Texas

[Brookshire11]

I have a 50hr. work week and I sing for two local bands. Add to that a daughter in golf and band, a son in football and select baseball and a yr old grandbaby and you'll see why the coop is slow going... Not to mention, I'm winging it and making it up as I go lol

Pssh, I applaud you for building at all!!
And I thought I as busy. Husband and I both work full time (but only 40 hours each) with opposing schedules and 2 kiddos under 4.
I ended up purchasing a used coop to spruce up. I have to say that the hoop coop has caught my interest though! We'll be here when you get around to it

 

[tiedyemommy]

Even before we lost Red (having 5 laying hens) we were getting between 1 and 4 eggs per day, this summer...with the rare 5 egg day. Now with only 4 laying hens, we are consistently getting 2 eggs per day...one from Fred (white leghorn) and one from Goldie (rumpless easter egger). Our other 2 easter eggers must be worn out from the heat. Looking forward to cooler temperatures so they'll all get back to laying regularly again. By Fall, Bootsy & Barbarella (french black marans) may start laying...which will make it 6 laying hens by the end of the year...and I imagine Genya, Frank & Penny Peepers (blue splash marans/americauna mix) may start laying the beginning of next year (these are all rough estimates, since I'm not certain exactly how old everyone is).

I have begun to add ACV to their water on a regular basis. The more I read up on it, the more I realized it's just good practice to give everyone access to it at all times (help avoid the avoidable stuff). Also putting electrolytes in their water as well (separate containers from the ACV, though). It's hot, hot, hot 'round here. Could use some rain, for sure, and very much looking forward to cooler temps. We got our first chickens last Spring, when it was already fairly warm, so it'll be interesting to see how our little flock handle colder weather (and what precautions we'll need to take to make the adjustment).

 

[Brookshire11]

Even before we lost Red (having 5 laying hens) we were getting between 1 and 4 eggs per day, this summer...with the rare 5 egg day. Now with only 4 laying hens, we are consistently getting 2 eggs per day...one from Fred (white leghorn) and one from Goldie (rumpless easter egger). Our other 2 easter eggers must be worn out from the heat. Looking forward to cooler temperatures so they'll all get back to laying regularly again. By Fall, Bootsy & Barbarella (french black marans) may start laying...which will make it 6 laying hens by the end of the year...and I imagine Genya, Frank & Penny Peepers (blue splash marans/americauna mix) may start laying the beginning of next year (these are all rough estimates, since I'm not certain exactly how old everyone is).

I have begun to add ACV to their water on a regular basis. The more I read up on it, the more I realized it's just good practice to give everyone access to it at all times (help avoid the avoidable stuff). Also putting electrolytes in their water as well (separate containers from the ACV, though). It's hot, hot, hot 'round here. Could use some rain, for sure, and very much looking forward to cooler temps. We got our first chickens last Spring, when it was already fairly warm, so it'll be interesting to see how our little flock handle colder weather (and what precautions we'll need to take to make the adjustment).

I've been wondering about Winter myself. It was rough here last year (at least for Texas). Our girls arrived in January, but it was tough on them, and they we're inside until ...maybe April.

We just got our new batch of chicks, who did much better due to the warmer weather. They should be feathered out enough by the time the cold starts. I also got more cold hardy breeds. It's a learning process!

 

[tiedyemommy]

I've been wondering about Winter myself. It was rough here last year (at least for Texas). Our girls arrived in January, but it was tough on them, and they we're inside until ...maybe April.

We just got our new batch of chicks, who did much better due to the warmer weather. They should be feathered out enough by the time the cold starts. I also got more cold hardy breeds. It's a learning process!

Texas is a hard climate to account for. Our summers are almost always scorching, but our winters are hit or miss. Granted, we don't get snow...and if/when we do, we certainly don't get it for months at a time. I am looking forward to the learning experience (just as this whole thing has been from the beginning)...and I hope to still have my remaining 4 original Ladies by the time their 1yr anniversary rolls around.

 

[Brookshire11]

Texas is a hard climate to account for. Our summers are almost always scorching, but our winters are hit or miss. Granted, we don't get snow...and if/when we do, we certainly don't get it for months at a time. I am looking forward to the learning experience (just as this whole thing has been from the beginning)...and I hope to still have my remaining 4 original Ladies by the time their 1yr anniversary rolls around.

I never had snow/ice til I moved up North here...

It iced 2 or 3 times! Like...covering everything

 

[magpiesing]

We got our flock first of last November. We covered the chicken house with heavy plastic and ran 2 heat lamps when it got below about 35 degrees. the adult birds did fine but the chicks that came with the flock...not so well...lost 5 of the 8. We use deep litter so that helped retain some heat but it got really costly to run those heat lamps so this year going to build some type of heater. Either a wood burning barrel burner from a 35 gallon drum or pot belly stove and run a duct pipe thru the chicken house and fans. Still investigating options...but will have no chickies til spring.

 

[magpiesing]

We're a little less than 100 miles from the coast and still got ice last March 4th. It came overnight and had covered everything the next morning. It only stuck around for a day and was gone. The ice still broke limbs and made driving bad for a day.

 

[topdycke]

Oh and welcome to all the new people!
And here are the new fuzzbutts!

Russian Orloffs



Salmon Faverolles



Australorps



Easter Egger "twins"

I went and picked mine up today. Cameron is a quiet little place. No problem introducing the peepers to the food and water...they jumped right into the food dish and went after it!

 

[chickengirl1320]

Another Texas gal! I live in denton. I don't exactly live on a farm, but I have two backyard chickens!

 

[N-Hubb]

If anyone lives around Austin ive got a silkie mix cockerel that i am trying to give away to a good home for free. I raised him from a chick and my neighbors probably wont appreciate the crowing since ive got an urban setup. Let me know!!!