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jakeyuma

jakeyuma

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Hi All,

My family is embarking on the world of chickens. We have decided to try and raise 3-4 chickens for eggs in our backyard. We built our own coop + run. Now waiting for temps to cool to bring in some chickens. We are deciding between hatching eggs or purchasing day old birds when they arrive in our local stores. We have 2 boys 8 and 5, 2 dogs, and 3 desert Tortoises. My wife and I are both teachers in Yuma, AZ. My oldest boy will be starting 4-H this summer. Current coop is 4 feet by 3 ft with 3 chicken boxes in side that measure 1ft/1ft each. Run is 12 ft by 8 ft.

We have a lot to learn before bringing chickens in.
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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I think since you are just starting out, beginning with started chicks is the way to go. Hatching is an art and if you have never done a hatch before, you may end up waiting for 21 days and nothing hatches. Or you run into hatching issues. So I would suggest starting with chicks on your first go around with chickens.

Each chicken requires 4 to 5 square feet per bird in the coop and 10 square feet per bird in the run. Chickens will become aggressive with one another if they are cramped, hot, hungry or bored. So plan accordingly.

Have you stopped by our learning center yet? Lots of helpful tips and hints on all the aspects of keeping chickens...https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

Enjoy this new journey you are on and welcome to our flock!
 
Hi, welcome to BYC!

I think @TwoCrows makes some good points about starting with day-old chicks vs. hatching them. The kids (and you, lol) will have a ball watching the little ones grow.

Have you decided what breed(s) you want? There's a really good article in the Learning Center about all the factors that should be taken into account when selecting the types of chickens you want (climate, broodiness, flightiness, etc.):
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...cken-guide-to-picking-backyard-chicken-breeds

Nice to have you here, have fun!
 
Thank you for the advice. I would like to get Australops but we will either get chicks from a good friend locally or pick some from our local Cal Ranch store.
 
jakeyuma said:
Thank you for the advice. I would like to get Australops but we will either get chicks from a good friend locally or pick some from our local Cal Ranch store.
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Australorps are my favorite breed! Very docile, gentle, affectionate and my girls are huge on the lap sitting! They just love attention. And they are great layers as well. I highly recommend any of the Orp breeds!
 
Your coop is on the small side for 4 chickens, they really need 4-5 sq.feet per bird inside the coop not, counting nest boxes or roosts.. You may want to post on your state thread to ask what type of coop is best for your climate. Some very hot areas require open sided coops, wire walls rather than solid, so the heat doesn't build up inside.

Consideration for breeds that can handle heat is also necessary. Chickens can handle cold much better than heat.
 
I love Yuma. Lived there for years and would still be there if I could.

I would think twice about getting the Australorps. They are lovely birds with good personalities. However, they are not as heat tolerant as some other breeds. Yuma weather is brutal in summer as you know. Don't trust the local stores to bring in only birds suitable for the area. Here in Montana the local feed store had some birds that were not cold tolerant.

Welcome to the forums. There are lot of people who know a whole heck of a lot about chickens around here.
 
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. With due respect to wamtazlady, I totally disagree with her statement about Australorps not being heat tolerate. In 50 years of raising chickens (dozens of breeds), Australorps are the most heat tolerant breed I've ever had. I've raised them where summer temperatures frequently reached 117-118 F (sometimes more), and while my other dual purpose breeds were listless, panting, and holding their wings out from their bodies, my Australorps were going about their usual business like troopers. Furthermore Australorps are commonly raised in the Australian outback which gets very hot in the summer. In addition to being heat tolerant, Aussies are also very cold tolerant, calm and gentle (my children and granddaughter made lap pets of them), and the best layers of the standard brown egg laying breeds. I don't personally think you could do better for an all around breed than Australorps. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in getting your flock.
 
I am sorry for my comment on the Australorp. I have never had one in my flock. I was going by what I have read online about the breed.
 

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