Howdy TXMom... Welcome to the site! I've found tons of helpful info on here for me a "Chicken Newbie". We're located up I-45 in Huntsville, TX from you. We too are fairly new to the wonderful world of chickens. We got our first batch of layers this past June 08. At first my wife was against it (thought they might bring snakes out)... but now she gets as excited as I do when we go collect eggs. We have 10 acres for our chickens to roam and a Great Pyrenees dog (Samson) that watches out for our flock. I have a great wife Terri, 2 boys (Drew 9 & Luke 7), 2 White Leghorns, 5 Production Reds, 1 Red Star, 1 Dominique Roo, 4 Dom Hens, 1 Black Astralorp, 2 Light Brahmas, 1 Barred Plym. Rock, 1 Partridge Wyndotte, 3 Buff Orpington Roos, 12 Buff Orpingtons, 3 Pekin ducks and 4 Lavender Guineas. My boys are starting to sell the eggs and enjoying having Let me know how your Ideal 236's turn out. I've been very please with the quality of Ideal's birds so far! If we can help let us know. Have fun.
Paul