Texas

[1WildHairL8tr]

Can't remember if I've "signed in" here or not.
I'm in Fort Worth.
Hi Neighbors!
Looking to buy laying hens.

 

[allen wranch]

Cathi,
I think I picked you up on the other BYC, but you were already on my spread sheet since 11/2007. Would you believe there are 415 of us Texans here !

Liza,
Yes, I feed free choice. I am predator paranoid, so I don't free range. However, the birds have nice large pens and are let out in the mornings when I clean.

It sounds like you are doing everything right. Bugs and fresh veggies and fruits are good for them.

 

[danrut101]

Allen, thought I would let you know that I am also from Texas. South Texas. Port Lavaca to be exact.

Danny D

 

[allen wranch]

Got you too, Danny.

Hope some of y'all come to Chickenstock !

 

[EweSheep]

Carla, could you put your input info on the post about Spitzhaubens and Brabanters in the Breeds forum?
Thanks!

 

[Liza]

Okay guys please help me out here. Last night (around 11:30) my girls were going crazy. Went out to the coop and found a Texas Rat Snake. It was about four feet long and up on their roost. Can anyone tell me if he was after mice or my girls? The chicks are about six weeks old now. They were freaked out and talking like crazy. My dogs were out there but of couse they can't get into the coop. Is there anything I can do to keep the snakes out of the coop? The coop is wood in the back and half of the sides then the front is chicken wire. The snake was pretty big so I don't think he went through the chicken wire but they are very slippery things aren't they!

 

[allen wranch]

Thanks, Robin, done.

Liza, The only way to keep rat/chicken snakes out is to wrap everything in hardware cloth. A VERY large snake can get through chickenwire and small holes. They can also eat chicks up to about 6 weeks old.

 

[Liza]

If I wrap eveything in hardware cloth will there be enough air going through the coop to keep the chickens cool in the hot part of the summer? Their coop is under a large tree but you know how hot it can get here in central Texas.

 

[blue90292]

liza, welcome to byc!

you'll get more answers to your questions if you post them in the threads. you should ask that question in the coop section. tell them how big your hardware cloth is. i have a screened back porch that sits under a couple of trees and i get a good breeze through it fine, but ... i'm not trying to be mean or anything, but you'll get answers from the whole board if you ask the questions in the sections pertaining to your questions.

michele

 

[Liza]

blue90292,

I have been so upset about this snake thing that I have posted questions in several threads. I just like to ask my Texas neighbors because ya'll have the same snakes, weather and stuff like I do. If I ask someone in PA about hardware cloth they night not think it so bad but they don't have 105 degree summers!