New from Texas

[Gypsi]

Hi -
My 9 little chicks, (about 9 inches tall from toe to crown) about 8 to 12 weeks old, are huddling in a large rubbermaid tough-tote in my kitchen tonight, because I don't think they're old enough to be out in this foreign white stuff falling from the Texas sky.

My grandchildren, ages 5 and 9, have been helping Grandma build chicken pens a couple of days a week for the last month. I have a run that is now 12 ft long by 8 ft wide, 4 ft of its length covered by recycled tin roof, the other 8 ft covered by 1 inch chicken-wire. I've been reading the posts on how to keep birds in their run with regular fence, but I'm guessing those posters don't have a red-tailed hawk eyeing their darlings as snack material. Between the hawk, the local feral cats, and my own large dogs, chicken looks a bit like a universal food.

I'm hoping to learn on here how to keep them alive - I've enjoyed a lot of the pictures and gotten great coop ideas. Mine will be a bit small, room for 12 nests and an indoor common roost/room, but it gets so hot here in the summer I expect the birds to spend most of their time under the chicken house. Pic to be posted whenever it gets finished, which will certainly be after the March blizzard is over.

I've enjoyed what I read so far.

 

[NonnasBabies]

My run is completly covered in chicken wire!! So far

I haven't had any problems but we do have all manner of wild life on our property. Good luck with yours but I definetly recommend completly covering the top with something!!

Missi

 

[Break an Egg]

Welcome, from San Antonio, Texas!!!!

We have had some cold weather today, on the first day of spring. Oh well, hopefully we won't have such a hot summer this year.

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

We had snow today again, too! It melted as soon as it hit the ground this time. Yesterday it was almost 70 degrees F, and it's 33 now!!
What a winter, huh?

Glad to have you here!!

Jean

 

[michickenwrangler]

From Michigan!

Our poor economy providing Texas with more Texans!

 

[kyeschicks]

YES another texan!!!!! I've seen more people from Texas register lately! anyway,

from North Texas!!! I wish I could bring my chickens inside (the blizzad hit us too) so they're outside in their coop IN THE COLD!

My run is also covered in chicken wire and I haven't had any problems at all

and I hope it stays that way. If you have any questions ask away!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio. So good to meet you. I think you will like it here.

 

[Ehigh57]

Hello from GA!

 

[Gypsi]

Thanks for the welcome. I just wondered, being continually in chicken care & building lately, how long before a chicken lays an egg?
I don't know the life-cycle - when they reach reproductive age. Also not sure I'll have all hens. And I read on here somewhere that 4 chickens will share one nest box (since the internal design of my chicken house is not complete this could be a relevant bit of information).

I also don't know how everyone gets the biographical stuff on the bottom of their posts.

I have 1/3 acre in city limits so I can't have a goat, one german shepherd/border collie, one rott mix, one mini-dachshund, 4 house-cats, uncounted ferals in the neighborhood, and a fish pond. (liner pond not a stock tank, but the dogs still drink from it.)

 

[CityClucks]

from NE Oklahoma, where we are currently enjoying the "white stuff" too!

Yes, 3-4 birds to a nest box usually - although on some days mine all choose to lay in the same box (I have 3 nests and 12 hens). When they begin to lay depends on the breed and when they were hatched. Usually pullets lay sometime around the 18-22 week age, but if they come of age in the winter months it may take longer, and some breeds are slower to mature.

To add a signature, go up to "Profile" on the blue bar near the top of the page, then click on "Personality" in the box on the left. You can compose your signature there.

You'll learn lots of interesting and useful chicken info here at BYC - glad you found us!