Tag: chickens

The Reality of Chicken Keeping in a HOT Desert Climate

Phoenix, Arizona, is a great example of what chicken keeping is like when temperatures soar to 115+ degrees. This is not an exaggeration, and to be perfectly honest, 120 degrees is certainly not unheard of. Chickens are pretty hardy as a rule, but they are not invincible. They need special care when temperatures rise, you can learn more about that in the article below.

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Now that the chickens are taken care of, let’s talk about you, your role in all this, and what you can expect your days to look like during the hottest months of the year. You might be thinking you can handle the job for just a few months of summer, but Phoenix is a lot different. From May through October, the heat is relentless, with June, July, and August being especially brutal.
That means you’re out in the heat too, and not just once or twice a day. If the water in the drinkers gets too hot, the chickens will avoid it, and that can be a death sentence, so it has to be refilled with cooler water throughout the day. This is why auto drinkers and nipple drinkers should NEVER be used in desert climates. Mist systems and fans need to be adjusted and managed, and diligent housekeeping is imperative because chicken droppings create even more heat. To be clear, diligent means every day.
There may be a chicken that needs medical attention, things break, and problems are inevitable. When something goes wrong, you need to be out in the heat dealing with it. That’s the reality. I’ve been doing this for 14 years, so for me, it’s worth it. The question is, is it worth it for you?

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A List of Insects Your Chickens Will Eat

Chickens Are Natural Exterminators!

Chickens are natural foragers and are often referred to as “feathered raptors” because of their enthusiastic appetite for insects. Most bugs are excellent sources of protein and minerals. Here are the favorites…

Common Garden Favorites

Grasshoppers and Crickets: High energy snacks.
Beetles: Most common garden beetles, including June bugs and Japanese beetles.
Caterpillars: Chickens will clear out many types of larvae, though they might avoid brightly colored species.

The “Soil Dwellers”

Earthworms: A staple of the chicken diet and a primary protein source.
Grubs: These are the larvae of beetles and are excellent for their fat and protein content.
Mealworms: Perhaps the most famous chicken treat. Whether live or dried, chickens find these irresistible.

Pests They Help Control

Ticks and Fleas: Chickens are remarkably efficient at “vacuuming” a yard for ticks.
Spiders: Most common house and garden spiders are eaten without hesitation.
Termites: If they find a colony, they will stay there until every last one is gone.

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Tiny Eggs? Understanding the Early Laying Phase of a Pullet

A young pullet’s egg size & weird shape in comparison to an adult hen

It’s perfectly normal, and quite common, for a young pullet (under a year) to lay small or weird shaped eggs. At this age, she is just beginning her laying journey, and these small, (sometimes) yolkless first attempts are known as “fairy eggs.” This happens primarily because her reproductive tract is a complex assembly line that hasn’t been finely tuned yet.
While your pullet may look like an adult, her oviduct is still physically maturing. As she develops over the next several weeks, her body will become more efficient at processing bigger eggs.
Generally, tiny eggs are no cause for concern as long as your pullet is bright, alert, and eating normally. You should see a noticeable increase in egg size in due time. Keep in mind that most pullets don’t reach their maximum egg size until after their first adult molt. To support her as her production ramps up, make sure she has access to a high quality layer feed and a separate dish of oyster shell for calcium.

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