Texas

[hensfortherapy]

I am still laughing so I thought I would share.

This is how my son and daughter-in-law announced that they are expecting on Facebook.

 

[tobyerick]

central texas right out side of the waco temple killeen area ....gatesville texas! not much here but thats kind of the way i like it

 

[RustedOak]

central texas right out side of the waco temple killeen area ....gatesville texas! not much here but thats kind of the way i like it

Right around the corner in Waco myself... Welcome!

 

[TexasLisa]

Caught a 3rd raccoon this morning

My husband is feeling a little better each day

Hope to catch up on posts tomorrow

Good job!! Are they still killing your chickens? Good news for your husband. Is he able to get up and move around?

420am just in from checking and readjusting the temp again. Lol as soon as the sun us up my baby's are back in this house.

Question! What do other east texans use for bedding in your chicken coop. I have been working on my coop and I still don't know what I want to use for my bedding. I could really use some good detailed advice.

A1momof3, I use the Deep Litter method and I have pine shavings on the floor. I love this method.

I am still laughing so I thought I would share.
This is how my son and daughter-in-law announced that they are expecting on Facebook.

Now that is precious!!

central texas right out side of the waco temple killeen area ....gatesville texas! not much here but thats kind of the way i like it

Welcome from Rosenberg!

Lisa

 

[magpiesing]

Save yourself some dinero and just go to your local Sac n Pac, 7eleven or the like and see if they have a stack of milk crates sitting by the dumpster. Ask the cashier if you can have a couple. I've never paid for a milk crate...

I got my crates from my local corner store. they can't give them away unless they are damaged, at least not my store. So check them out, if it's something that won't hurt the hen then use them. I use them right side up. I cut one side down so they can get in but left enough so hay and eggs don't fall out. They cut pretty easily with a sabre saw, just be sure to check for sharp points when you're done. They are easy to clean and my girls seem to like them.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

A 5 gallon bucket from HD, or Lowe's works for a nest box too.

I'm going to make mine out of wood and have holes for ventilation in them.




I found this in my book, Keeping Chickens with Ashley English. Neat idea on dying eggs naturally. I've never heard about freezing eggs before.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Lisa Steel has a lot of good information on chicken care. I plan on using straw for the coop. Not sure on the nesting boxes. I've seen those bristly mats and may try them.

I am getting it from GameandMore on here. They are being ordered from a breeder. It's a black Ameraucana. There is a chance that they are shipped next week and if not it will be in two weeks. I'm hoping for 2 weeks and preparing for next week. If it is in 2 weeks I will wait a week to get the others. I don't have a choice on the last 2. They just won't be here before 6 May. I don't have a choice when the BCM's come. They hatch in three weeks and he will ship them at 1 week of age. Or is it they are coming in 3 weeks? I'll have to check the PM.

My chicks may be a little spread out in age, but most of them are coming at the same time from the local breeder. I can do a separate brooder if I need to.

If it is warm enough my BCM's will be shipped as day old chicks. They hatch the end of the month.

I figured out how to keep the chicks safe from the kitties. I'm putting the brooder box (cardboard) inside my dog crate. It's a metal one, big enough for a Great Dane. Easy access for me and no access for the kitties. I may need to put mesh around it to keep the chicks in once they get more adventuresome. I can clamp a heat light to it if my heat plate doesn't come in time.

I'm writing down my list of things to pick up too. Much better than relaying on my brain. Do I need something like Nutri-Drench for the ones I pick up? I'll get it for the shipped ones. OR is there something better?

 

[losttexan]

It may not help everyone, but if you are in/close to the Lubbock area, HFC (finally) got their chick order in. They have white leghorns, buff orps, and RIR. Chicks are from Cackle. I will try and talk to the ordering guy on Thurs or Fri to see if they will be getting anything else.

 

[henless]

Yes, but I don't want "red pullets" or "mixed pullets" or "assorted bantams." Their specialty breeds are spaced out and come in on different weeks. If I want two sussex, two EEs, and two minorcas, for example, I can't come in at three different times and buy two chicks. I have to buy 6 chicks with every transaction. So, for every time I buy two chicks I want, I have to buy either six of that breed, or four more chicks I don't want. Ergo, to get the mix I mention above, I may have to buy 18 chicks, 12 of which I don't want/need. Get it?

Have you tried your local feed stores? They may have what you are wanting or can get them for you. The ones around here don't have a minimum order.

I just fell in love with partridge silkies. Oh my! I'm going to get one partridge and one splash. That puts a halt to chicken math! Unless I want to get a blue one too..... :/

Get a blue one!

Good afternoon Texas!!!

I have a question for y'all.

Do any of you get birds based on their heat tolerance? I am near Crockett in East Tx and it gets very hot. I am about 1/3rd finished with my coop/run. It is 10X25 and will be roofed with left over barn roofing. 1/2 inch hardware cloth all around. I also will be using heavy duty tarps on all sides except the southeast, so they will provide shade also. I will also be using electric poultry netting to allow the birds to range too!

Appreciate all the help!!!!

David

I just got the ones I wanted and hope to make it cooler for them.

[/URL]two ducks 4 chicks. I want to say I am hooked!

Cute babies!

Well it's 2am and I have made another run out to the barn to check on my baby girls. I can't stand it. So back into the house they go tomorrow. I can't get their temp set right in my room I closed in, in the barn for a brooder room. It's driving me crazy. I'm worried sick. So until they have adjusted to not needing the heat light and our night here in East Texas stop dipping down into the 30 n 40s they will just stay in the house. Lol
My family calls me the mother hen.... They are so original.... But I have to say I miss my babies being right where I can watch them, talk and play with them whenever I want. Less worry and stress in the house and I get more sleep!! Lol

Mine have been outside from day one. I had them in my husbands shop. Today they got moved to my brooder in the coop.
Quote:

I'll be doing DL, just had a read back through the article I read on it. Pine shavings. Straw was for the nesting boxes. I have read so much on chicken care the last few months it is getting scrambled in my brain!

DL works great here. I'm going to treat my big run like a compost pile and add all my leaves and some grass clippings (mulching mower) too. I've read when you do it that way there really isn't any odor and everything breaks down naturally. The chickens love to dig through the stuff too.

I plan on using this method also.

central texas right out side of the waco temple killeen area ....gatesville texas! not much here but thats kind of the way i like it

Welcome!


Finally finished my brooder. Still have a few things to do to totally finish the coop, but for now I have moved my babies out to their new home. They love it! Plenty of room for them to flap and run. They have been racing up and down the brooder for the last hour, lol!

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Get a blue one!

Actually I decided on a RED one. lol! 3 silkies it is.


I've been reading while trying to work today. Guess which one is winning. I found an article on sexing chicks. It you can sex them as day olds you have the best chance of getting it right. See #3 in this article.

I've also been reading on the benefits of herbs. I'm going to be brewing tea for my chickens and I am also going to make little sashes for the brooder.
I think herbs are on sale at Calloway's/Cornelius this week. I've been waiting for the sale to stock up for the yard again. Chef Jeff Veggies and fruit are 30% off tomorrow, hoping that means herbs too. I'll get my tomates and spaghetti squash too.