Arizona Chickens

[falinagirl]

I thought I got all pullets but it turns out that I have a 5 week old Black Australorp cockerel that I need to find a good home for ASAP

 

[bethany83]

Trying to get our coop/run built so we can get some chicks, HOWEVER, is there a cut off date when you'd recommend WAITING to get chicks because of the HOT HOT HOT summer months? Or will they be okay as long as we do the cool off tactics I've read about here (ice cube blocks, frozen water bottles in the water bowl, misters, shade, etc? Does AGE make a difference in how well they tolerate the heat? Or can we go ahead and get our chicks whenever our coop is finished, despite what month it is/how hot it is?

Thanks so much!! Being in central AZ certainly changes the way one raises chickens!!!

 

[falinagirl]

This is our first time with chickens also. What I have been reading is lots of shade and fresh water are a must. I don't think it matters what time of year you get them but I wouldn't put them out doors until feathered. I really need to get rid of this guy so if you or anyone you know wants him I am willing to travel. I live in the Globe area so fairly centrally located.

 

[cluckin_crazy]

Quote:
This made me laugh - it's how most conversations go with my co-workers.

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

Quote:
This made me laugh - it's how most conversations go with my co-workers.

Hee hee, me too! And the look my dw shot me a few weeks ago when I asked her to please remove the stickers from the banana peels..... priceless!

 

[bethany83]

Also, is this a good coop/run design for AZ chickens, keeping the heat aspect in mind? It'll be on the side of our house, which is shaded all day long. Is there enough ventilation in the coop itself?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=16313-playhouse-chicken-coop

http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Chicken-Coop-Plans/4-x-8-Chicken-Coop-Building-Plans-p202.aspx


And are there any FREE plans for it out there? Not that $35 is that much, all things considered, but free sure is nice!!!

 

[mahalo4]

all the new eggs!!! Turkey breeder that was a close almost win!! We never even get 1 number!! Wow were those some long Karates!!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Cluckin, is it possible to bolt a 2X4 to the top of the wall and extend it over to the chain-link fence? I don't know what you can get away with where you live. I'm thinking that you could have two boards spanning each end of your run and then use 14 gauge galvanized wire to make three or four lines extending the length of your run between the two boards. Does that make sense?

Welcome to the new people!

It's amazing how fast we're growing this spring.

bethany83, someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that folks here are hatching eggs all the time, even in the summer. The coop in the link would be good for AZ heat. I would want the inside side of the enclosure to be open though (I'll bet that one is closed). Can you look at the coop and draw your own plans? I'll bet you could!

constance, you are one amongst many!

turkeybreeder, that's amazing that you got so many of the correct numbers! I wish you had won.

 

[CrazyerThanAverage]

Quote:
Space I have. Nice looking space, not so much. Fortunately the chickens don't care! I got the chick creep idea from that broody thread. It is the same concept you use with cows & horses that are turned out all the time, but you want to provide supplemental feed for the calves/foals that the adults can't get to (or they would eat it all). The goal is to have the opening just big enough to let babies in, but not the adults, and when the babies are big enough to eat adult food they can't fit in any more. It's the only way that I could figure out to give the chicks chick starter and ground level, drown-proof, water that the adults wouldn't ransack since as soon as the chicks leave the nest, they will be with the entire flock. (Lots of space...no dividers!) Betsy started with 8 eggs, gained 3, and has 5 remaining. The remaining white egg (Blue Andalusian) appeared to have a very fine crack in it near the pointy end at 3:30pm today that MAY have come from the inside!

I'm having a VERY hard time not going out there and looking every 5 minutes! I have 10+ French Black Cooper Marans eggs coming for Vader. Should be here Wednesday. I also have 2 Blue Andalusian, 2 Easter Egger, and 1 Buff Orphington eggs that I would like to hatch. I'll have to see how many she can cover. To bad I won't be able to candle the Marans and remove duds to cut down on the number. My flashlight can't even handle the green ones very well. Jim's odd behavior must be a broody thing. Betsy also scratches and pecks at "nothing" and then wipes her beak a lot when she takes her constitutionals.

 

[Mandymooligan]

Today was a feathery day! I saw a blue-laced peacock, LOL!!

A Gigantic Show-girl, LOL!

And this!