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Layers in north Texas

post #1 of 15
1/25/13 at 10:58am
Thread Starter 

Howdy everyone! My husband and I recently bought a house in North Texas and are planning to add a small backyard flock soon. We're interested in good layers who make good pets and can tolerate the heat. Haven't gotten our chicks yet, but they will probably be 4-5 total, made up of Ameracaunas/EEs, buff orpingtons, barred rocks, silver wyandottes, stars (if I can find them!), and hopefully a silkie just because they're so darn cute. This is mostly based on feed store availability, so I'm trusting that these are breeds that do fine in the heat despite what I've read.

 

I'm getting geared up to brood some day old chicks soon... but my main question for others in a similar climate is when do I get them? Everything I read says to get chickens in April/May, but by that time it is already very hot in Texas.. and certainly it will be VERY hot by June/July when they would be ready to go out to the coop. I'm assuming that like gardening the ideal start date would be sooner, but I can't seem to find any info on this. Anyone have experience? 

 

Thanks!

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post #2 of 15
1/25/13 at 11:02am

frow.gif Welcome to BYC!! Glad you joined.

Hi, Im Rebecca Im a Homeschooled, Christian girl that loves chickens!! I am a vet volunteer and I owner of 9 chickens. If you have any questions about Coccidiosis, Mites & Lice, Worms, Molting, Vent Gleet, Bumble Foot, Egg Binding, or Prolapsed Oviduct, feel free to ask me about it or pm me.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mites-lice-treatment-and-prevention
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/ch...
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Hi, Im Rebecca Im a Homeschooled, Christian girl that loves chickens!! I am a vet volunteer and I owner of 9 chickens. If you have any questions about Coccidiosis, Mites & Lice, Worms, Molting, Vent Gleet, Bumble Foot, Egg Binding, or Prolapsed Oviduct, feel free to ask me about it or pm me.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mites-lice-treatment-and-prevention
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/ch...
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post #3 of 15
1/25/13 at 11:11am

I raise Wyandottes, Ameraucanas, and Speckled Sussex. They all do ok but I think the heat is probably hardest in the Ameraucanas because they have the smallest combs. The comb is one way they regulate their body tempeature.

Member - APA, Ameraucana Breeders Club, Wyandotte Breeders of America

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Member - APA, Ameraucana Breeders Club, Wyandotte Breeders of America

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post #4 of 15
1/25/13 at 11:32am

Hello and welcome from Ohio....so glad you joined BYC. Best of luck getting your new chicks. My opinion is like yours-the sooner the better :)

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post #5 of 15
1/25/13 at 11:37am

welcome-byc.gif  from Highland County Ohio and God Bless!!!

 

God is great, Chickens are good, and People are crazy!

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God is great, Chickens are good, and People are crazy!

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post #6 of 15
1/25/13 at 11:49am
Welcome to BYC! Glad to have you aboard! I'm from North Tx also smile.png
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post #7 of 15
1/25/13 at 12:05pm

Hello and welcome to BYC frow.gif I think you should ask your fellow Texans:

 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/44/texas

 

They've been there and done this and would be the best people to advice you. 

 

A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked ~ Bernard Meltzer

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A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked ~ Bernard Meltzer

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post #8 of 15
1/25/13 at 2:30pm

Welcome to BYC!!

Rhodebar-Chickens-cut-out

Glad you joined us!!!

Click if you dare! (Click to show)

Hello, I am the French Talking Duck! yippiechickie.gif

Check out my article!           

keeping-your-chickens-safe-from-predators

And the article writing contest!

byc-article-writing-contest

 

Spring is here, summer is coming!wee.gif

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Click if you dare! (Click to show)

Hello, I am the French Talking Duck! yippiechickie.gif

Check out my article!           

keeping-your-chickens-safe-from-predators

And the article writing contest!

byc-article-writing-contest

 

Spring is here, summer is coming!wee.gif

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post #9 of 15
1/25/13 at 4:14pm

Greetings from Kansas, hawthornchix, and welcome-byc.gif!  Great to have you aboard!!  If you want a little more choice, you might consider ordering from a large hatchery (which is where the feed store gets them anyway).  I know Ideal Poultry is out of Texas - and below is a link to various hatcheries.  If I could give you one note of caution....last summer was rough here in Kansas - like most of the U.S., I know...but of all the chickens I had, my Buff Orps and Black Australorps seemed to suffer the most - such dense feathering.  Again, looking at a hatchery gives you more choice.  Good luck to you!!

 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/f/16/chicken-breeders-hatcheries

I never considered a difference in opinion, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.  - Thomas Jefferson
Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.  - Ben Franklin
If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month.  - Teddy Roosevelt
 

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I never considered a difference in opinion, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.  - Thomas Jefferson
Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.  - Ben Franklin
If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month.  - Teddy Roosevelt
 

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post #10 of 15
1/25/13 at 5:19pm
Hi and welcome-byc.gif from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. thumbsup.gif

TIME is the best thing to spend on a child!
Always calibrate your hygrometer before you incubate!!

Home to Black East Indies, Mandarins, Speckled Sussex, Barred Rock, Golden Buffs, Welsummers, Ameraucanas, Black Australorp, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Two Weimaraners, Two beautiful daughters and a great DH who builds whatever I need!

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TIME is the best thing to spend on a child!
Always calibrate your hygrometer before you incubate!!

Home to Black East Indies, Mandarins, Speckled Sussex, Barred Rock, Golden Buffs, Welsummers, Ameraucanas, Black Australorp, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Two Weimaraners, Two beautiful daughters and a great DH who builds whatever I need!

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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Social › New Member Introductions › Layers in north Texas