Just Getting Started in Tucson

[geopappy]

Been thinking about chickens for a while (nothing big, just a couple). Our HOA will let us have 5 as pets, if you have 6 they magically turn into livestock. Anyway, we are in the county, smallish backyard, and have picked up some chicks at the sale at Ace - 2 Rhode Island Reds and 2 Cochins, couple days old. We have them indoors in a 4 square foot rabbit hutch that should be fine for a month or so, but I need to make a coop. My concern is the summer heat. Any suggestions/recommendations? If you have a nice little coop set up, I'd like to see pictures. I have a 9 year old and a 6 year old, and they think this is the coolest thing we've ever done!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, geopappy, and

! Pleased you joined us! Glad you are entering the wonderful world of poultry!! Heat is always more of a concern than cold with chickens. I live in Kansas where it is cooler than Tucson, but doesn't feel like it with the oppressive summer time humidity. The keys in the coop you are building is air flow, air flow, and air flow! They need some cross ventilation and some venting near the top of the coop to release heat. Provide as much shade for the coop itself as you can and outside in their run (again shaded) always have cool fresh water! I worry about the "featheriness" of cochins in the heat, but with some precautions they will be fine. Good luck to you!

 

[Kevin565]

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!

Glad you joined us!!

 

[DDNONIN2016]

Hello and welcome from Ohio...so glad you joined BYC

Check out the coops section at the top of the page. There are some really nice small and LARGE coop pics on there

 

[liz9910]

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

How to raise chicks: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/11/raising-baby-chicks

And to find other chicken people in your area: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/26/where-am-i-where-are-you

 

[drumstick diva]