Texas

[Effielin]

Just wanted to say hi to the texas folks, I am Effie in San Antonio. I just bought 4 chicks, having wanted to have backyard chickens FOREVER.. They are still alive after five days so I must be doing something right.

 

[bnjrob]

Just wanted to say hi to the texas folks, I am Effie in San Antonio. I just bought 4 chicks, having wanted to have backyard chickens FOREVER.. They are still alive after five days so I must be doing something right.

LOL - some days just keeping all the living creatures and plants alive is the best you can do! I won't say how I know this.

 

[ClovisMan]

Just wanted to say hi to the texas folks, I am Effie in San Antonio. I just bought 4 chicks, having wanted to have backyard chickens FOREVER.. They are still alive after five days so I must be doing something right.

Hello Effie, I'm just up the road from you! We really like pictures, especially of fuzzy little chicks...

 

[jajeanpierre]

No luck yet

Try the breed clubs.

 

[jajeanpierre]

You wouldn't even have to remove the entire boards. You could cut holes in the boards and staple the wire over the holes. With something small like those prefab houses, you have to be careful about weakening the integrity of the structure if you start cutting holes/removing boards because they are not made out of the thickest pieces of wood and are usually stapled together rather than being held together by long screws. But you could do it, just plan it out carefully and look to see how any holes will affect it.

We have no shade and use shade cloth - it's the best. Use the lightest color possible as they help keep the temp underneath cooler than a darker shade cloth. You may also need to double up on the shade cloth since a lot of what is available locally is pretty thin. Greenhousemegastore.com sells shade cloth in varying ratios of how much light they admit and their white colored cloth is the best for lowering temps underneath the cloth. The turn around time for shadecloth from them can be a few weeks when it is in high demand during summer so you want to get it early from them but I have been pleased with my dealings with them.

I wanted my husband to remove the top board, but he didn't want to for the reasons you mention. He will be designing a wire insert that goes in during the warm weather and comes out in the winter, with a padlock hasp to lock the roof down. The roof is hinged. I will be drilling some holes along the top. The floor has some ventilation, as well. This particular dog house is really well built--there aren't any staples holding it together; its bolted and screwed. My husband looked at it and just said buy them (for the Cochin pens), because he couldn't build it as well as it was built for the price.

I squished three LF Ameraucanas in it for a few weeks. It really was too small, but in a pinch it worked. The weather was cold so there wasn't an overheating problem from over crowding.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I am planning on the coop being built with free lumber. I will use hardware cloth and chicken wire on it. I was also planning on putting a large run around the coop/run that will be about the size of garage. I also plan on letting the chickens run around the yard for a few hours every day.

You do have a good idea to start small. Would removing one of the top boards and replacing it with hardware cloth be enough ventilation? Maybe two would be better. The only deep shade that I have in my yard is in the front yard. :/ I could put them on the north side of my garage, but that gets sun at certain times during the day too. I was thinking shade cloth over the top of the pen would be good.

How big a pen area are you thinking? My yard is 1/4 acre and the back fenced area is big. My biggest concern is rat snakes and other snakes that like to eat small thinks like eggs and small chickens. We have some feral cats, but they usually stay out of the yard during the day. What is out there at night, I don't know. I know there are armadillos, possums and raccoons around here. I haven't seen them in my yard though.

Some are better than others. My last house was in a neighbourhood with an optional HOA. I opted out.

I wouldn't worry about snakes. They aren't that big a risk except for little chicks, which don't go out unprotected anyway. Raccoons are another story. They are big and strong. Think pit-bull strong. They can kill a big dog. I don't think opossums are much of a risk to adult chickens, either. Both raccoons and opossums come around at night. You just have to have them inside and locked up.

 

[TexasLisa]

MEN and their play toys!

Lisa

Thanks Lisa.
I did not mean to shed a bad light on my DH. He has worked hard and deserves his toys. He is a wonderfully supportive husband.
I may find someone to help me write a book, cause I never in a million years would have believed that what has transpired in these last 4 years of my life could have ever happened. Too much to ever share in posts and replies on social media site. Life is a ride. Glad I have God.
(and chickens)
Saw this somewhere.
Chickens long for the day when they will no longer be plagued by the age old question of why they crossed the road. They just did![/QUOTE]
I would be lost without my husband! (You did not shed a bad light on your husband.) It is amusing to watch the realtor's face when we head for the workshop before the house. I agree that chickens are great therapy!

Just wanted to say hi to the texas folks, I am Effie in San Antonio. I just bought 4 chicks, having wanted to have backyard chickens FOREVER.. They are still alive after five days so I must be doing something right.

Welcome from Rosenberg Effie!!

Lisa

 

[jajeanpierre]

Would the medium size of this dog house work? I'd just need to add a secure door.

You want bigger. The one I pictured is I think the large size. It would hold three bantams and one nest box inside. I'm going to have two nest boxes. The door needs to be secure. I'll send close up pictures of how my husband is modifying it. He's building one to go inside one of my parrot aviaries--perfect for chicks!--but we have to replace the roof and make it so the parrots won't destroy it.

I had wanted to get rid of an expensive stainless steel aviary I have, but I think I'm going to set it up as a Cochin cockerel house. It is just sitting in pieces in my shed.
http://www.kingscages.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=605

 

[LBejaran]

Congrats! Work is work and a little money is better than no money.

You got that right! I got a check today and, hopefully, I can get this web design job. I have to wait for someone to come home, though. I dropped my phone in the water bucket outside.

Luckily, I took it out as soon as it happened, but I need it to rest in some rice and salt for approximately 12 hours. This phone has to last me until summer. I have some back up phones, but I'd be pretty sad to lose this one. It's my favorite.

Getting paid is always good. Have you look into French guineas? They lay year round.

I haven't looked at French guineas yet, but I definitely should. When I saw the lavender guineas, I was just so entranced, haha! They are lovely. I don't mind if they lay year round or not. I really want them for the pest control because of my soon-to-exist heirloom, organic garden. Having a couple guineas to go through the garden plot would really help (and maybe it would encourage the chickens to stop free-loading and look for food, hehe!).

Cool looking birds. So many varieties. It is a good thing I am limited on space and the fact that my HOA doesn't allow poultry. Ha. I have therapy chickens and that is a fact.

My Dad wishes there was a HOA to stop me from bringing home more birds, hehe! In the past couple months, I've brought home 3 ducks, 8 chicks, and I nearly got rabbits. He's about done with me being impulsive. Mom, on the other hand, is practically sneaking me cash to buy more birds. She loves them and because I make art from the eggs, she lets me make the big decisions on the flock. Also, I think she likes to get on Dad's nerves.

George the Blind is my favorite rooster and I've been tempted to make him into a house chicken. He relaxes me and he's so cute when he falls asleep on my lap. I've even saved a couple patterns for chicken diapers. I don't think the parents will go for it, though, haha!

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote:
I clip wings