Texas

[jajeanpierre]

Some new pictures of our white Ameracauna stag, new Ameracauna pullet that started laying last week & the 2 BO pullets
+ today's egg collection

Jockeyeba, this bird does not look like a purebred Amemeraucana at all. He has the wrong comb. Ameraucanas have a pea comb. The Ameraucana Breeders Club has pictures of examples of the breed. www.ameraucana.org

Here's a link to the Ameraucana Breeder's Club FAQ page which deals with Easter Eggers:
http://www.ameraucana.org/faq.html#TWO

There is another article on that web site somewhere that goes into a great deal of discussion of what is a purebred Ameraucana and what is an "Easter Egger" but I was unable to find it.

The hatcheries continue to sell Easter Eggers as Ameraucanas, Araucaunas and Americanas, passing them off as purebred Ameraucanas. Easter Eggers are often better egg layers than purebred Ameraucanas because they have crossed a blue egg layer with a breed that produces larger/more eggs. A blue egg gene does not make an Ameraucana. There is a lot of misinformation on the breed and many in the breed are really hysterical over the issue.

 

[SlipsWife]

Hi, folks. I'm new to the TX thread and to BYC. I'm in Liberty Hill, NW of Austin, W of Georgetown. And it's getting cold. 69 degrees at 7 a.m. and now it's 38.

Anyway, I don't have chickens yet, as our neighborhood has had restrictions that prevented residents from having poultry, but recently a (seemingly successful) petition has circulated and it looks like the rules are changing. I've wanted chickens for a while, and am happy it is becoming a possibility.

We are looking at a small flock to start, maybe 3-4 hens. At the moment, we are looking for a reasonably-priced good coop, probably something chicken-tractor like or a chicken ark that we can move around the property. We don't have a fence around our property, but are looking at temporary moveable fencing (or do we even need fencing?) to allow the chickens to free range during the day. We also have a LGD that could eventually help with this, but she needs serious training -- she is still a pup and we haven't had any livestock to train her with -- before she is more use than trouble.

Just wanted to say hello and thanks for all the info I've already gotten by checking out these forums.

Best,
Pamela (aka FreeRange Pamela)

P.S. And, Rachael, about gardening, I believe they mean put the seeds in that that time, not seedlings. I've got my little seedlings inside now (they go outside in a mini-greenhouse on warm days), waiting for the end of March. Last year, I lost too many plants to late frosts so I'm being more cautious.

There's a place in Burnet that has a number of options for coops/tractors. We are originally from Marble Falls and have friends that have bought from them. I believe they have listings on Craigslist and a website...I wish I could remember what they're called. The 'easiest' fencing option we've found has been the 10x10x6 chain link dog kennels at Lowes (and other places). We've added hardware cloth or metal lath to the bottoms to keep chicks in and paws out. If you start with hens or larger pullets you might not need it. You can purchase a shade top and move it around pretty easily. If you get a tractor you won't have to do that though. There are so many options available and different ways to do things the best is to do tons of research for what would work best for you.

 

[ClovisMan]

So this weekend was a wash. Not conducive to chicken coop- building at all!!!! I'm at the stage where I need to pre-paint stuff before hanging/installing it. Yesterday was foggy/misty UNTIL 2PM!!! Today, it has already started raining!!! I nknow we need the rain, but the weekends are my only real days to finish this darn project. I had to get something done so I framed and skinned the door and the window shutters. I also installed my nesting boxes from TSC.






Boxes are about 18 inches off the coop floor. That seemed to be the consensus of standard height. Guess I could go out and fab some roosts. I figure they need to be staggered height of 3, 4, and 5 foot? I'd also like to get my brooder in this building as well. We will see. My birds aren't getting any smaller and they need to be relocated here now!!!!

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Rain just hit here! I love the rain, not sure I will like the freezing temps that are coming with it, LOL!

Welcome to all the new comers!

For those that garden, when it says "plant in ground" now, do they mean plant seeds in ground now, or started plants? Seems early to plant seedlings, since our last freeze is not until the end of March usually.

It means in the ground. I planted my carrots, broccoli, rutabaga and parsnips two weeks ago in the ground. They haven't sprouted yet, which is a good thing with this front here now. It's 28* and falling! Brrr!!!!! The garden doesn't get as much sun this time of year so I think things are a bit slower to sprout. The crazy weather isn't helping either.

I know this sounds crazy, but my husband hand weeds what little lawn we have. He also hand weeds the part of the property that has bur grass growing on it. If you get the weeds out, they tend to stay out. It might take a couple of years. Also, keeping the grass cut short all the time will stop most weeds from producing seeds and multiplying since you cut off the seed heads before they are viable. Last, but not least, plant native and learn to appreciate an imperfect turf. Or, if you want a perfect piece of lawn, make is small.

In the long run over time, Weed and Feed is pretty hard on most trees.

Neil Sperry and many others in the know also say weed and feed is bad for trees.

I'm not worried about the Weed and Feed on the trees...I've used it for years and it works great. Kills the weeds and soon my at Augustine is pretty. I'm worried about the chickens getting into the fertilizer I've put on the yard.

Using a pre-emergent is the way to go. I wouldn't use it where the chickens range though.

Hand weeding is really the way to go. You can feed them to the chickens then as a treat like in the link I posted.

Another option would be to get geese. They eat the weeds.

 

[lovingmyhens]

So this weekend was a wash. Not conducive to chicken coop- building at all!!!! I'm at the stage where I need to pre-paint stuff before hanging/installing it. Yesterday was foggy/misty UNTIL 2PM!!! Today, it has already started raining!!! I nknow we need the rain, but the weekends are my only real days to finish this darn project. I had to get something done so I framed and skinned the door and the window shutters. I also installed my nesting boxes from TSC. Boxes are about 18 inches off the coop floor. That seemed to be the consensus of standard height. Guess I could go out and fab some roosts. I figure they need to be staggered height of 3, 4, and 5 foot? I'd also like to get my brooder in this building as well. We will see. My birds aren't getting any smaller and they need to be relocated here now!!!!

Gosh it all looks really good!! Hopefully next weekend will be better! Not looking forward to this nasty change of weather. But here in Houston it looks like it will blow through pretty quick. Melanie

 

[hungnguyen]

Hi, folks. I'm new to the TX thread and to BYC. I'm in Liberty Hill, NW of Austin, W of Georgetown. And it's getting cold. 69 degrees at 7 a.m. and now it's 38.

Hello from Pflugerville. Welcome abroad.

I am still waiting for the rain as I will have to head out for soccer referee duty at 12 noon. All night I am wondering ... when will they call me to cancel the games ... so I can get back to my blanket !!!

 

[hungnguyen]

Quote:Originally Posted by ClovisMan

So this weekend was a wash. Not conducive to chicken coop- building at all!!!! I'm at the stage where I need to pre-paint stuff before hanging/installing it. Yesterday was foggy/misty UNTIL 2PM!!! Today, it has already started raining!!! I nknow we need the rain, but the weekends are my only real days to finish this darn project. I had to get something done so I framed and skinned the door and the window shutters. I also installed my nesting boxes from TSC.

I thought you are done with the cage by .. Fri eve.
Don't forget to install a flag pole in front of your cage ... so all can salute every Mon morming.

 

[hungnguyen]

Gosh it all looks really good!! Hopefully next weekend will be better! Not looking forward to this nasty change of weather. But here in Houston it looks like it will blow through pretty quick.
Melanie

Here it blows ... but it not through yet

 

[RachaelS]

So this weekend was a wash. Not conducive to chicken coop- building at all!!!! I'm at the stage where I need to pre-paint stuff before hanging/installing it. Yesterday was foggy/misty UNTIL 2PM!!! Today, it has already started raining!!! I nknow we need the rain, but the weekends are my only real days to finish this darn project. I had to get something done so I framed and skinned the door and the window shutters. I also installed my nesting boxes from TSC.






Boxes are about 18 inches off the coop floor. That seemed to be the consensus of standard height. Guess I could go out and fab some roosts. I figure they need to be staggered height of 3, 4, and 5 foot? I'd also like to get my brooder in this building as well. We will see. My birds aren't getting any smaller and they need to be relocated here now!!!!

Wow that looks really good

 

[hotrodflash]

That may be true, but there is a risk of trying to get them off. If you are adamant on taking them off, why don't you wait until they have grown and have stronger wings so there is less likelihood of breaking a bone or dislocating a joint?

There is little risk in removing a wing band and I didn't want some to have bands and others to not have bands and be a reason for them to be pecked. And I do things my way and you can do things your way, we do not have to agree on how we raise and treat our livestock.

Hopefully this will lay this subject to rest and this is one of the reasons I rarely comment on this forum.


Thank you and have a nice day.