- Jun 18, 2012
- 2
- 0
- 55
I have 4 hens in my backyard in Corpus Christi. It is a typical old neighborhood. I have always loved watching birds in my yard. I thought long and hard about getting a parrot. I saw in our local newspaper that the city ordinance now allows up to 7 hens in residential neighborhoods.
That was all I needed to make up my mind. I am unfortunately not at all handy with tools, nor is anyone else at the house. I had to pay someone to build a coop and run behind the garage.
My hobby is my yard-it is a shady oasis in the South Texas heat. I have a huge pergola with wisteria draping it and if you sit still the breeze keeps one cool enough to watch the chicken show. It seems almost pastoral seeing them on the green grass. I let the hens free range the yard when I am home. I teach 1st grade so I am home for the summer. They aren't going to be too happy when I go back to school and they only have the run till 4:30 or so when I get home. I have sand in the coop and run. I don't have room for a compost pile. I use a rake looking thing to sift the poop out and dump in the trash. I know I am letting the poop go to waste but, oh well. I am probably the oldest person to START chickens. I see most people have fairly young families, which is great. My best purchase was a bucket with chicken nipples on it for water. Remember some of us are not handy so more links to ready made pvc feeders etc. would be appreciated. I tried to get the Chook feeder from Australia but the shipping and feeder were $90!
The hens were bought at a feed store and I have a Golden Sex Link, Ausstrolope, Red Plymouth Rock and a Barred Rock. The Aussie is not friendly. The Sex Link is the loner and the Barred is the sweetest.
That was all I needed to make up my mind. I am unfortunately not at all handy with tools, nor is anyone else at the house. I had to pay someone to build a coop and run behind the garage.
My hobby is my yard-it is a shady oasis in the South Texas heat. I have a huge pergola with wisteria draping it and if you sit still the breeze keeps one cool enough to watch the chicken show. It seems almost pastoral seeing them on the green grass. I let the hens free range the yard when I am home. I teach 1st grade so I am home for the summer. They aren't going to be too happy when I go back to school and they only have the run till 4:30 or so when I get home. I have sand in the coop and run. I don't have room for a compost pile. I use a rake looking thing to sift the poop out and dump in the trash. I know I am letting the poop go to waste but, oh well. I am probably the oldest person to START chickens. I see most people have fairly young families, which is great. My best purchase was a bucket with chicken nipples on it for water. Remember some of us are not handy so more links to ready made pvc feeders etc. would be appreciated. I tried to get the Chook feeder from Australia but the shipping and feeder were $90!
The hens were bought at a feed store and I have a Golden Sex Link, Ausstrolope, Red Plymouth Rock and a Barred Rock. The Aussie is not friendly. The Sex Link is the loner and the Barred is the sweetest.
from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. 
