Desert chicken newb.

[DesertGrrl]

I live in the hot desert and will be raising/keeping chickens for the first time.
I'm looking to buy online Barred Rock hens for eggs and few roosters for meat purposes.
I still need to build a desert coop and will need to research designs.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. Here are some helpful links:

• Great go-to resource including coop design ideas - Articles
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/topic-of-the-week-keeping-chickens-cool-in-summer.1181934/
• http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/788391/keeping-chickens-cool-in-summer-heat
• How to start a new thread
• Find other BYC members nearby using the links in my signature, below (turn your phone to landscape to see them).

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

So glad you decided to join our community! Lots of desert folks here too. You might stop by your state thread and chat with your neighbors here...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/find-your-states-thread.270925/

Definitely do some reading in our Learning Center on all the aspects of keeping chickens from building the coop, raising the chicks and keeping your flock healthy...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/

Ask as many questions as needed. Welcome aboard!

 

[TwoShepherds]

Hello and welcome! Keep us updated on your progress. Hope you enjoy your chickens!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUN-omenal Flock!

I hope you enjoy BYC as much as we do!

 

[RShayne]

Awesome. Have you decided on a location? If not do you have any shade that you can build your run around?

I built my coop out of reclaimed barn planks with 1/4" gap so the air will flow through. The planks are 4 feet long and the same height as my roosting bars. Then I put Hardware Cloth for 16 inch all the way around so no matter which way the wind is blowing my girls are getting ventilation. I used metal siding and a metal roof with 4" inch gap covered with hardware cloth on both ends. You may want to look into poly roofing so it does not bake them.

Water is going to be key for you. I had water in the run but when they free ranged I did not have water where they stayed. Had two suffer from heat issues (thought they were dying) because they would not go back into the run to get water. Keep water near them even when they free range.

 

[Flockincrazy]

I live in the hot desert and will be raising/keeping chickens for the first time.
I'm looking to buy online Barred Rock hens for eggs and few roosters for meat purposes.
I still need to build a desert coop and will need to research designs.

Welcome to BYC Open air coop design would be the best choice for your climate imo

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Hello! Welcome to BYC!! Happy to have you.

Feel free to post any questions/concerns about your coop build here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance.9/

 

[featherhead007]

And don't forget to get little sunglasses for each bird. They will thank you for it.

 

[DesertGrrl]

Welcome to BYC Open air coop design would be the best choice for your climate imo

That is a very nice and smart coop. I like the egg laying stations design.
Thank you