Hello. Newbie here

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Cat Whisperer

Cat Whisperer

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I found this site because I was looking for DIY chicken coop designs. I do not want to pay the lofty prices for a coop, when I can build one that is much sturdier for less money. I have an idea in my head,
I am new to chickens and I have no chickens at this time. I need a coop first. As I live in Tucson area, and the heat is bad sometimes, I need a shaded area, and I also need to make sure the chickens are safe from my ankle biter dogs.
I have two horses, two cats, three dogs, and two Guinea Pigs. I do all my home maintenance, wiring, roof repair, flooring, etc. I am an Arizona Board Certified Veterinary Technician and would love to work for an Equine Veterinarian. There are not very many of them in this area, so it is slim pickings. I am starting up my own web site making horse themed items, designing bareback saddle pads, quilts, bedding, and just about anything you can think of. I am multi-talented. My family is complicated, so I live alone, and I love it. If I need someone to chat with, I go talk to the horses, or I talk to the other animals. I hope to be able to get a lot of advice on here. I don't even know the difference in chickens, or what kind to get. Thank you for reading my post.
Cat Whisperer
 

Welcome to BYC!
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Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Best of luck to you planning for your flock. PLEASE feel free to ask any questions along the way. We'd love to help. Be sure to check out our learning center, coop section and breed area.

Sounds like you have lots of animals keeping you busy!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/advice-for-first-time-chicken-owners
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/getting-started-raising-chickens
https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coops
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds
http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/which-breed-is-right-for-me.aspx
 
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Welcome to BYC!

You might want to start with some reading in our learning center. Lots of helpful hints there on getting started with chickens. Mountain Peeps has left you with the link.

As for coops, stop by our coops pages for lots of ideas from our members. Some of these coops are very easy to follow along with and some even have plans...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coops

You will also want to chat with your chicken neighbors in your state thread to see how they survive your brutally hot climate, what birds do best in your area and other secrets to survival.....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/31227/arizona-chickens

You might consider using sand in your coop and run. You can go out into the desert and find a nice sand vein and dig it up for free. I use wash/arroyo sand and get it out of an area close by. It is a great medium for our area. It is easy to clean, keeps the flies away, no smells, soft on the chickens feet, and the best thing of all is that you can hose it down in the summer and with the evaporate effect of the water, it will keep your chickens really cool. The feet stay cool, the birds are cooler. Here is a link to using sand if you are interested...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=got+sand

Enjoy this new adventure you are on and welcome to our flock!
 
Welcome to the flock. Your kitten avatar is adorable. I have sociable spells but, mainly keep to myself - by choice or necessity. I'm not good at delegating responsibility, I like to do things myself and know they are done correctly. So I can understand your way of life. I also hybridize streptocarpus plants - I talk a lot to them - plants tell no tales.

If you decide you want chickens I am confident you will do well with them - as you have in other areas of your life. Our Learning center is a great place to start, and then you may want to branch out to forums that speak to your interests.

If you have questions we are here to answer them or direct you to someone who can.
 
Welcome to BYC! I feel the same way and have never bought a coop--always built my own. You should consider chicken breeds that are heat resistant. I would recommend Black Australorps. They are commonly bred in Australia's very hot outback and are calm, gentle, dual-purpose birds that are excellent layers of large, brown eggs. I raised them in the northern Sacramento Valley where summer temperatures frequently reached 117-118 F (123 F once) and they did just fine with some shade and plenty of fresh water. Whatever chickens you end up getting, good luck with your flock.
 

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