Hey, From Texas!!

[bwatts]

Hello everyone. I'm Bonnie, I live in the great state of Texas!! Where the weather changes hourly. Mostly hot though. I live on the outskirts of our city, but I do have neighbors that are within 20-30' basically we share an adjoining fence line on either side.
I'm not totally new to chickens, though I haven't really been around any since I was a child. I got to thinking about chickens again
because of my middle daughters boss. My daughter house sat for them several times, so I would go with her to help take care of things and you guessed it they have chickens. As I was in the midst of a backyard overhaul, installing a bigger and deeper pond and installing new flagstone pathways and such I didn't give the chicken ideal another thought until now. I'm at the end of my project, so I need a new one to begin and I remembered the chickens!!! Free eggs, whats not to like, right? My husband hasn't fully commented yet but he didn't with the pond either and he did some of the digging and most of the plumbing on that project. Now it's referred to, by him, as our pond. Well I think you all know where this is going

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Anyways, my daughters bosses wife told me about this site so here I am.

I have way to many hobbies to list, I have what my husband and children call squirrel syndrome. I won't deny it, it's true. Hey I just like to stay busy.

I have no chickens as of yet. I'm still researching everything, that's one reason I'm here. I do know I want some good layers and if their pretty to boot so much the better! I don't think I would have it in me to use them for meat, not that I'm against fresh chicken I just couldn't get them to the frying pan if you know what I mean!

Our city allows up to 6 hens but no roosters. I'm actually thinking about Rhode Island Reds, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Buff Orpington , Golden Comets and last but not least Light Brahmas. I've read most of these are gentle and good layers. I'm not sure if our summers would be too hot for them, though they would have plenty of shade in our back yard pretty much any place we decide to build the coop. I"m getting some good ideas as far as coops go, on this site, which is awesome! Any advice would be very much welcome!

My husband and myself are empty nesters. Well almost, I don't think you ever truly have an empty nest they live way to close for that so the grandchildren are here always, it's great. The grandchildren are another reason I want chickens, they"ll love it!! You ought to see them with our pond and the koi fish in there.

At present I have 2 dogs, a Cairn Terrier( he's skizo with storms) and a tiny Yorkshire Terrier. But I think when these 2 little guys are gone I'll go back to my beloved Corgi breed IMHO they are the best dogs with the best disposition, we just love'm to pieces!

Well I'll stop now to let y'all catch your breath, thanks for all y'all do here! I can't wait to get input from everyone here.

Have Blessed Day!!

Bonnie

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC, Bonnie. Glad you decided to join our flock. Which part of Texas are you in? My wife and I were both raised in the great state of Texas. I've had all of the breeds you listed over the past 50 years and they are all generally docile, although sometimes the Rhode Island Reds can be aggressive. Buff Orpingtons and Light Brahmas are generally the two calmest and most gentle breeds on your list. My children and granddaughter (pictured in my avatar) made lap pets of both breeds. Golden Comet is one of a number of labels under which some hatcheries market their Red Sex Links which are laying machines. You would get loads of large, brown eggs from those girls. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in getting your flock.

 

[drumstick diva]

You may want to post on the Texas state thread, asking what breeds tolerate your climate best. Generally chickens endure cold much better than high heat & humidity.
Also in some hot areas people use a partially open sided (wire walled)coop with maybe two solid walls, and two of wire. So that would be another important topic to ask about before choosing breeds or building a coop.

Welcome to Backyard chickens. Check out the Learning Center if you want a great start in chickenry.

 

[N F C]

Hi Bonnie, welcome to BYC!

You're looking at some nice breeds for your flock. Here is the TX state thread drumstick diva mentioned in her welcome to you:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/44/texas

Please be careful with your dogs around the chickens...unless a dog has been trained to deal with poultry, too often the family pet sees the birds as chew toys.

Nice to have you here, have fun!

 

[bwatts]

Thank you all for the welcomes! We live in the Panhandle/south plains region in a little city called Lubbock

I am a little concerned with the heat we get here in the summer, we can get up into the 100* range quite often. We're normally pretty dry here, though this year we have had a fairly wet spring so far.

Thanks for the link for the Texas board.

I'm so excited to get started!!

Bonnie

 

[Michael OShay]

Thank you all for the welcomes! We live in the Panhandle/south plains region in a little city called Lubbock

I am a little concerned with the heat we get here in the summer, we can get up into the 100* range quite often. We're normally pretty dry here, though this year we have had a fairly wet spring so far.

Thanks for the link for the Texas board.

I'm so excited to get started!!

Bonnie

I have some relatives that live in Lubbock, and you're right, it gets very hot in the summer there. One dual purpose breed that does handle the heat there very well are Australorps. In addition to being extremely hardy, they are also calm and gentle (my children and granddaughter made lap pets of them), and excellent layers of large, brown eggs. Whatever breeds you end up getting, good luck with your flock.