Newbie

[Ivey]

We intend to get our first chickens in 6-12 months & are researching what breed(s) to get. We live in eat Texas (hot & humid), are looking for egg layers, & would like a bird that's not mean (we have a 2yr old). We would also like our flock to be pretty. Any ideas, comments, suggestions are appreciated!

 

[shelldero]

Howdy and Welcome! I live in Nederland TX and am new to the chicken farming as well, but here's what I have done to get going....

I wanted pretty eggs layers that would lay different shades of browns, blues and greens. Lots of research and looking online led me to the breeds I thought would fit that bill and were pretty to look at as well. Are you interested in meat birds? Some are good for eggs and meat, some not.

The hardest thing will be temperament. I've found with all the research, you cannot generalize whether a bird is mean or not until you just get one and discover it's personality. I had read nice things about Silver Laced Wyandottes, and mine is a total BULLY!

BYC and other sites, as well as hooking up with a Facebook community for chicken owners in my area has been very helpful to me. The FB page is Chickens of Golden Triangle, TX (if you are close enough) they post about chick sales, trading, etc. Good luck to you as you begin this fun adventure

 

[Michael OShay]

My wife and I were both raised in the great state of Texas, so I'm certainly familiar with Texas climate. For sheer egg production, I would recommend Black Sex Links (Black Stars). They are hardy, friendly, egg laying machines. White Leghorns are also egg laying machines, but they are high strung and flighty. Mine screamed bloody murder whenever I handled them so I wouldn't recommend them anyone with children. If you prefer a standard breed (sex links are hybrids and don't breed true), I would recommend Black Australorps. I've raised them for years and they are extremely hardy. I raised them in Texas, in both northern Kansas where temperatures dropped to 30 F below zero one winter, and in CA where summer temperatures frequently reached 117-118 F (123 F once), and in both climate extremes, they came through like troopers. They are also very calm and gentle. My children, and now my granddaughter, made lap pets out of ours. And Black Australorps are the best layers of the standard brown egg laying breeds. A Black Australorp holds the brown egg laying record with 364 eggs in 365 days, and while none of mine have ever reached that kind of production (and likely never will), I've had a few of them lay over 300 eggs in a year. You can further research the various breeds with the quick reference charts at http://albc-usa.etapwss.com/images/uploads/docs/pickachicken.pdf, http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/breed-list.aspx, and http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html. Also, Murray McMurray has an excellent "chick selector" tool at https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/chick_selector.html to help you determine which breed is best for you. Just be sure and click on "show more characteristics." Whatever breed you decide to get, good luck with your flock.