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Raising Chickens in the Sonoran Desert 🐓🌵
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items This list will help you set up your new flock with a few items that may be needed for our AZ desert climate! Learn from my mistakes, see the materials and tools I used to build a coop & run and care for them daily.
Sections
3
Basic Chicken Supplies
Bright Aesthetic Coop Supplies/Decor
Modern Organic Aesthetic Coop Supplies/Decor
Basic Chicken Supplies
Everything I have tried to keep the ladies healthy, safe, fed, cool and entertained in Arizona!
I prefer to look for larger flakes of pine; some are so small, for the brooder. Chicks need a bedding change often!
Flock Party Fresh Flakes Poultry Pet Bedding, 4 cu. ft. at Tractor Supply Co.
Whether you have a plumbed water system or are just starting out, these water cups are way better than the ones with the yellow “thingy”. This set comes with a drill bit, just grab a 5 gallon bucket from HD or Walmart and in 5 min, you have a chicken...
6pcs Automatic Chicken Water Feeder Kit, 6-Pack
Our girl's favorite treat. Make sure you store in an airtight pail, like an old ice cream pail; here in AZ the tiny sugar ants love to get into mealworms. I found the ziplock pack isn't enough to keep them out.
Flock Party Mealworm Poultry Treats, 5 lb. at Tractor Supply Co.
I recommend ¼" hardware cloth to keep chickens IN and snakes, rats, mice, owls, hawks, coyotes, fox, raccoons, javelinas…and the family dog🤪OUT!
GoldPeak Hardware Cloth 1/4 inch 48 x 100 ft
We ended up building our own coop, but I was looking at this one to start. My only critique after having chickens for 1.5 years, is that they overestimate how many birds the coops are suited for. They need room so they don't peck each other. Consider...
Petmate Superior Construction Chicken Coop, 8 to 10 Chicken Capacity at Tractor Supply Co.
The go-to layer feed. Autoship at Chewy saves so much money!
Kalmbach Feeds Organic 17% Layer Pellets Chicken Feed, 35-lb bag
Our ladies love to scratch around in the nesting box, and they love this hay! If it gets poopy , I just replace it with new, about 1/week.
Oxbow Animal Health Botanical Hay Small Animal Treat, 15 oz. at Tractor Supply Co.
Our hens get a scoop of this in the run as a treat, the just love it and come running!
Purina Organic Scratch Grains Poultry Feed, 35 lb. Bag at Tractor Supply Co.
I purchased these feeder ports for a 5 gallon bucket. 2 ports for 7 chickens is perfect.
DIY Chicken Feeder No Waste Gravity Feed Kit
This handy little feeder's base flips so it can dispense either water or crumble for chicks.
Lixit 32 oz. Farm Babies Chick Feeder/Fount at ...
In the run, our girls have only desert sand so I turn it over once/week or two to freshen it up and loosen the ground as it gets handpicked so they can scratch away. I use this crumble to fight odors.
Ware Manufacturing Chicken Coop Odor Control, 32 Ounce
I purchased one of these to cover our chicken run to protect the girls from the extreme heat. What a huge difference it made! I bungeed it to the metal T posts from Home Depot, also in this list!
Shade Cloth for Plants Greenhouse, 80-90% Sunblock
Anchor for the shade cloth over your chicken run!
1-3/4 in. x 3-1/2 in. x 7 ft. Green Steel Fence T-Post with Anchor Plate
I used these hinges for the coop cleanup door. Way cheaper than HD.
6 in. Extra Heavy T-Hinge
I used these hinges for the air vent window, chicken door, and door on the run.
3 in. Zinc Butt Hinge
I looked at renting a saw from another store to build the run, but in 2-3 days, the rental could have paid for this so we opted for option B. Best saw ever for the price!
7-1/4 in. Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw
Get the brooder heater with the cone top. Trust me. I did not (to save $4) and I will forever be cleaning poop off the top of it. Save yourself the headache!🤓Also, never use a heat lamp. Those things start FIRES! It almost happened to us before I kn...
RentACoop Chick Brooder Heating Plate & Cone Set
This is the perfect brooder box. Easy to clean out. I cut out the inside of the lid with the reciprocating saw, and bolted on some ¼" hardware cloth. The cord for the heater easily fit under the lid without getting kinked.
Sterilite 50 Gallon Tote Box Plastic, Titanium
With temps at or above 110 F during the summer, I set up a mister over a dishwashing basin in the run so they can stand under the mist and cool off. They absolutely love it!
20Pcs Misting Nozzles for Watering & Cooling
To set up mister or watering system for the chickies.
SUCOHANS 200ft 1/4 inch Drip Irrigation Tubing
This is the mister timer I setup for the chickens, to set up intervals throughout the afternoons in the summer. It worked so well!
Programmable Garden Hose Timer, 1 Outlet
OK I don't have this but this is freaking adorable. It might save me from almost dropping eggs as I try to carry too many and open the door at the same time.🤪
AVLA Chicken Egg Collecting Apron, 12 Pockets
Check out Youtube for some great step by step videos on various coops so you can see what will work best for your flock size, orientation on your property etc.
Ultimate Backyard Chicken Coop Build | How To DIY
I really like this as a walk in run, if we didn't have one built.
Betterhood Large Metal Chicken Coop 9'x13'x6.5'
Radiant heater for the high country chickens!
Chickcozy Chicken Coop Heater Radiant Heat Panel
Keeping the predators away?
Careland Nighttime Animal Deterrent Light (4 Pack)
These definitely helped the girls understand where to lay their eggs!
Wooden Fake Eggs for Nesting Box
I use a cat litter scooper for cleaning out the sand in the coop. Works so well!
Yangbaga Metal Cat Litter Scoop, Long Handle
How fun! This is washable and I think having toys helps with the “pecking” on each other.
Backyard Barnyard Washable Red Chicken Swing, BBREDSW at Tractor Supply Co.
A great, inexpensive toy to keep them entertained
Chicken Treat Roller - 15021
Boredom buster-your ladies deserve “Hentertainment”- they will be intrigued by the jingle bells and colorful beads.
You & Me Fiesta Landing Noisemaking Bird Toy, Medium
Have a bully mother-clucker? These help the “peckers”. They will hate it at first but so far…it seems to be working for us!
DSSPORT 41 Pieces Pinless Peepers with Pliers Set
This helps to disguise the red areas of pecking victims to deter behaviors and allow for healing!
Rooster Booster Pick-No-More Lotion - 4 oz
More protein may help prevent pecking behavior. If your girls are lacking in protein, they may start pecking other's feathers. So perhaps try feeding a little more protein.
WormsFarm 5LB Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae
Keep your chickens cool during the hot summer with improved airflow-no electricity required.
Blessny 20W Solar Dual Fan Kit for Chicken Coop
Stamp your eggs for a personalized touch!
Personalized Chicken Egg Stamp - 1"
Bright Aesthetic Coop Supplies/Decor
Easiest chicken water and food system!
Robin Egg Blue 5 Gallon Food Grade BPA Free Bucket Pail with Black air-Tight Screw on Lid ( Pack of 2)
For your pretty coop!
Pink 5 Gallon Food Grade Bucket w/Airtight Lid
Food and water pails should be around shoulder height.
2 PCS Metal Stand for Chicken Feeder Waterer
These would be pretty to hold oyster shell for your hens!
6 Pack 21 oz Feeder Chicken Oyster Shell
Pink aesthetic nesting box washable & reusable liner
Silicone Chicken Nest Poultry Mat Pads (Pink)
Blue aesthetic water cups
Blue Large Automatic Chicken Waterer Cups - 5 Pack
Super cute wallpaper for your coop!
Brights Chicken Peel & Stick Wallpaper, Animal
What a great color and easy to clean.
Chicken Nesting Box with Perch (4Pack)
Modern Organic Aesthetic Coop Supplies/Decor
These pads not only create a cozy nesting environment for chickens but also add a touch of greenery to any setting, blending seamlessly with garden or coop surroundings.
Grass 4 Pcs Chicken Nesting Box Pads, 12"x12"
A neutral, beautiful addition to add charm to your coop.
Tin Sign for Home Farm Chicken Coop Decor 8x12
Revitalize Your Coop with some beautiful wallpaper, just peel and stick for a washable finish!
Spring Chickens Peel & Stick Wallpaper