Arizona Chickens

[AZBootsie]

I am in Tucson. I see a lot of you from Phoenix and Northern Arizona, but nobody from Tucson. I'm LONELY!
My chickens are HOT. How do you help them cool off? They don't have a real coop yet, but plenty of shelter. I put a giant ice-cube in their 5 gallon water bucket every morning, have a mister on the days when it's not raining, and have shade cloth over most of their pen, but they walk around with their mouths hanging open all day. The hens are eating and laying every day, and the pullets don't act heat stressed. Does anybody do anything else for their chickens to help them cool off?
I can't let them free range because of the plethora of hawks, owls, coyotes and the occasional bobcat that travel through here. I also don't have a fence that will keep them in the yard (it's an iron rail fence and they can walk through it).

Sounds like you are doing all that I know for keeping them cool....ice, misters and shade. Despite it's name, shade cloth doesn't give a nice dark shade. Mine prefer to hang out in the denser shade of the grape vines. Sometimes I give them frozen treats. They really like frozen corn and peas.

There are a lot of BYC'ers from Tucson. In fact they had a potluck get together just a couple of weeks ago. I am sure they will respond to you!!

 

[Novaleigh]

Thank you Mahonri! All doubts are laid to rest. I love my two beautiful boys!

Nova.

Mufasa... ROO. Purebred Wheaten Ameraucana
Apache Splash Wheaten Ameraucana... and you already know... roo.

Would anyone like a purebred WHITE Ameraucana roo? Came from a very blue egg.....

 

[MagicChicken]

I am in Tucson. I see a lot of you from Phoenix and Northern Arizona, but nobody from Tucson. I'm LONELY!
My chickens are HOT. How do you help them cool off? They don't have a real coop yet, but plenty of shelter. I put a giant ice-cube in their 5 gallon water bucket every morning, have a mister on the days when it's not raining, and have shade cloth over most of their pen, but they walk around with their mouths hanging open all day. The hens are eating and laying every day, and the pullets don't act heat stressed. Does anybody do anything else for their chickens to help them cool off?
I can't let them free range because of the plethora of hawks, owls, coyotes and the occasional bobcat that travel through here. I also don't have a fence that will keep them in the yard (it's an iron rail fence and they can walk through it).

Hi momgoose, welcome to Backyard Chickens! There are a bunch of Tucson folks on here. Too bad you missed the BYC potluck Gallo del Cielo hosted a couple of weeks ago. I hope we do another one soon.

There's not much you can do about the heat, other than what you are already doing. My hens pant a lot of the time but do not appear particularly stressed. I don't usually give them ice. I have a mister set up but only use it when the temps get up to 110 or more. I do hose down one end of the run on the hotter days so they have some damp dirt to mess around in. They also have one of those large black rubber dog bowls which they use as a wading pool. There's not much shade in my yard so I wrapped most of the coop/run in 70% shadecloth. That really helped cool down the temps in the coop area. If your hens are eating and laying every day you're probably doing fine.

Everyone has a different approach to raising chickens. I'm raising mine as dual-purpose birds, not as pets. I need sturdy birds that can handle the heat and whatever diseases might be lurking around my property. High-maintenance birds don't belong in my flock. Fortunately I haven't had to cull any yet. Not really looking forward to that part of flock management, but I have been collecting stew recipes just in case.

 

[parentwarrior]

I am in Tucson. I see a lot of you from Phoenix and Northern Arizona, but nobody from Tucson. I'm LONELY!
My chickens are HOT. How do you help them cool off? They don't have a real coop yet, but plenty of shelter. I put a giant ice-cube in their 5 gallon water bucket every morning, have a mister on the days when it's not raining, and have shade cloth over most of their pen, but they walk around with their mouths hanging open all day. The hens are eating and laying every day, and the pullets don't act heat stressed. Does anybody do anything else for their chickens to help them cool off?
I can't let them free range because of the plethora of hawks, owls, coyotes and the occasional bobcat that travel through here. I also don't have a fence that will keep them in the yard (it's an iron rail fence and they can walk through it).

You could add a fan for moving air through the mister area. It makes for a cool breeze that way.
My guys love it. I think it makes a big difference.
Kris

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I am in Tucson. I see a lot of you from Phoenix and Northern Arizona, but nobody from Tucson. I'm LONELY!
My chickens are HOT. How do you help them cool off? They don't have a real coop yet, but plenty of shelter. I put a giant ice-cube in their 5 gallon water bucket every morning, have a mister on the days when it's not raining, and have shade cloth over most of their pen, but they walk around with their mouths hanging open all day. The hens are eating and laying every day, and the pullets don't act heat stressed. Does anybody do anything else for their chickens to help them cool off?
I can't let them free range because of the plethora of hawks, owls, coyotes and the occasional bobcat that travel through here. I also don't have a fence that will keep them in the yard (it's an iron rail fence and they can walk through it).

Greetings from another Tucsonan! The Old Pueblo has a lot of BYCers; I think most are out doing summer things lately though. Like the others have said, it sounds like you're doing about all that you can to keep your birds cool. That your hens are laying is a good indication that they aren't too heat stressed. Thankfully, our weather has been merciful this past couple of weeks. It's going to be tough when the clouds eventually disappear.

 

[itsredcandy]

Meet my two new girls (I hope they are hens). We've moved away from Chicken Dish names for these two. We've named them Frizz and Frazz

 

[City farm]

My Olive Egger pullet squatted today!  (At least I hope she'll lay olive eggs.)  Here she is.  She is 16 weeks old.
.

I still have the roo.  I really do like him, but if someone wanted him for their flock, I could part with him.  Otherwise he has a date with a freezer.     He's 16 weeks, too, and has a great disposition.  Some of my hens already have fertile eggs, too.  

We might possibly have a friend that is interested in him..
They just left for a vacation. We are watching their flock while they gone.
PM me and we will figure it out.. I will be talking with them
on wed... & possibly let you know by then..

 

[Mikey D]

Status update:

We are home!

3 dead cluckers - the boys said the Australorp & GSL were found dead under the mister & we found Flopsy (app spitz) dead under the trailer.

Weird and sad.

Prolly heat related but they were soaked under the mister...

I'll catch up on posts in a couple of days - I've got 3 weeks worth of honey dews to catch up on...

 

[Mikey D]

Oh and by the way...

Bulk Organic feed order form!

Mid August pickup date...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...ue&formkey=dHBQT0J3TnZIQUgxbFJ0M2dwQkRZb1E6MA

I'm getting 3 bags of 16% organic layer for $66.14

There are 22 different selections including turkey feed etc...

 

[AZTiff]

1st question - do any of you raise your chicks outside in the summer? I was telling hubby about my needs to raise baby chicks in the house and he says we can raise them on the porch.

Thoughts?

Also 2nd question - where do you like to get your chicks? Local feed store? Mail order? Craigslist?

Thanks!!!