Arizona Chickens

[cluckin_crazy]

I'm in Queen Creek too and the wind woke me up a few times in the night. I went out and put some plywood boards and basically typhoon-style boarded up the coop last night. I'm only going to take half of it down this morning before I leave for work - just incase. They will be able to get out, but the top will still be boarded up.

 

[tofuranch]

weather up date form up north..north of Prescott.......well after a day of rain/snow all day long, the wind started really bad as soon as the sun would have gone down if you could have seen it. It got so hard heavy things in my yard were flying around...I am missing lots of big things this morning...found some about 1/4 mile away so far when my husband went out. At about 11pm it changed to all snow...and the power went out. I have an outside brooder with all ages of chicks in...my great husband and I were either going to have to bring them all in the house or work something for them out.....well out comes the propane heater, we just happened to find it in the dark in about 2 mins, the tank came off the BBQ and the chicks had a heater. I spent most of the night until the power came back on checking and checking on those chicks. Almost everyone is fine this morning, I have a couple that I am keeping an eye on and I did lose a few, but it could have been so much worse.

Today I have the bright sun out, chickens standing in snow and in the sun drying out and almost everyone is still alive. It was a long night but it all looks better in the day light, today I am thankful for the sun.

I just felt that I had to share, I hope your animals made it though the night....have a great day and I hope all of your chickens dry out

 

[LarryPQ]

Very, very rough night last night. We had extremely high winds that couldn't decide on a direction. DH and I spent some time in the rain, tying everything down, to no avial. Poor chickens would find a wind-free corner to roost, the wind would change, and they would all be blown off the roost. So they'd go to the other corner, wind would change, and they'd all go flying. Considered crating and moving them into the garage, but they have the Eggplant to snuggle in. Only the little ones and bantys were smart enough to go "indoors".

Also, the neighbor doesn't pen her birds, so while DH and I were tying down little tykes toys and other stuff, there were turkeys and whatnot being whipped all over. It was like that scene from Twister. I am a native to AZ, and HAVE seen a funnel cloud every now and then, so I kept looking out the windows. But, I was also afraid I'd see a turkey coming at me.

At work today, there was a peeerfect outline of a pidgeon in flight on the window above the door.

\\____(o)____/

 

[DHchick]

We had a rough night last night too in the rain but did manage to get everyone inside and mostly dry. I'm not surprised there was a tornado warning last night with the way the wind was howling. After a messy early morning everyone is glad to see the sun and trying to dry out a bit! Glad to hear most everyone made it through the night last night. Good luck with your clean up if you still have that on your list.

 

[rufus]

Well, the storm was a doozy. I have some huge, old Aleppo Pines that I thought were going to come down. Luckily, not this time.

I can always tell when it is a bad storm; they turn the pumps on over on the freeway.

I still have to go outside and do a head count to make sure none of the girls blew away.

Rufus

 

[Tonopah Pati]

Hello Arizona, Man what a storm. My power went out around 10:30 last night and just got it back on around 2:00 pm. The south side of my house under a awning is covered with dirt/mud. the kitchen window also. Stuff was blown all over the yard. The Best thing was Peep Town Survived. I was afraid that the Playhouse coop would have blown away. It didn't even move. I had a 60 watt bulb on them that I just changed from a 100 watt. I was so worried about the babies with out any heat all night. I didn't know if I would find my big kids at all this morning. They all made it. Thank God. We went out to the Toy Hauler and dug out the perk coffee pot. I have gas so I was able to make coffee. My DS that lives next door came over hunting coffee. He has elect. and was dead in the water. I also have a land line phone. I can call out and receive calls.

 

[Mahonri]

My yard looks like a disaster area. Christmas lights flung around. Pool is FULL Of leaves and debris. Friday I'll be busy. Girls all lived through it but we only got 11 eggs today.

Power went out at 10:30, back on at 10:50, off at midnight... back on about 5 minutes after that... glad the alarm clock had a battery back up.

 

[RioLindoAz]

My banties slept in a ball last night. My not-so-smart larger gals were sleeping on the exposed, wobbly roost. I also later found out this morning that a pair of Mourning doves found their way in the run seeking shelter. I couldn't get them out...

Yuma didn't get hit with rain yestarday, although it never seems to get rain anyway. I love the desert.

 

[Prester John]

Quote:
No, no feathers, but we can't find her anywhere, and if she left the yard, she's got about a 50/50 chance per day of staying alive.

Well, we don't love them 'cause they're smart.

 

[DM]

Was surprised that everyone else also had chickens that would not head for cover during the storm, I couldn't believe how all my silly hens just stood out there huddled and puffed against the rain......i have two place under bushes, and of course the coop..strange... I thought chickens couldn't get soaked....these did....guess they are stronger than I thought. Anyway once they got inside for the night, I warmed them up with a light for 2 hours..the next day every one was dry, fluffy and ready to lay... in fact hen #3 started laying that day...by the way she laid in the yard...I have 3 nests and the other two lay in them....what's up with that and how do you get her to lay in the nest...anyone know?
I am excited they are finally laying, I only have 4 hens so just one more to go.....