persons house. Some jurisdictions regulate the distance. Even if there is no regulation be prepared to move them if your neighbor complains of noise or pest problems (rodents, flies, etc...) due to locating coop so close to the house. You want to be a good neighbor.

Oh that's a good reminder! There's a rule here that coops have to be a certain distance from a neighbor's house and even though these are big lots the only reason we can have a coop is because we're on a corner lot so we're able to place it far away from any other houses.

 

[CaroleW]

Oh that's a good reminder! There's a rule here that coops have to be a certain distance from a neighbor's house and even though these are big lots the only reason we can have a coop is because we're on a corner lot so we're able to place it far away from any other houses.

We made ours to be movable but the path along where we moved it was not easy (it was next to the pool and structure was too heavy, I pulled my shoulder).

Making a modular structure or pieces that can be deconstructed and moved and reconstructed in another spot would be my advice to any new coop/run builders. You will want to move it from your initial "perfect" location especially if you have close neighbors or haven't observed where the sun is coming from seasonally (from the NORTH in many places in AZ at height of summer) or lack of shade.

Even better is a moveable coop on wheels or similar (see Justin Rhodes, Joel Salatin, Sow the Land on YT for inspiration).

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Also you want to note how and where water pools and runs in the yard during downpours.

 

[NuggetMama]

This weather is so bipolar! It was almost 90F yesterday all day then suddenly the clouds came in and threatened to rain but didn't. Today is hot and super windy. The poor girls in the garage are not sure how in the heck they should react. We gave them watermelon to make them as comfy as possible while we are finishing up the side yard for them and the new babies but dang. This wind makes it so hard to move anything...


I can't even help moving stuff since I got cataract surgery on one eye and on the 25th go in and get the other eye done. So it's slowing us way down without the extra hands

 

[BlueBaby]

This weather is so bipolar! It was almost 90F yesterday all day then suddenly the clouds came in and threatened to rain but didn't. Today is hot and super windy. The poor girls in the garage are not sure how in the heck they should react. We gave them watermelon to make them as comfy as possible while we are finishing up the side yard for them and the new babies but dang. This wind makes it so hard to move anything...


I can't even help moving stuff since I got cataract surgery on one eye and on the 25th go in and get the other eye done. So it's slowing us way down without the extra hands

Yes, the weather has been crazy. Isn't there anyone near you or that you know that can help you?

 

[Happy Novogens]

Indeed yesterday was hot!^
I turned the misters on for the chickens. Then I gave them some frozen blueberries.

Took the 3 week old chicks outside. Had them in a pen with me on the outside of the main run. It was so hot, though, that the main chickens barely wanted to get up to take a peek (...except the roo -- he was quite curious).