Arizona Chickens

[Sonoran Silkies]

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One winter were went something like 2 months without the temperature ever getting above freezing, and most of that time the highs were in the teens. New snow is pretty, but old snow is just nasty (especially along the side of streets). One night I was on my way home from working the late shift (shift ended at midnight) and my car ran out of gas at the end of the Offutt runway. About a mile from the closest building. That was not fun. and it was LONG, LONG before cell phones were invented.

 

[BostonBryce]

Quote:
Very cool!
What color you gonna paint it? I vote purple!

Purple ehh?! a little extreme for me

its going to be that brown color thats in the pics... it was an "oops" paint at the local store. so it was 50% off.
The color wasnt too bad, at least the $50 savings made it look not too bad.

In the spring I will do some more work on the coops... Just had to throw them up quick before winter swept away my flock.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Yeah, I didn't really like northern IA or WY so much. Those winters were pretty persistent. boulder and OK on the other hand, gave you a lot of nice sunny warming breaks in the winter. I think Boulder was nearly perfect, especially the spring, summer and fall, winter really wasn't bad, either, although those winds could drive you to insanity sometimes. Gale force winds for days on end occasionally. But, who could argue with summer days in the 80s-mid -90s?
OK had some pretty severe summers but they really do only last three months or less and the winters are very short. Our cattle could go most of the year grazing if we had a large enough pasture and it wasn't a terrible drought year. Usually, December and January were cold, then you started to get dogwoods blooming in Feb, it was spring. My favorite time of year there was fall and spring. Despite the tornadoes, I really love thunderstorms. Plus, all the baby animals being born, blossoms and in the fall, things change color and the fruit on the trees. Apples, pears, yummy.

I have both apple and pear trees (also plum, apricot and nectarine, but those are all new). Right now the pear tree is LOADED with ripe pears.

 

[BostonBryce]

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Thanks, It is currently not ventilated since I just finished them in time for Winter.... Although I do leave the chicken doors open all the time, so it ventilates ok... I will add windows and vents, and nest boxes as time/weather permits. I still have to split my wood!

 

[pimachickens]

Quote:
Purple ehh?! a little extreme for me

its going to be that brown color thats in the pics... it was an "oops" paint at the local store. so it was 50% off.
The color wasnt too bad, at least the $50 savings made it look not too bad.

In the spring I will do some more work on the coops... Just had to throw them up quick before winter swept away my flock.

I vote for something neon. Come on...make a statement!

 

[pimachickens]

Quote:
Yeah, I didn't really like northern IA or WY so much. Those winters were pretty persistent. boulder and OK on the other hand, gave you a lot of nice sunny warming breaks in the winter. I think Boulder was nearly perfect, especially the spring, summer and fall, winter really wasn't bad, either, although those winds could drive you to insanity sometimes. Gale force winds for days on end occasionally. But, who could argue with summer days in the 80s-mid -90s?
OK had some pretty severe summers but they really do only last three months or less and the winters are very short. Our cattle could go most of the year grazing if we had a large enough pasture and it wasn't a terrible drought year. Usually, December and January were cold, then you started to get dogwoods blooming in Feb, it was spring. My favorite time of year there was fall and spring. Despite the tornadoes, I really love thunderstorms. Plus, all the baby animals being born, blossoms and in the fall, things change color and the fruit on the trees. Apples, pears, yummy.

I have both apple and pear trees (also plum, apricot and nectarine, but those are all new). Right now the pear tree is LOADED with ripe pears.

I didn't know you could do pears in this heat. What kind are they? I would LOVE to have pear trees!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

It's some sort of Asian pear. HUGE tree that has probably been here nearly as long as the house (which is about 38 years old).

 

[BostonBryce]

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Welcome Cathy!
I currently have my 6 2week old chicks inside the house, in a box with a 60watt bulb to keep them warm.
All my chickens do ok outside, I do have 250watt heat lamps in each coop because its been getting down to 16degrees at night.
I dont know how much this helps, as your questions are more directed at 6week old chicks being in the cold. but thought I would share since you mentioned me

 

[pimachickens]

Thanks, I will research asian pears. I already have 'dig more holes for trees' on my to do list.

 

[Mikey D]

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I'll stop by on the way home!

I'd love to watch a ghost while enjoying a piece of delicious cinnamon raisin bread

(actually, I can't make it. It's my birthday and I'm going to the hog trough for some nourishment

)
(And just for the nosy people, I am somewhere between 20 and 80 - but who counts

)

Happy Belated B'Day CA!!!