Sedona Arizona Chickens - Need Recommendations

[Lilly87]

I recently moved to Sedona Arizona and am in need of advice regarding the climate out here and hen choice. I'm new to keeping hens and have read that one should choose cold hardy chickens for the North East and heat hardy chickens for hot states. In Sedona, the winter months can have some snowy days and 30 degree lows at night; but, the summer months can get up to 95 degrees during the day.

Should I get heat hardy or cold hardy hens?

30 degrees seems very cold to me, but I know these summer days are so hot that it seems that hens with the feathers that can stand 30 degrees at night might get overheated/heat stroke in 95 degree heat days. Then I worry that heat hardy hens might not be able to take 30 degree nights.

I'm currently planning on an open air poultry house based on a thread I read here which mentioned the book by Prince Woods, "Open Air Poultry Houses for All Climates." Do any of you with experience with hens and the below temperature range for Sedona, AZ have any advice regarding the hen house and whether the below temperatures necessitate heart hardy or cold hardy hens?

Sedona night time temperatures range from: 30 degrees to 65 degrees
Sedona day time temperatures range from: 55 degrees to 95 degrees

Thanks for any advice you can share!

Lilly87

 

[PoultryProduce]

Might try this link and fill out the information that applies to you! https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds

 

[Judy]

You don't really have to worry about either of those temps. For the cold end, the main concern is frostbite, which won't happen til a lot of degrees below freezing, in a coop with plenty of ventilation. If there will be any concern for you it is heat. Above 100 degrees, chickens are in danger, even of death -- but with plenty of fresh water, breeze and shade, at 95, they should be fine. It reaches 100 here most every year, and I've never lost a chicken to heat, but they have a large, breezy coop with wire instead of walls in some locations, and they will go in the coop on hot days for the shade and cooler temp. There are shade and bushes in their outdoor space, which is a large fenced yard.

Open air coops are wonderful -- IMO, most any place south of Alaska, and certainly in a mild climate like yours. Open air coops are an established, "old fashioned" way of keeping chickens. Once they are a few weeks old, they are much happier outdoors. Keep breeze and shade in mind, put it where the ground won't stay wet, and you will do fine.

There is a Woods coop that is a wonderful design. I'll give you a couple of links that you might find helpful'

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/445004/woods-style-house-in-the-winter/0_20

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/163417/please-show-me-your-hot-weather-coops/0_20

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us!

 

[Lilly87]

Thanks for making my research easier! I do have books, but it will be nice to read about real experiences with the different breeds.

 

[Lilly87]

flockwatcher.....you put my mind at ease! Thanks for all the practical advice and links.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

The Henderson Chicken chart also lists weather hardiness of different breeds. I raise Baques (Euskal Oiloa) which are not only cold resistant but very tolerant of high temps, as well as being good layers and very friendly birds.

 

[sourland]

Flockwatcher has provided excellent resources. Welcome to BYC.

 

[drumstick diva]

It's funny how everything is relative - we had some 100+ degree days last year which is highly unusual for us. Even 90's seem hotter than Hades but a temperature of 30 degrees would be warm for us in winter.

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.