I live in Tucson, and I'm thinking of starting a flock. My roommate and I want to get a Barred Plymouth Rock, and a couple of Ameraucana. We want to do it soon, before it gets too hot here, but we're not sure if they're gonna do okay in the heat. So should we wait to get chicks or try pullets? Would an older bird do better in the heat? Please help.
Age wouldn't have an bearing, in my experience. What will be very important is water, shade and possibly cooling system of some kind. I know your humidity is low and that will be helpful, but you should study and research what others in Tucson do with their chickens. it is tough to watch them overheat.
Chickens are descendants of tropical forest birds. Just give them some shade, open air run, and lots of water and they'll be fine. Just think of all the chickens in Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia many hundreds of miles south of you. They all do very well in much hotter climate than Arizona.
