Arizona Chickens

[AZBootsie]

Hi..Im just getting into chickens. I bought my coop and getting it ready. Just wondering what kind of chickens do good in the heat? Or which ones not to get. I havn't bought my chickens yet, any suggestions where and what kind to get. I live in Buckeye.

I have about 10 different breeds and don't see much difference in how they handle the heat. Although I have heard the cornish-cross meat birds are really hard to keep alive through AZ summers. I think you should just look at pics on the net, until you find a breed (or 10) you fall in love with.

I am glad you found us!!

 

[Phottoman]

I have had tremendous luck with my chickens, which I bought from Stockton Hill Grain and Feed in Kingman. I only lost two of them out of two different purchases. In the second purchase I wanted two roos.

Being very inexperienced in raising chickens, we didn't know if we would be able to tell the difference between the roos, so we put bands on them, one green and one blue. Mr Green was unfortunatly one of the two we lost, but Mr Blue is doing fine, thank you very much.

Last week when I went out to the run, I got to laughing as I watched Mr Blue puff up as big as he could get, pushed back his wings, took a BIG breath and arched his neck, and tried to hollar at the world ... "Cheep ... cheep ... cheep" was all that came out.

Yesterday morning at 5:30 as I was out opening the coops doors, I heard him finally ... "cock-a-doodle-doodle-do-"

I guess he's starting to 'grow up' now

 

[Phottoman]

Hi..Im just getting into chickens. I bought my coop and getting it ready. Just wondering what kind of chickens do good in the heat? Or which ones not to get. I havn't bought my chickens yet, any suggestions where and what kind to get. I live in Buckeye.

Just make sure you have LOTS of water for them.

 

[itsredcandy]

I have a question...I have two pullets that are 17 weeks old. About 4 days ago, I found two small shell-less eggs where they roost, but none since. Only one of them is squatting. What are the odds that they both laid soft shelled eggs on the same day at about the same time? What do you guys make of it?

Strange to have them start on the same day. I have 5 girls that were hatched the same day. None of them laid their first on the same day. Could you have missed the first shelless egg one day and just happened to see it the following day after the same hen laid again?

 

[itsredcandy]

itsredcandy: I have a broody (actually 2) sitting on a VERY small clutch of eggs (4). They have been broody off and on (mostly on) for over 4 MONTHS! So, I gave them 5 eggs, one got broken, so now we are down to 4. I candled last night only 2 of the eggs and one had definite veining and a good sized chick. So I guess what I'm saying is that they are developing in this insane heat with TWO hen sitting on them. I'll let you know how many hatch. I don't have any extra eggs at this time, though. Maybe try Trader Joe's?

I might try that or buying a dozen fertile off craigslist. Thought I'd check here first as I figured most people here would have full breed birds. I am thinking most fertile eggs on craigslist are going to be barnyard mutts, not that their is anything wrong with that. I just figure pure breed will be easier to sell when mama is done doing her duty.

She's only 7 months old. They get broody this fast?

 

[itsredcandy]

I have had tremendous luck with my chickens, which I bought from Stockton Hill Grain and Feed in Kingman. I only lost two of them out of two different purchases. In the second purchase I wanted two roos.

Being very inexperienced in raising chickens, we didn't know if we would be able to tell the difference between the roos, so we put bands on them, one green and one blue. Mr Green was unfortunatly one of the two we lost, but Mr Blue is doing fine, thank you very much.

Last week when I went out to the run, I got to laughing as I watched Mr Blue puff up as big as he could get, pushed back his wings, took a BIG breath and arched his neck, and tried to hollar at the world ... "Cheep ... cheep ... cheep" was all that came out.

Yesterday morning at 5:30 as I was out opening the coops doors, I heard him finally ... "cock-a-doodle-doodle-do-"

I guess he's starting to 'grow up' now

 

[itsredcandy]

Too sweet!!! I would gladly give you hatching eggs, but it is at least a 2 hour drive out here. I like ArizonaChicken's suggestion. Trader Joes is a good idea, I have always wanted to give that a try. If you can't find any local, send me a PM and I will see how much it would be to mail you some.

Awe, thanks for the offer. I am sure I can find something. Shipping is expensive and a hassle. Yesterday she stood up and was looking all around outside the laundry basket. I thought maybe she was looking for a place to poo...I picked her up and took her outside. She had a HUGE poo and went to hang out with her sisters. This morning she was with her sisters too. I haven't gone back out to see what she's doing as none of them have done their egg song yet.

 

[itsredcandy]

Where is everyone? We used to have pages and pages of posts in a few days. Now it takes a few days to fill one page. Getting lonesome here.

 

[City farm]

Welcome Odii,  Please post picture of your coop.  Would love to see the finished product.  I got 5 of mine from a feed store (Superstition I think), they couldn't tell me for sure what breeds I had but the girl did pretty good.  2 I got from a fellow BYC'r and 5 I got from different people on CL.  So far I have had very good luck from all three sources.  Since being on the forums here I now know the obvious things to look for when I get a hen.  Look for obvious signs of lice and mites, wounds, boogery eyes, wheezing in breathing, fowl breath (no pun intended), over sized croop, sore feet, cleanliness of living conditions(both human and animal).    Your house doesn't have to be clean but uncleaned feces on the carpet, might be a clue to the care for the animals living there. 

~Selina

. Great advice thank you,
Selina...

 

[City farm]

Does anyone have any fertile eggs I can have or buy.  Not much into driving farther than Gilbert, Mesa, or AJ.  My van is in the shop, would have to wait till it's out.  Parmesan thinks it's time to brood.  I've brought her in the house and gave her todays unfertile clutch of eggs.  She hasn't laid in 4 days.  Shes been trying to brood for a month now but was still laying.  Now I kick her out of the nest and when the next hen lays and egg and starts doing her egg song Parmesan is right back into the hen house to sit on the fresh laid egg.

Temp Housing - Until I get off work and can figure something else out.

That is so cute.. She looks happy.
My girlfriend put golf balls under her broody hen till
the one she ordered off the Internet.
Those broody hens are determined Gota love them!