Beginner in Az!

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roostingwithromy said:
Good Morning All! I'm just starting my urban homesteading journey, and I'm super excited to learn everything I can about raising a small flock of egg-laying hens in Peoria, Az. From what I've been able to glean so far, it looks like Ameraucana, Andalusian, Naked Neck & Plymouth Rock are the most heat-tolerant breeds. Can anybody confirm or deny? Are any of these breeds more "friendly" than others? Or is that something I can encourage during chick-hood? :)

It sounds like a decent starter flock consists of no less than 5 hens. Does that sound right? I'm not interested in keeping a rooster at this time. I'm trying to homestead without having to slaughter, so only looking for egg-laying guidance.

I also thought I saw a topic regarding starting a flock from eggs due to hatch vs buying days-old chicks. Does anybody have any feedback? Is there a 'better way' from the perspective of flock harmony? Obviously I'll google pros & cons, but since you guys are the pros . . . :)

And last question at this moment (LOL) - are there pros/cons regarding keeping a flock of a single breed versus keeping a flock made up of multiple breeds? Flock cohesion & harmony are very important to me! I want my girls to be super happy!

Thanks in advance!! I'm a sponge at this point - tell me everything! :)
Click to expand...
Hello fellow Peorian! Welcome to BYC.

It truly doesn’t matter what beeed you get, they’ll either make it they won’t so get what you want or just stop by the Stock Shop there at 67th X Thunderbird and get a few of what they have; I’ve had good luck with chicks from there. You can also call them and ask what breeds they’ll be getting, they get deliveries on Thursdays. Sorry if that’s a bit blunt, but that has been my experience and I’ve had various breeds. Even some Naked Necks can handle our summer temps, but they are my favorite of all the breeds.

I think starting with chicks is easier than trying to hatch your own eggs right out of the gate. I recommend you get your coop and run if you’re using one all ready before you get chicks and if it’s still cool enough you can brood the chicks right outside in their new coop. With temps as they are, position your coop where it’ll get afternoon shade.

Hope I’ll see you around the boards here, feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
 
igorsMistress said:
Hello fellow Peorian! Welcome to BYC.

It truly doesn’t matter what beeed you get, they’ll either make it they won’t so get what you want or just stop by the Stock Shop there at 67th X Thunderbird and get a few of what they have; I’ve had good luck with chicks from there. You can also call them and ask what breeds they’ll be getting, they get deliveries on Thursdays. Sorry if that’s a bit blunt, but that has been my experience and I’ve had various breeds. Even some Naked Necks can handle our summer temps, but they are my favorite of all the breeds.

I think starting with chicks is easier than trying to hatch your own eggs right out of the gate. I recommend you get your coop and run if you’re using one all ready before you get chicks and if it’s still cool enough you can brood the chicks right outside in their new coop. With temps as they are, position your coop where it’ll get afternoon shade.

Hope I’ll see you around the boards here, feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
Click to expand...
Well, hello there, neighbor!! :) I'm still in the planning phase, but I want to hit the ground running, so doing lots of intel before I execute! I'm transitioning from 30 years of supply chain management in food distribution (corporate) - the homestead vibe has always been in my soul. :)

I've decided that starting with chicks is definitely the way to go. I posted on the nextdoor app to find out if there's a market for fresh eggs, so I can decide how many to start with. LOL Looking for appropriate land at the moment - currently living in an HOA.

I appreciate the friendliness! Everyone's been super helpful so far!
 

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