Arizona Chickens

[cavemanrich]

What is everyone’s personal preference on run and coop bedding? I’ve been using straw in the run and pine shaving in the coop, I notice the girls sometimes eating the straw and i see it sometimes in there poop not totally digested, not sure if this is a problem for them or not….. thinking of changing away from straw what do y’all think?

If you want some sort of bedding in your run,,, try using hay. Straw bedding, is OK, but has no nutritional value to speak of. Hay does.
So as your chickens scratch thru run floor bedding, they may eat some of the hay. Hay will hydrate in crop, and digest. Straw is properties similar to plastics. Does not hydrate very well.
Straw is ideal bedding for chicken runs in snow country. It stays dry, and chickens don't freeze their feet.
I'm not in Arizona,, but am sure hay is available. My uncle loooooong ago used to provide housing for horses on his property.
Opt for alfalfa hay. Timothy hay is good also, but in my opinion, alfalfa is better choice.
I use Alfalfa hay in my chicken coop, and nesting bedding,,, well over 20+ years. Run is just earth, but I do spread bagged grass clippings during summer. Those turn to earth in time.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Vaquero Feed usually has good prices on bales of alfalfa hay. If you don't have a truck and want to transport a bale of hay in your car I strongly recommend getting a hay bale bag. They're ~$20 on Amazon. Otherwise you will never, ever get all the hay and alfalfa out of your car's interior - BTDT.

 

[cavemanrich]

In my area, for the City Slickers, they offer these compressed bales, already wrapped in plastic shrink-wrap. $25 is somewhat high for a bale, but one like this lasts me a whole year. ( Backyards chicken keeper, small flock.) Other feed stores sell bulk bales, not compressed, and considerably less ca$h/bale.
A non compressed bale is twice the size,, and need a good size bag to contain in your car back seat.
An Old bed sheet would also work.

 

[BenisonsChickns]

Luckily I have a small truck so I can just toss it in the back, I may live near all the city folks but at heart I don’t fit in gonna try just dirt for awhile and see how it goes then maybe down the road try the alfalfa… great feed store just 5 minutes from here has everything, it’s called The Western Ranchman…. Love it because it’s super country folk but literally on the border of one of the toughest parts of north Phoenix called “The Square”…..

 

[Dagmarvelous]

Good morning everyone. We are relocating to Flagstaff from Southern California due to a job move. I have 7 hens. What do I need to know about chicken keeping here?

I read several pages back on this thread, so seeing about cactus mice and watching for drafts in the coop… what else?

Thanks!!

 

[igorsMistress]

Good morning everyone. We are relocating to Flagstaff from Southern California due to a job move. I have 7 hens. What do I need to know about chicken keeping here?

I read several pages back on this thread, so seeing about cactus mice and watching for drafts in the coop… what else?

Thanks!!

Welcome!

In Flagstaff you will have some predators that most of us in this thread don’t. This may be helpful, lots of info including predators

https://discover.texasrealfood.com/city-cluckers/az/flagstaff

 

[Dagmarvelous]

Thanks for the link!! I really appreciate it!!

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Well if it's going to insist on being in the upper 80s this week I guess I need to get ready. I bought more of these trays that I like to use to freeze blocks of water and distribute around the pens.

Also thinking about getting a line mister once we have the permanent coop finished. They're lovely while the humidity is low. Anyone have a brand recommendation?

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Welcome!

In Flagstaff you will have some predators that most of us in this thread don’t. This may be helpful, lots of info including predators

https://discover.texasrealfood.com/city-cluckers/az/flagstaff

Wow, someone put a lot of work into that. Even the illustrations are beautiful. There should be an information site like that about chickens for every city.

 

[igorsMistress]

Wow, someone put a lot of work into that. Even the illustrations are beautiful. There should be an information site like that about chickens for every city.

I agree! And tons of info as well about city regulations and such as well as the predator info.