Texas

[A1momof3]

I think Silkies are fine with heat. Any chicken will have a problem with the heat we had last year. Heat is a constant problem, especially if they are penned without a way to get into deep, cooler shade under a tree. The difference in surface temperatures on my property between the half acre open to the sun and the a 1.5 acres covered with big live oaks was surprising. At ground level, my legs overheated in the open area, even when I was under the any of the few trees in that dotted the open area.

I know I have been concerned with the heat issue but my coop and pen are on the wooded side of our land. Good and bad but we are cleaning out around the pen area well and leaving the big trees that should give it shade. It will all be covered well to protect from the flying critters that are looking for KFC express. LOL

I know you can order a minimum of 3 bantams from Meyer Hatchery, but I didn't have the best experience with then. Then again it was winter, there was a storm...etc. ( I HAD to order chicks in January

)
But 9 out of my 15 passed, including the 3 bantams I had ordered.
It may be better now that its warmer.
And their customer service was great.
I got mine locally, but it was from a lady who ordered with a friend, then the friend backed out...supposedly...
But who orders 60 Silkies? lol
I've only had them since Valentine's so I haven't been through the summer. But I agree, it gets so hot here,any bird could have a problem.

Have you checked craigslist? Or sometimes facebook wil have a local poultry buy, sell, trade. That's how I rehomed my roo.

Where are you out of again?

I might go visit Family in Houston this weekend.
I haven't been away from my chickens yet! Hubbs will be home (he works) but he leaves at 3pm and doesn't get home until 12:30am....
I'm going to have to figure that one out.

I am in Quitman, tx. It's about 40 north of Tyler. I haven't really seen anyone on here that is very close to me yet except one person in Van.

Jan Joyner at Navidad Ranch was the first breeder in Texas to get Cream Legbars (as far as I know). She got them in October of 2011 as a juvenile pair from Greenfire Farms is Florida ($500 was the going rate for these 4 month old pairs). I got mine in January of 2012 from a shipment of day-old chicks that Samantha Kellerman at AltaVista Ranch won in an action from Greenfire farms. My wife paid $400 for two day old cockerel and two days old pullets (and since have brought in stock from four other breeders/sources I have been working with on the breed). My wife was at Samantha's home before the chicks were even out of the shipping box and got first pick of the chicks. I like to think that she picked the best chicks of the bunch. When we got our Cream Legbars Samantha and Jan were the only other people in the State of Texas with the Breed. A year ago a Cream Legbars club was formed to advance the establishment of the Breed and I was asked by the searching committee to serve as club president. We now have over 100 members and due to the work or Samanatha, Jan, and myself the memberships is very heavily weighted in Texas with 10-15 club members.

I live in Marble Falls, Texas. Flock are now poping up all over the state as more people learn about this breed.

Well, I am VERY interested in working with this breed. I just fell in love with your girls and the main man. He is beautiful. I would really like to get some more information and contacts for breeders.... or what ever I need to do.

Your coop is really looking nice. I hope to someday have some land where I can do more things with animals and gardens.

It should not be empty. I believe that is a crime....

Isn't that weasels or possums that do that?

Try Craig's list.

Be careful when adding to their food. You don't want to get ratios off for protein and stuff. Have you thought about doing fermented feed? It's so simple. Put the layer ration in bucket, add dechlorinated water and some Apple Cider Vinegar, with the mother. Stir daily until it smells like sourdough. Check out the threads on here for more info.

I decided to leave the area under the roosts open to the ground so I can do DL better. It will look the same, just won't have a floor to it. I need to figure out perches and such in there still. I brought a huge branch home yesterday that I found on the side of the road. I think it fell off a brush pile on a trailer.

He is a beautiful rooster.

I need to paint my house and garage. Too cold for me to be out right now though. That wind is awful!!!

Ms JellyBean I just want to say... you are so sweet... You try to respond to everyone and that is just awesome!

 

[harley1975]

I don't know how to copy links to other threads. But recently I started a thread about chicken nipples freezing, it that thread a person responded who has a link to an automatic pop door he has made. Sounded simple to make and I plan on do this soon myself. it is operated by using a car radio antannea (sorry about the spelling there).

I am going to make mine using a old microwave turner motor out of an old microwave that stop working you can get a motor off eBay for about $5. They are 3rpm motors you need 2 timers. I will post pics of it when I have it made that show how it was made and wired

 

[A1momof3]

I've been hand feeding meal worms to my 5-week old Ameraucana chicks. Now, instead of running away from the monster hand that descends into their brooder they run to it biting like little velociraptors. They fly up to my face if the cover is off. Last night I was showing my husband one that was perched on my finger like a little parrot when s/he spotted the tie from the hoody I was wearing. The little dinosaur dove down, grabbed hold of that thick tie and would not let go flying around my face. It was really funny. I feel sorry for anything alive those little carnivoes find. I'll be sure not to trip in their pen when I finally do get them outside.

You are cracking me up. Mine do the same thing. It is so funny how they just run right up to me and will beck at what ever spot that might be on my hand. Lulabelle loves it when I bend over into the brooder with my hoodie on. That string in her personal toy.

Today has already been such a wonderful day. I got out early went to TS and my milk crates were in for my nests!!

By the time hubby gets home, I will have all the supplies just sitting there waiting on him. I know he loves that. LOL I also picked up some chick grit and gave my peeps some mixed in with garlic and they went to town on that stuff. Plus I put my apple core in there too and they are loving that as well. THey are so funny. It's like when I go over and sit down by their box they all start running around flapping their wings as to say.... hey mom look at me... look at what I can do and they just start playing and running around, up and down their roosting limbs. To funny!

 

[A1momof3]

Oh, such a bad day yesterday. Came back from school to the high squeal chirps of little chicks. Went to check on them and realized that the room was cold. Probably 68 degrees. A chick was standing on top of a lifeless sister when I looked in the box. The heater had cycled off and never came back on.

I picked up the chick and held her for a minute to assess her vitals the best I could. Nothing going on, got a different heater and realized there was the slightest movement. Held her in front of the warm air gently stroking her chest to see if that would stimulate her back. Well, after about two hours she opened her eyes and wanted water but was still almost lifeless but definitely breathing. Checked on her every 15 minutes for about 5 hours and then the last time she was gone. What a bummer.

Other two chicks were fine and actually bonded over this. Maybe she was sick when I got her or just not as determined to live. Back to 7 hens

Oh that is so sad. I am so sorry. I would have been cryin'.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Oh, such a bad day yesterday. Came back from school to the high squeal chirps of little chicks. Went to check on them and realized that the room was cold. Probably 68 degrees. A chick was standing on top of a lifeless sister when I looked in the box. The heater had cycled off and never came back on.

I picked up the chick and held her for a minute to assess her vitals the best I could. Nothing going on, got a different heater and realized there was the slightest movement. Held her in front of the warm air gently stroking her chest to see if that would stimulate her back. Well, after about two hours she opened her eyes and wanted water but was still almost lifeless but definitely breathing. Checked on her every 15 minutes for about 5 hours and then the last time she was gone. What a bummer.

Other two chicks were fine and actually bonded over this. Maybe she was sick when I got her or just not as determined to live. Back to 7 hens

That is so sad. I'm so sorry for your loss.

I've been hand feeding meal worms to my 5-week old Ameraucana chicks. Now, instead of running away from the monster hand that descends into their brooder they run to it biting like little velociraptors. They fly up to my face if the cover is off. Last night I was showing my husband one that was perched on my finger like a little parrot when s/he spotted the tie from the hoody I was wearing. The little dinosaur dove down, grabbed hold of that thick tie and would not let go flying around my face. It was really funny. I feel sorry for anything alive those little carnivoes find. I'll be sure not to trip in their pen when I finally do get them outside.

You should video that for us. At what age can you start giving them treats like that?


I just got a great idea. Money saver too. I was thinking I would have to buy dishes (Thrift store type) for oyster shell and grit but then I saw this idea. Last photo. See the lunchmeat container on the post? I don't know what they put in it but I know what I am putting in mine! I have tons of those! I think using a binder clip on a nail or screw that is angled up so it can't fall off will work well. I can wash the containers that way.

 

[LBejaran]

Be careful when adding to their food. You don't want to get ratios off for protein and stuff. Have you thought about doing fermented feed? It's so simple. Put the layer ration in bucket, add dechlorinated water and some Apple Cider Vinegar, with the mother. Stir daily until it smells like sourdough. Check out the threads on here for more info.

I'm just gonna feed them what I fed them last year (except this year, I'm buying a non-GMO feed I found locally!

). Adding the oats is really to keep them full and they seem to really lay better when it is mixed in. I tried fermenting and it was okay, but I had trouble keeping up with it when I came into work. One day it'd be fine and the next evening when I got home, it would be getting mold. I don't know if someone was opening it for no reason or if something else was going on (I had thoroughly washed the buckets beforehand but something could have been in there), but it wasn't working. And for whatever reason, my fermented feed never smelled quite like sourdough bread. It smelled....smelly. Not rotten or putrid, just....smelly.

I'll probably just keep on soaking it. They get full on a little less and they seem to prefer it to the dry feed (the ducks can scarf it down without choking on it now, haha). I had sprinkled some dry feed a week ago and they didn't appreciate it. They ate, but when I picked up the bowl I use for the soaked feed, they all ran towards me even though there was an entire pile of dry feed right in front of them. Silly birds!

 

[Ms Jellybean]

You are cracking me up. Mine do the same thing. It is so funny how they just run right up to me and will beck at what ever spot that might be on my hand. Lulabelle loves it when I bend over into the brooder with my hoodie on. That string in her personal toy.

Today has already been such a wonderful day. I got out early went to TS and my milk crates were in for my nests!!

By the time hubby gets home, I will have all the supplies just sitting there waiting on him. I know he loves that. LOL I also picked up some chick grit and gave my peeps some mixed in with garlic and they went to town on that stuff. Plus I put my apple core in there too and they are loving that as well. THey are so funny. It's like when I go over and sit down by their box they all start running around flapping their wings as to say.... hey mom look at me... look at what I can do and they just start playing and running around, up and down their roosting limbs. To funny!

Make sure they don't eat the apple seeds. They have cyanide in them.

 

[GaryDean26]

I am in Quitman, tx. It's about 40 north of Tyler. I haven't really seen anyone on here that is very close to me yet except one person in Van.

Well, I am VERY interested in working with this breed. I just fell in love with your girls and the main man. He is beautiful. I would really like to get some more information and contacts for breeders.... or what ever I need to do.

I'll PM you. I know two people in Tyler that have the breed and may be breeding them this spring. I also make runs up to Dallas to see my parents through out the year and am willing to meet you there if you are up for a road trip. You can also search the club membership list. It is section 04 of the club website.

 

[A1momof3]

Make sure they don't eat the apple seeds. They have cyanide in them.

HOLY CRAP!!!! I didn't know that. I just ran in there and took it apart and got what seeds I could find. Man where was the warning label. I'm telling ya'll I just don't remember my parents and grandparents knowing and doing all of this. LOL

 

[jajeanpierre]

You should video that for us. At what age can you start giving them treats like that?

I think I started giving them live meal worms at about 3 weeks of age. Something like that.