Breed Selection for Far North Central Texas

[kdt_ntexas]

Hello, everyone ...

I am almost done with my coop and run, and I think it's time to start thinking about breed selection. I live in far north central Texas about 50 miles south of Wichita Falls. The weather here has an average high in August of 94F, and an average low of 29F in January, with some days-long excursions above 100 and below 20F respectively. Rainfall has two peaks in May (5 in) and October (4 in). Summers are typically quite humid.

My goal is egg production, and I would like to have a fairly docile bird (or at least one that's safe for kids and pets to be around) that can handle the summers. I can heat the coop, but can't cool it

I have the coop and run, but might also like to let them out & free range.

The breed I have tentatively chosen are Rhode Island Reds, adults or pullets, to be bought late August or early September. I plan to buy 10 hens and 1 rooster.

I have been looking Ideal Poultry in Cameron, Texas, but if anyone can recommend another good breeder, I'd appreciate it.

MY QUESTION: Have I made a good breed choice? What might be some good alternatives in case I can't get RIRs?

Thanks,
--KDT

 

[grayjay11o]

RIR are good for eggs but they tend to burn out after a couple of years and stop laying. As for friendliness, they can either be super sweet and docile or nasty and beat each other up. If you're okay with having them shipped you can check Cackle Hatchery or Murray McMurray Hatchery.

 

[MaBell]

Hello, everyone ...

I am almost done with my coop and run, and I think it's time to start thinking about breed selection. I live in far north central Texas about 50 miles south of Wichita Falls. The weather here has an average high in August of 94F, and an average low of 29F in January, with some days-long excursions above 100 and below 20F respectively. Rainfall has two peaks in May (5 in) and October (4 in). Summers are typically quite humid.

My goal is egg production, and I would like to have a fairly docile bird (or at least one that's safe for kids and pets to be around) that can handle the summers. I can heat the coop, but can't cool it

I have the coop and run, but might also like to let them out & free range.

The breed I have tentatively chosen are Rhode Island Reds, adults or pullets, to be bought late August or early September. I plan to buy 10 hens and 1 rooster.

I have been looking Ideal Poultry in Cameron, Texas, but if anyone can recommend another good breeder, I'd appreciate it.

MY QUESTION: Have I made a good breed choice? What might be some good alternatives in case I can't get RIRs?

Thanks,
--KDT

Hey there, fellow Texan! I’m in north Texas just north of Denton on lake Texoma.
Cinnamon Queens and Rhode Island Reds are good choices. My RIRs tolerate us while the CQs are happy to be fed and admired. They don’t mind us being with them in their yard. We keep all of our pets away simply because animals are unpredictable. Barred Rocks are my new favorite breed and I plan to get many more! My Wyandotte’s have a very special place in my heart. Fortunately, here in Texas (even as far north as I am) we don’t have brutal winters so rose vs single combs (or similars) isn’t as great a deal here as it would be in the north. I strictly free range. They have 1/4 of an acre just to them with it 50/50 shaded. Honestly, summers are brutal here and I worry more about the heat than the cold.

 

[MaBell]

I haven’t ever used a large hatchery. If I do - I’ll use Murray McMurray but I shop locally at small hatcheries where I can see the farm they are raised at and support local farmers at the same time.

 

[kdt_ntexas]

.... I strictly free range. They have 1/4 of an acre just to them with it 50/50 shaded. Honestly, summers are brutal here and I worry more about the heat than the cold.

I want to get to free ranging also, but for now since I am a raw beginner, I want to keep them safe in the run ... my run unfortunately is in full sun, but I will be putting up shady areas for them. I've also got plenty of ventilation in the coop.

 

[Parront]

I have ordered from Ideal and was happy with their birds. For a beginner, I would like to suggest a sex-link, the Brown sex-link I got at Ideal is red like a rhode-island red, and you are sure to get females and kid friendly. The gold sex-links are also kid friendly.

 

[Cturber]

I am in south Alabama and my white rocks lay very well. Have not struggled with the heat, humidity, rain, etc. and lay very consistently. Temperaments are good and they are pretty alert to the sky.

 

[ColtHandorf]

How old are your children? Are you planning on keeping a rooster, or just laying hens? I live in North-east Texas where it has been absurdly hot lately. And I grew up in East Texas with the heat and the humidity. I've kept something like 70 breeds or so so I might be able to help a little.