Texas

[Morrison610]

Hello everyone. We just bought 8 acres in Liberty Hill, TX, but we are originally from the Houston area. We are hoping to pick up a mixed batch of chickens today. I raised chickens for 4H when I was a teenager, but that has been some time ago, and is very different from what we would like to do now. Our land is fully fenced with barbed wire and we were hoping to free range our birds. Additionally we are wanting to avoid gmo feed, but I am even unsure how much they need with free ranging. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hello! Welcome! We are pretty close. You have good resources around in Liberty Hill -Georgetown for feed places and You are also close to micro breweries Good Luck! Your place sounds wonderful. If you want a 6 month old red cap pretty boy you can have mine cheers!

 

[Morrison610]

Helo

Glad you love my home state! It's really quite wonderful. We're in Belgium because his work and his family are here and we have a small flock of six, but when we retire and head back home I plan on having a much larger flock. I hail out from Helotes.

Helotes is pretty! The SNA near there has such awesome trails.
Very cool you are in Europe I have been reading about a lot of breed back stories. Are there any predators like coons you have to be on guard against? I just lost my first pullet and two packing peanuts to a coon...

 

[1FlewOver]

As you !see....I'm in Ft. Worth...but I need to subscribe to this thread! !!

 

[needlessjunk]

We have AC!!! I never knew 81* could feel so good for an inside temp. Darn ants got inside the wiring and shorted it out. Simple inexpensive fix. Now we are all napping and relaxing in the wonderful AC.

 

[1FlewOver]

If it comes down to that, I will call you. This is personal now. The pullet that was the victim was a bielvelder, a rare bird. Very expensive. I am ******. I have seen the snake. It is a very large rat snake and very fast. This is why he/she is not dead yet, but he/she will be. I am pretty sure I know where he/she is living, if this is the case, this is where he/she will die.

This has come into the back of my mind....as if I go forward with chickens...I may well face a dilemma...(notice my avatar) ....I've spent more than ten years trying to educate the people in my neighborhood not to kill these helpful and valuable snakes with Oscar as my living ambassador...handled by a couple of hundred people (most young kids)...

I explained that these are very beneficial creatures and help to keep rodent populations in check and should be left alone....(The major reason they are killed is they are mistaken for copperheads and it's senseless and usless, unecessary destruction of a beneficial creature.... I have a soft spot in my heart for them....even though the Texas variety is possibly the meanest snake alive....

BUT.....Now we have a little different scenario....this snake is actually doing some harm....I would love to come capture and relocate it....but 'Cut and Shoot' is a fer piece away....(BTW: Out of the two.....I recommend "shoot" dealing with this snake. .22 with rat shot will accomplish the task very handily).....

I hate to see any of these magnificent creatures destroyed.....but it's your problem and you have the right to deal with it as you see fit.....Texas will survive with one less misbehaving rat snake.....

It's the idiots that brag about killing a "big copperhead " that was just trying to help rid their trashy butts of vermin that really upset me.....SENSELESS!!!!!

EDIT: BTW: Forgot to mention: 'Oscar' is a 5' Texas rat snake I've raised from a baby....and a real sweetheart....

 

[tjo804]

As you !see....I'm in Ft. Worth...but I need to subscribe to this thread! !!

Welcome!
See here we do not only pick on the snakes! ANYTHING messin with the chicks gets the boot!
I dont have a snake issue but my neighbors dog better not wonder over again! And yes there are people here who really love their neighbors dog. So you can have your snake even here.

 

[Rustys Girls]

Welcome 1FlewOver, down here on the coast by Galveston. Snakes and chickens can get along, just can't put the little ones in harms way. I have 3 that I know of, Texas Rat Snakes, I know where they live and they have gotten a pass so far. I have no mice nor rats, and my cat is 5 weeks old.

rg's

 

[ShadowsFIAL]

Hello, all fellow Texans. I am hoping you may be able to assist me! First, my location - I am in the DFW metroplex, in Denton County. Due to my backyard size and town, I had a fairly small flock.  This was fine and worked, chickens were wonderful and happy, and I have worked hard to be a good chicken mom. Sadly, I am now down to one lone EE hen.  Her sister, who had been with her since they hatched, passed away last week.  It was very sudden and she had been very healthy.  As she died in the nest box, I suspect it may have been egg binding although she had been acting wonderfully healthy that very morning.  She was around 4 years old and of course this was so sad, since they are beloved pets. I am very worried about my remaining EE hen being alone. I know they do not do well on their own.

I am not sure what route to go but I wonder if it would be best to acquire a young hen to introduce to her, instead of baby chicks.  I do not want to order started pullets from a hatchery because of the beak trimming.  Forgive my ignorance but I am not sure where to look in my area, since I originally got my birds as chicks.  I was hoping someone in my area may be able to point me in the right direction.  Secondly, eventually I may need to look into rehoming due to an impending move to California where the residential area does not allow for backyard chickens, although codes could potentially change.  This wouldn't be for another year though, so I'm really not sure I want to rehome my remaining hen right now, I think that getting another one would be best, she seems so sad on her own.

Let me know if I should move this post but as this is a Texas thread I am hoping someone might be in my area!

I would get chicks or young started pullets. My hens adjusted quick you younger birds being added than adult birds. I put my chicks in a couple weeks after they were fully feathered. It would be a good idea to look for started ones, also if the other hen is older as well you should try adding two or three since if you get a single she might lose her company.

 

[1FlewOver]

Welcome 1FlewOver, down here on the coast by Galveston.  Snakes and chickens can get along, just can't put the little ones in harms way.  I have 3 that I know of, Texas Rat Snakes, I know where they live and they have gotten a pass so far.  I have no mice nor rats, and my cat is 5 weeks old.    rg's

Thanks for the welcome.....I wish I could head your way and do some crabbing....I'm a big time fisherman, but for some reason....I absolutely LOVE crabbing...(from the shore with a string)....

Anyway...the snake in my avatar was rescued from about 8 people eyeballing this large "copperhead" up in a tree....with hoes,sticks, and shovels ready to do it in....

As an ironic twist of fate...it's also where my new chicken ran away from home from...

The chicken owner wasn't too happy about the snake anyway....even after I explained it was harmless.....his response: "Yeah.....but I don't get any eggs with him around! "

Well, it was true....it was eating his eggs....(I even got some from him and fed the snake one)....

I just went out a little while ago....and heard that chicken making such a ruckus I thought it was being mauled...I found it sitting on the fence....facing my neighbor's yard....

In my neighbor's yard was my big ol' cat Sammy....just chillin' and totally indifferent to Rocky's carrying ons....(Rocky does not like Sammy....lol)... So then Sammy starts crying at me....Rocky is still screaming bloody murder....Sammy acts like I'm going to jump the fence and get him....

Finally......Sammy comes in and I feed him and I go back out with some food and water for Rocky....(who's nowhere to be found) ....after 3 or 4 minutes I finally hear him /her (probably her) answer me and she comes walking up to the fence....IN MY NEIGHBOR'S YARD!!!!

I can't coax her over....so I gotta jump the fence to get her.....

I swear.....kids these days......

 

[1FlewOver]

Glad you love my home state! I hail out from Helotes.

I always wondered what happened to the "Donkey Lady".......JK.....