Getting Ready For My 1st Flock!

[bssctexas]

I've been doing a LOT of research trying to decide on what flock I want to put together. I live near Ft Worth, TX so I have concentrated on birds that are sold locally, are considered heat tolerant and hardy birds. I have talked to friends who have a few hens but they all live in within city limits and have restrictions. A vast majority of my searches have led me back to this site repeatedly, so I decided to join so I can ask questions directly.

A little bit about myself; Growing Up my Grandfather raised Red Old English Game Bantams and my Aunt, who lived right down the road, raised a mixed flock of over 50 hens from standard to Large breeds. Including Silkies (her Prized Favorites), Sussex, Leghorn, Jersey Girls (as she called them) and Rocks to name a few. I would care for either flock as needed when I was growing up. I have never owned my own flock but have decided that the time has come to get myself one. I have 2 1/2 acres in the country and I'm surrounded primarily by hay pastures.

To this point, this is what I've decided to start with once I've finished building my coop. My Coop itself will be 8'x 10'x 8' and will have an attached Covered Run that will be 18'x 20'x 8' that is surrounding an old oak tree to provide a natural cover for when I'm not home. This is a similar set up that my aunt used with her coop only she had 2 oaks in her run. It was Massive.

Year 1 Starter Flock

2- Australorp
2- Brahma
2- Easter Eggers (Are these breed specific outside of the Ameraucana and Araucana?)
2- Leghorn
2- Marans
3- Orpingtons
3- Rocks
2- Sussex
2- Welsummer

Roosters
1- Leghorn
1- Rock

Year 2

I'd like to add these as well. I'll decide on if and how many after I see how year 1 goes

Ameraucana
Jersey Giant
Barnevelder
Delaware

Any thoughts, suggestions or observations on how I've structured my flock? Any Tips will be greatly appreciated.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Your coop will be too tight with those numbers in my experiences. 2 roosters will often fight, sometimes to death, especially under confinement.

I would only get one rooster and lower my numbers to closer to 12 birds with that size coop, especially if they aren't ranged.

My bantam coop is 8x10 it gets tight with 20 bantams. With standards I kept only 8-10 in it before switching it to bantams.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Personally I'd cut the plans down to a max of 20 birds with that set up. Adding to the flock over time is a good idea to keep eggs coming, but integration takes space.

 

[aart]

Maybe start with 10 females and 1 male....room to grow.

an attached Covered Run that will be 18'x 20'x 8' that is surrounding an old oak tree to provide a natural cover

How are you going to cover run around the tree?
Are most branches above 8'?
Tree could be great for shade.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Why do you want chickens? What are your goals? Eggs, meat, pets, eye candy, bug patrol, something else or a combination. It's a little hard for me to comment on breeds without knowing why you want them.

How do you plan on managing them? Free range or will they be confined to that coop and run? In Fort Worth they should be able to spend most all day every day outside, not like much further north.

Why do you want a rooster? The only reason you need one is if you want fertile eggs. Everything else is just personal preference. Personal preference can be a strong motivator but it's not necessarily a need. As to which roosters, what are your goals for your chickens if you plan to hatch.

Do you have a plan for the eggs? You are going to be buried in eggs during the laying season.

Easter Eggers are not a breed. There is no accepted definition of what an EE is, we kind of all have our own. They can be any color or pattern, may or may not have pea combs, muffs, tuffs, or beards, there is no guarantee they will lay colored eggs. I don't know where you are getting them, a hatchery or an individual. The more you know about their parents the more you can guess what you might get.

Just out of curiosity, are you getting these as day-old chicks or getting older birds? If you are getting them from individuals it is highly unlikely day-old chicks will be sexed, you need older birds for that. Hatcheries offer sexed chicks but not with a 100% guarantee of being accurate on sex. Most offer a 90% guarantee.

Good luck. Look forward to hearing from you.