Newbie in the South - Questions Lay Within

I'm new to .. Just wanted to say hi and I'm sure our resident pros would have some suggestions
Welcome

 

Welcome to BYC!

Sumi has given you some great advice and links (as usual...she's terrific that way!). The more you read and learn about chickens before you get them, the more fun it will be to have them as you'll know what to expect.

Once you do get your birds, it will be important to watch them closely in the heat. Birds generally do better with the cold than they do with the heat but there are things we can do to help them cope. Provide plenty of water and shade. Giving them cool treats can help (watermelon is most always a favorite). Our chickens like to wade in some shallow water when they get too warm (kiddie pools are helpful). And during the hottest parts of the summer, we spray down the ground in their run with the hose to help them beat the heat.

As for the coop, make sure it has plenty of ventilation and is predator proof.

There is a ton of information here on BYC, feel free to ask questions (and the search function is really useful too). Nice to have you join us!

 

Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join our flock. I've been raising chickens for 50 years and have never heard of a "Benny" chicken. I wonder if your dad meant "Banty". "Banty" is a shortened nickname for Bantam, which are small chickens that lay small eggs. Bantam chickens come in a number of varieties, but the Easter Egger Bantams (often sold under the names Ameraucana or Araucana Bantams) lay colored eggs.
Barred Rocks are generally a docile breed that are good layers and are very cold hardy, but I would not recommend them for a really hot climate. The Mediterranean breeds, such as Leghorns do well in hot climates and are very good layers, but they are high strung and flighty.
I would recommend Black Australorps for your climate. I've raised them for years (along with dozens of other breeds), and they are extremely hardy in both heat and cold. I've raised them where summer temperatures frequently reached 117-118 F (123 F) once, and where the temperature dropped to 30 F below zero one winter, and in both climate extremes, they went about their business like troopers. They are also calm and gentle. My children, and now my granddaughter (pictured in my avatar) made lap pets of them. And they 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 still had a few of them lay over 300 eggs in a year.
Four hens would be an excellent number for a first timer. If they are a good laying breed, it would be enough to give your a good number of eggs and enough to keep each other company (chickens are gregarious and like company), but not so many that they would be a major maintenance problem. Just be sure that your coop is large enough; a minimum of 4 sq. ft. of floor space per bird (more is better), and if you keep them in an enclosed run as opposed to free ranging them, be sure that the run is large enough; a minimum of 10 sq. ft. per bird (again, more is better). Overcrowding can quickly lead to aggression, fights, biting and feather plucking, and even cannibalism.
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Whatever breed you decide to get, good luck with your flock.

 

Welcome from st tammany

 

U may want to check out the louisiana layers thread a lot of people in your area

 

So glad you joined us. You have already been given great information.

I think Michael OShay is right about your dad's Benny chickens being bantams. People in my state refer to Dominiques as Domineckers.

I don't know, but think your climate is a lot like Middle Georgia…hot, humid summers. I have 3 Barred Rocks that have done fairly well here. We have our coop/run under deciduous trees to offer shade during the noon to sundown heat. But one did show a day of heat stress this summer, so we added an outdoor fan to cool the run, and offered daily cold treats and a pan of ice in water with lettuce treats during the really hot days. And shaded the morning sun out of their run. After that they did fine.

It is a good idea to pose the breed selection question to others in your area. Most breed books and descriptions on line include cold hardiness, but very few give heat tolerance information.


Good luck on your planning, I think you dad would be happy if you selected the chickens you want.