Diary of my North Texas Chicken Adventure....Guidance and input welcome!

[dpenning]

That is a good idea, I'm not much of a gardener yet though. I will be able to create runs in any direction from this coop though. The shed is scheduled to be delivered Tuesday so I may see what chics TSC has in stock next weekend. By the time the chics are out of the brooder the coop will be built out on the inside. Excited for this as I've been lurking and reading on this list for what feels like forever so I'm ready to actually have chickens! And, I'm out of eggs... again. lol

 

[ellie32526]

I ordered mine from Murray. Very satisfied. All my chicks arrived healthy. Didnt lose any. I had mine vaccinated against Marecks. Grogel is good product for new chicks.

 

[dpenning]

Where did you have to go pick them up or where they shipped to your home?

 

[3chickchicks]

That is a good idea, I'm not much of a gardener yet though. I will be able to create runs in any direction from this coop though. The shed is scheduled to be delivered Tuesday so I may see what chics TSC has in stock next weekend. By the time the chics are out of the brooder the coop will be built out on the inside. Excited for this as I've been lurking and reading on this list for what feels like forever so I'm ready to actually have chickens! And, I'm out of eggs... again. lol

Are the ones at TSC separated into pullets and roos? It's very hard to tell the sex of a chick. If they aren't separated, you have other options.
There's a couple who sell birds out in Terrell. Chickenville USA I think it's called and the birds are vaccinated. They post ads on craigslist. You have to call before you come. I think they order a bunch of hatchery birds and then sell them. I didn't want a large flock so it was better for me to just pick up a few there rather than pay shipping costs that would be more than the birds themselves. I also waited until their birds were feathered so they could go outside right away. I didn't want to mess with a brooder. Mine are happy healthy birds.
Another place to get birds is in Denton. It's called D & L Farm and Home. They are kind of THE chicken place for the DFW area. I found out about them after I got my birds so I can't say how their birds are. From what I understand, they don't have older birds very often so you might not find any chicks that are feathered if that's what you're looking for.

 

[dpenning]

I haven't looked too closely since I wasn't ready but I think they did have a bin of pullets.

 

[dpenning]

Shed was delivered this morning. Will start build out this weekend. Already picked up the Blackjack 57 for the floor and have the hardware cloth and lumber to put screens over the windows.

 

[ellie32526]

Where did you have to go pick them up or where they shipped to your home?

I went to local post office and picked up.

 

[dpenning]

Thanks. I think I'm going to pick up a few starter chics at TSC this weekend. That will force me to get the coop built out. I have all the components, I just have to put them all together. If I manage to keep 4-5 alive this year next year I'll pick some breeds to order.

Have the shed, chicken wire and hardware cloth to block off the coop part of the shed, A bunch of recycled wood from furniture crates I found in my attic, the Pop door, found the plans for the 5 gallon bucket feeder, have the horizontal chicken nipples, rain barrel on order, Oh, and the electric fencing for around the outside.

 

[dpenning]

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I initially thought to use the left end of the shed but I think it will be better to use the whole back wall.

 

[dpenning]

Along the back wall I can put roost across half and put food and water at the other end. I was going to put wall board over the studs but my mom said that would create rodent nesting spots. Anyone have any thoughts?