Newbie Alert, Texas!

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Welcome to BYC!

I am currently in Alaska but am from Texas, and all if my family is still back there.

I completely agree with Fairview.

When building a coop, do NOT make a box like most of the coops that you see.

You want LOTS of venting. My sister lives N of San Antonio and her coop is solid on the bottom 2 or 3 feet, then wire up to the roof. So yes, that means the perches are in the breeze.

My grandmother (same area) had a similar design, but she had big shutters/plywood sheets that she could use to cover the wire sides in a storm.

Anyway...my point LOTS OF WIRE! !!!

Also shade... so great if you can roof the entire run, and put up really big over hangs on the roof so that the roof can keep most of the rain from blowing into the coop.

Do not scrimp on the wire, a nice thick hardware cloth is best. Most predation down that way is raccoons. Hawks and dogs second. Snakes third. At least for my sister and my grandmother. Small enough wire to keep the snakes out and the raccoon hands out would be great.

Good luck!

There are lots of good breeds suited for hot climates. Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers are thick and fluffy and also have such tiny combs that I think they would NOT be quite as happy in the heat. ... but my sister has a few and I don't think she has lost any due to heat. .. but she also has lots of shade.

She really likes the Buttercups, Campine, and Egyptian Fayoumis. Those three breeds are great in the heat and lay well... but ARE very flighty...

edited to add: I meant to type that the Ameraucana would have a HARDER time in the heat... corrected above
 
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Alaskan said:
Welcome to BYC!

I am currently in Alaska but am from Texas, and all if my family is still back there.

I completely agree with Fairview.

When building a coop, do NOT make a box like most of the coops that you see.

You want LOTS of venting. My sister lives N of San Antonio and her coop is solid on the bottom 2 or 3 feet, then wire up to the roof. So yes, that means the perches are in the breeze.

My grandmother (same area) had a similar design, but she had big shutters/plywood sheets that she could use to cover the wire sides in a storm.

Anyway...my point LOTS OF WIRE! !!!

Also shade... so great if you can roof the entire run, and put up really big over hangs on the roof so that the roof can keep most of the rain from blowing into the coop.

Do not scrimp on the wire, a nice thick hardware cloth is best. Most predation down that way is raccoons. Hawks and dogs second. Snakes third. At least for my sister and my grandmother. Small enough wire to keep the snakes out and the raccoon hands out would be great.

Good luck!

There are lots of good breeds suited for hot climates. Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers are thick and fluffy and I would guess would be quite as happy in the heat. ... but my sister has a few and I don't think she has lost any due to heat. .. but she also has lots of shade.

She really likes the Buttercups, Campine, and Egyptian Fayoumis. Those three breeds are great in the heat and lay well... but ARE very flighty...
Click to expand...

If you have any pics of these coops, I would appreciate it.
I was thinking about a hoop house. But also maybe use hog panels to make a triangular coop/run, and then cover in hardware cloth. tarp the coop end for shade?
 
G’Day from down under Counting chickens :frow Welcome!

You might be interested in downloading this free e-book My First Year With Chickens

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

BYC has a Learning Centre and also Topic of the Week articles which I have found to be a great resource and a one stop shop for questions which may have already been discussed within the BYC membership group.

If you would like to share Pictures and Stories of your flock when they arrive, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out ;)
 
This is my coop up in Alaska... but the kind of design that would work well in Texas. Actually, it is very similar to the Texas coops that I was describing. Solid bottom, and vented top half. (the coop is a full 8 foot tall plus eves... just lots of snow in the photo)


20170325_100128.jpg




I will need to look again... can't find one of my sisters
 
Counting chickens said:
I am so new to chickens, I haven't even gotten my chicks yet!
Looking forward to getting started, probably with Ameracaunas and/or easter eggers.
My concerns are the Texas weather and predators, currently perusing the threads...
I found out about BYC while I was cruising for tractor designs, as I want to keep them on fresh forage.
I have ZERO experience with chickens, and not much more with building. We have recently moved onto our acreage, so I need to get on the ball.
Reading was always my favorite hobby, but I have little time these days.
My 18 yo son is going to school in Utah, and my 4 yo and 2 yo daughters are currently wreaking havoc throughout Central Texas.
Click to expand...
Hey CC what part of Texas? If you decide on Ameraucanas let me know there are a lot of people claiming to have them but they are actually EE's. I can help you find pure Ameraucanas because this is my speciality.
 
Counting chickens said:
I am so new to chickens, I haven't even gotten my chicks yet!
Looking forward to getting started, probably with Ameracaunas and/or easter eggers.
My concerns are the Texas weather and predators, currently perusing the threads...
I found out about BYC while I was cruising for tractor designs, as I want to keep them on fresh forage.
I have ZERO experience with chickens, and not much more with building. We have recently moved onto our acreage, so I need to get on the ball.
Reading was always my favorite hobby, but I have little time these days.
My 18 yo son is going to school in Utah, and my 4 yo and 2 yo daughters are currently wreaking havoc throughout Central Texas.
Click to expand...

Welcome to Backyard Chickens love your bio wait till spring on birds great choice easter eggers give you colored eggs olive eggers will add green to that make sure kids wash there hand good after handling eggs or birds although growing up with birds myself in the 60's I never was sick doing it... There are great ideas for coops all within here enjoy above all else
 

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