Texas

[007Sean]

Hey all! Anyone in the Dallas area (I'm in McKinney) interested in sharing a mypetchicken.com order with me? I only need/have space for 2 birds this year. I've thought about ordering 2 "spare" to meet the mixed minimum but am a wee bit afraid I'll get attached.

Thanks!!

I use to live 14miles North of McKinney. From age 5 to 23. The family had 160 acre farm. Prettiest place in Collin County.

 

[007Sean]

Replying only to myself regarding Jaguarundi....https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/jag/

Says they are extinct in Texas, but I have had my dogs run two out of the Spanish Cane along the Arroyo Colorado since 2013. Apparently they do not range north past the King Ranch in Kingsville according to the same source.
editing since there haven't been replies yet.

My wife and I both agree this species is in Texas based on our personal observations. It is based on there are no other spotless long tailed small cat species that they could have been otherwise with a tawny fox red sheen. And to qualify for a documented sighting you have to basically run one over with your car so there is a corpse to examine scientifically.

I've seen 1 it was at our ranch in Zavala county. It's been about 25 years ago. Also, have seen mountain lion, and heard but never saw it but some old timers said it was a jaguar! We just called it "the 200lbs hairy growler".

 

[AllenK RGV]

I've seen 1 it was at our ranch in Zavala county. It's been about 25 years ago. Also, have seen mountain lion, and heard but never saw it but some old timers said it was a jaguar! We just called it "the 200lbs hairy growler".

Yeah They are intimidating, the last time I was at the Ft Worth Zoo the one they had really did not like me at all and wouldn't stop scent marking the fence between us and growling.

 

[Lieander]

Hello everyone, I'm new here and new to the world of chickens. I live in Conroe, about 45 minutes north of Houston. I have two young boys (5 & 3) and we're very excited to start our backyard chicken raising adventure! I would really appreciate some advice on what sort of chickens to get. We would like eggs of course, we're a family of four, but don't eat eggs every day, so we don't need laying machines. I would like them to be friendly and personable. We live in a very hot and humid climate, along the Gulf Coast. I hope that's enough information, if you need more let me know. I'm getting a coop large enough for 12 hens, I don't want a rooster, and I don't necessarily want 12 birds.

Also, any good reading to help me prepare for getting birds, supplies, toys, etc. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Hamiam]

Hello everyone, I'm new here and new to the world of chickens. I live in Conroe, about 45 minutes north of Houston. I have two young boys (5 & 3) and we're very excited to start our backyard chicken raising adventure! I would really appreciate some advice on what sort of chickens to get. We would like eggs of course, we're a family of four, but don't eat eggs every day, so we don't need laying machines. I would like them to be friendly and personable. We live in a very hot and humid climate, along the Gulf Coast. I hope that's enough information, if you need more let me know. I'm getting a coop large enough for 12 hens, I don't want a rooster, and I don't necessarily want 12 birds.

Also, any good reading to help me prepare for getting birds, supplies, toys, etc. Thanks in advance!!

Welcome to BYC! Since you have young children, I think it would be fun for y'all to have a mixed flock. I know my grandsons love to collect eggs. They would have a blast collecting different colored eggs. Its also fun because you can tell by the color which hen laid which egg.

 

[Lieander]

I like the idea of having a mixed flock! Different colored eggs would be a lot of fun and the different chickens would be more fun to watch.

 

[Hamiam]

I like Barred Rocks for Brown Eggs. Let's see what others recommend.
Since you said "getting a coop", I want to warn you about many of the prefabricated coops you find at the feed store/Tractor Supply type places. They are normally poorly made, not predator proof & have poor ventilation. If you decide to build your own coop, you will find many examples here & a lot of members to help you along the way.

 

[Lieander]

I like Barred Rocks for Brown Eggs. Let's see what others recommend.
Since you said "getting a coop", I want to warn you about many of the prefabricated coops you find at the feed store/Tractor Supply type places. They are normally poorly made, not predator proof & have poor ventilation. If you decide to build your own coop, you will find many examples here & a lot of members to help you along the way.

https://houston.craigslist.org/for/d/xlarge-chicken-poultry-rabbit/6437703948.html
That is the coop I'm planning on getting, haven't bought it yet, so if it looks like it's no good please let me know.

 

[TexasLisa]

Hello everyone, I'm new here and new to the world of chickens. I live in Conroe, about 45 minutes north of Houston. I have two young boys (5 & 3) and we're very excited to start our backyard chicken raising adventure! I would really appreciate some advice on what sort of chickens to get. We would like eggs of course, we're a family of four, but don't eat eggs every day, so we don't need laying machines. I would like them to be friendly and personable. We live in a very hot and humid climate, along the Gulf Coast. I hope that's enough information, if you need more let me know. I'm getting a coop large enough for 12 hens, I don't want a rooster, and I don't necessarily want 12 birds.

Also, any good reading to help me prepare for getting birds, supplies, toys, etc. Thanks in advance!!

Howdy from frozen Rosenberg!! Congratulations on wanting to become chicken owners.

You have already made your first mistake. You said 'I don't necessarily want 12 birds'. You haven't been introduced to chicken math, have you???

You are in for a wonderful experience and your children will love it. My favorites are Speckled Sussex and Australorps. If you want colored eggs, get some EEs. They lay blue and green eggs.

 

[dpenning]

https://houston.craigslist.org/for/d/xlarge-chicken-poultry-rabbit/6437703948.html
That is the coop I'm planning on getting, haven't bought it yet, so if it looks like it's no good please let me know.

Certainly not for 20 hens, I wouldn't put more than 5-8 in there but that could be just me. The roosts don't appear to be higher than the nest boxes and there are probably twice as many nests as you would need for that many birds. I might be confusing the threads on the number of hens you want. My Buff Orpingtons are my friendliest girls, and Easter edgers are fun for variety.

I recommend going to the coop construction section and read a bunch before purchasing a coop. That one indicates it is a kit so you will be doing assembly anyway. You may learn about modifications you want to make or decide to build from scratch.

Have fun with it!