Chicken Lover in Texas

I was just wondering, what breeds are best for such hot texas weather, and mild winters, medium to large eggs, and lay an egg about every day or so? I have never owned my own chickens, but have been around them when I was younger and love them still. I have fond memories of my grandmother taking me out to check for eggs, I can remember the smell, and the sounds. When I pass by the cows in my pasture and smell the hay, I swear I can smell the same thing as the chicken coop my granny used to have. I have a drawn out plan for my chicken coop, and am looking to start next spring in the building process, but would like to do a little research on the breeds before I decide. Thanks guys, if anyone knows whats what, then it should be you all!

Hi Rendacole, welcome to BYC!

I live in Southeast Texas near houston, and boy is it hott. I have a few breeds that I heartily recommend. Any Plymouth Rocks, White, Barred, Partridge, they are excellent layers and do well in the heat. I also recommend Easter Eggers, they are slightly smaller and lay a green or blue egg, but seem to handle the texas heat pretty well. Naked Necks also, they might not be the prettiest chicken ever, but they are great layers and have fewer feathers therefore they can handle the heat better.

Do you remember what breeds your grandmother had? I have barred rocks because that's what my grandparents had growing up and they love to come visit and see the chickens.

There are so many breed to pick from have fun choosing.

Hello!

Welcome to BYC! Why wait till next spring, start now, you won't regret it, nothing like fresh eggs and watching the chicks play and grow to laying hens. I built my coop in December and bought mature hens on craigs list and added chicks this past spring. Now my chicks are 17 weeks and 20 weeks old and are about ready to start laying, that being said you also have something to look forward to every day..

Hi rendacole.I live in central texas and yes,it's hotter than youknowwhere.I have 12 production reds.10 girls and 2 that turned out to be boys.I got them when they were 2 days old and have not lost any.They been outside since they turned 4 weeks old and seem to be doing well in the heat.They are housed in a three sided shed with a large covered run attached in a grove of trees.There is sun in the early morning,mostly shade during the hottest part of the day.I was told that they are good layers and produce big brown eggs.They are almost 16 weeks old now and I am still waiting for my first egg,so I have to get back to you on that.

Hi and ... this is an awesome place!
We live just north of the Houston area and have had 4 Barred Rock Hens for almost 2 years now. They are good layers, (large beautiful brown eggs), and tolerate the heat just fine!

I know it might be surprising but my buff orpingtons do really well in the South Texas heat. I guess it has to do with the fact that they are so loosely feathered. They do enjoy a frozen water bottle when the heat index gets over 105 deg., but with shade and plenty of water they do just fine. It rarely freezes here (we're on a penninsula) so the cold is not a big concern. When I did my research as to what breeds would do well here, buff orps. were one of the choices. They are good layers, docile, good with children, and, mine are really sweet for pets.

From one Texan to another!

So far the chicks I chose for our flock have done very well in the heat...this week may prove otherwise but so far so good. I have 6 TSC mixed sex-links, appear to be Golden Comets, Cinnamon Queens and Red Sex Links. Also 5 Buff Orpingtons, 5 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 3 Barred Rocks, and 3 Easter Eggers.

I use Ice Bottles (gallon milk jugs, juice bottles, 1 liter bottles and soda bottles) to help cool them down and keep a fan going 24/7. Also dampen the sand in the run so they can dig holes and cool off.

Best of luck with your chicks!

I have Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, and crosses of the same. Mine do great. I am always surprised at how active they are in the heat. They have lots of shade and lots of water. I don't give them ice or frozen water bottles or anything like that. And they're healthy and laying very well. When the heat first hit hard this summer, the laying slowed way down, so i started supplementing their feed with a small amount of calf manna, and they perked right back up. I wouldn't hesitate to raise any standard size chicken in this weather. They seem to be much hardier than we sometimes expect them to be, and they acclimate to their conditions very well. That might have been redundant, but you get the point.

Welcome to BYC from another Texan!

Wow, ok, great replies guys, I was so excited to see so many people from Texas have chickens that do well, lots of chicken breeds had caught my eye, but i can remember my granny having the Plymouth rocks before and what may have been some Rhode island reds, I know that every day after school, we would stop by her house and she would let one of us go pick the eggs, she also had an enclosed barn and very tall fencing, with lots of room for them to run. I would love to let them just run loose like i have seen so many people do in town, but, we have already had to shoot 2 coyotes in the past 3 years, so, I think i will keep them safely fenced in, and we have lots of room to make their runs. So its best to raise them from chicks, and I would gather in our winters it would be a good idea for a heating source? Where would be the best place to find chickens? Is it better to order, or find someone local that raises them? I have lots more questions, but figured i will post them out slowly lol, thanks again for everything! Now i am so excited i may not wait till spring, lol!