Arizona Chickens

[mscory]

Thanks Nicole77. I do have questions about building my chicken tractor. I'll have the hutch over here this weekend. My question right now is, my shade is mostly oleanders. I understand they are poisonous. Will the chickens eat them if fed properly?? Should I be concerned? Thanks everyone! Cory and Nate

 

[aznewmom]

Hi Everyone. I'm new to this list and to chickens.
My son's first grade class went to a ranch outside of Tucson and the teacher took home four babies and 36 eggs!!! I ended up being the babysitter over the weekends and Spring Break. This city kid knows nothing about these creatures, but really wants to learn.

I have had them in a big box w/a warm light, etc. They travel back and forth to the school w/me about once a week. I lost one of the babies the first Saturday they were home. It was so sad and the kids cried and cried.
I never thought I'd ever find myself sitting up trying to encourage a baby chick to take water from my finger tip.
She/he just quit eating and drinking.......then got pecked a lot. It looked like she had a clubbed little foot. I tried all I could and still feel bad that she didn't make it. The remaining three seem to be doing well.

This week, they came home in a larger box and I can no longer keep them in my house. (The poo, feed, and dust was taking off all over the place as these guys tried out their wings!) I have them in our outdoor workshop/garage, still w/the light and w/hardware cloth over the top to keep them in. It has been down to about 50F at night, so I think they will be okay. Yes?

I am reading and reading about raising chicks in general, raising and keeping them here in Az, how to build a coop, etc. I'm thinking that in a few weeks, these will be ours permanantly and I need to know what to do! LOL!

Anyway.....just wanted to say "hi" to you all.
My name is Stacy and I'm in the East/Central area of Tucson.
I look forward to chatting w/all others here.

More soon.
Cheers,
Stacy

 

[a2ms4chickens]

Welcome aznewmom-

I knew nothing about chickens 6 months ago, then my son joined 4-H and is showing chickens.

I figured since I had to research chickens and how to take care of them, I should really get a few of my own, for eggs, of course.

So, I went to the feed store and got a few 2 mos old pullets. One just started laying a couple weeks ago (she even gave us 2 double yokers). I'm am looking for another one to start laying soon. The other one still doesn't seem interested in giving me any eggs, yet. Got to work on her.

Anyway, they are a lot of fun. They run to the gate when they hear me coming, and they follow me around everywhere. They really like me!

You'll have a lot of fun with them and any questions you have, post on here and you'll get lots of opinions.

Welcome aboard!!

 

[manueld64]

Hi, I am new and heard about ordering eggs over the net on this Make Magazine they had at Barnes and Noble. It sounded interesting. Anyone know where to gets chicks, San Tan Feed said they had some, but Mesa Feed Barn said they would get some in a couple of weeks. Are there any groups? I saw a phoenix one on meetup.com. Anyone around Tempe? I hope they can stand the summer if I get some. Tempe allows 5 hens and no roosters according to Tempe Feed and Tack. I think it will be fun. Sorry for the barrage of questions, but it seems like a lot of fun.

 

[peapatch]

gordon feed store on 6th ave and broadway in phoenix are great to work with and have all different types of chicks. that where i go my naked necks, they are soooo ugly they are cute i am waiting for gordon's to get in marans so i will have every color of eggs.

yes i am a little crazy so says my husband

 

[mscory]

I bought my last bag of feed (grower finisher crumbles) at Western Ranch Store on 32nd St. between Greenway and Bell. They sell chicks and will special order chicks as well. I bought a couple of plastic threaded waterers there as well. I had been adding apple cider vinegar with the 'mother' from Sprouts to their water so I didn't go with the auto waterer. But the vinegar molded the water so now I wish I had the auto waterer!

 

[Mystery Chick]

Great advise everyone! I am in Mesa, AZ and was worried about the summer. This is my first year raising chickens, I just got them in March and they are around 5 weeks old now. Me and my daughter just built them a coop by the side of our house that is ventilated on two sides. We were thinking about adding a misting system and possibly an outdoor fan. I was also considering a canopy/tarp for more shade. The frozen water bottles are a good idea also. It gets so hot here it seems impossible for anything to survive outside during the summer!

 

[H2OKarensa]

Hi, Newbie here.
I live south of Tucson in Sahuarita and am about to build a coop and start raising some chickens.
Can I start them in the summer time?

Should I start with day old peeps or just get some adults for my first time?

Suggestions?

 

[a2ms4chickens]

Welcome to the wonderful world of chickens!!

I personally would get older chickens to start with, unless you have a brooder all set up for the chicks.

Besides, if they are all ready laying, you can get eggs sooner, than waiting for 4 mos.
It may take a couple of weeks for them to lay, because it takes time for them to settle in.

I would make sure your coop and run has shade. Our chickens are in a shaded stable, but they are still panting in this heat. I just make sure they have a lot of water, and they take their dust baths to cool off.

Good luck and have fun!!
Angie

 

[luckitri]

I am wondering about starting them in this heat also. The babies really cannot handle the heat. I guess it would be alot of care putting them in and out and in and out.

I always have lots of water bowls around. I put rocks in them to stabilise them and the chickens will stand in them for hours when it is hot.