Newbie in east Texas

[Terrys Tina]

Hello! I'm also in East Texas, and new to this site. There is lots of good info here.

 

[Ivey]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. My wife and I were both raised in east Texas. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Do you have any breed preferences?

I know nothing about any of the breeds yet so no preferences . Complete newbie here!

 

[Michael OShay]

I know nothing about any of the breeds yet so no preferences

. Complete newbie here!

I would recommend Black Australorps as they are a great starter breed. I've raised them for years and they are extremely hardy. I raised them in east Texas, in both northern Kansas where temperatures dropped to 30 F below zero one winter, and in CA where summer temperatures frequently reached 117-118 F (123 F once), and in both climate extremes, they came through like troopers. They are also very calm and gentle. My children, and now my granddaughter, made lap pets out of ours. And Black Australorps are the best layers of the standard brown egg laying breeds. A Black Australorp holds the brown egg laying record with 364 eggs in 365 days, and while none of mine have ever reached that kind of production (and likely never will), I've had a few of them lay over 300 eggs in a year. You can further research the various breeds with the quick reference charts at http://albc-usa.etapwss.com/images/uploads/docs/pickachicken.pdf, http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/breed-list.aspx, and http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html. Also, Murray McMurray has an excellent "chick selector" tool at https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/chick_selector.html to help you determine which breed is best for you. Just be sure and click on "show more characteristics." Whatever breed you decide to get, good luck with your flock.

 

[gander007]