Texas

[Lieander]

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.

No, what is chicken math? Is that like Skittles logic? You can't stop at just one? Also, EEs I'm guessing it means Easter Eggs?

 

[Hamiam]

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.

I personally have never seen a prefabricated coop that I would buy. I think you should start a thread asking for advise before you buy this pre-fab. Post on the coop thread. You may find someone who has the same coop or researched the coop in the past. I used the search forums for "prefabricated coops" and found a lot of discussions about prefab & modification of prefab.
Your at the right place. So many members have experience that they are willing to share. Check out the many coop designs members have shared too. You may decide its best to design one yourself & hire a handyman or woman to help you build. My husband (aka DH for Darling Husband) & I just finished a coop using cedar timbers from our house remodel, windows off 5 mile app $5 each, roof shingles at 50% off because the packages were breaking open (Home Depot- just ask) Linoleum pieces & paint on clearance & tar paper at goodwill resale store. One mans junk is another mans treasure. Check construction sites, friend's remodels. Nesting boxes can be made from buckets, old dresser drawers, milk crates. Have fun with it!

 

[TexasLisa]

No, what is chicken math? Is that like Skittles logic? You can't stop at just one? Also, EEs I'm guessing it means Easter Eggs?

You understand chicken math! EEs are Easter Eggers. Sorry I wasn't thinking when I abbreviated.

 

[AllenK RGV]

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!!

I wholeheartedly recommend you make a duplicate post to this under the Forum "New Member introductions". There you will be greeted warmly with a load of reading materials and links. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/new-member-introductions.44/ takes you right to the forum I mentioned! Also quite a few very knowledgeable folks follow new posts there!

Welcome to BYC and regarding that prefab coop I would pass personally. $450 buys quite a bit more building supplies and you can do it right so your flock wont be at risk from predators digging under that design or chewing through what looks to be 1/4 inch pine siding. I revisited the craigslist listing again and it looks inadequate for ventilation for 2+ birds. Additionally, the base of those nesting boxes is constructed with ventilation slats that are a natural ingress point for any chewing vermin.-edit

 

[TXchickmum]

Welcome to BYC! That pre-fab coop/run looks nice but wouldn't be too practical (ventilation) for Texas. There are tons of great suggestions/coops on this website. -and, if you do go with a pre-fab style coop then maybe undertake modifications to better accommodate the Texas summers. As far as breeds, I concur that a mixed flock might be fun for the kids (different egg colors). My Australorp is by far the most resilient, heat tolerant bird in the flock. The Buff and Lavender Orpingtons are very docile and enjoy being held. (will come to my daughter when she calls them) Anyway, welcome and enjoy chicken-keeping!!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Welcome to BYC! That pre-fab coop/run looks nice but wouldn't be too practical (ventilation) for Texas. There are tons of great suggestions/coops on this website. -and, if you do go with a pre-fab style coop then maybe undertake modifications to better accommodate the Texas summers. As far as breeds, I concur that a mixed flock might be fun for the kids (different egg colors). My Australorp is by far the most resilient, heat tolerant bird in the flock. The Buff and Lavender Orpingtons are very docile and enjoy being held. (will come to my daughter when she calls them) Anyway, welcome and enjoy chicken-keeping!!

I would suggest you look over Idealpoultry.com for ideas as that is a Texas based commercial breeder for poultry so heat tolerance should already be bred into their stock. Ideal is located just outside of the Austin metro region and you can even pick them up in person should you prefer that.

My "heat tolerant" sumatras came from Meyers in Polk OH and had issues of looking heat stressed last summer/fall they are doing great though with this little cold snap.

 

[JudysMuscovy]

@Lieander - just wanted to welcome you! I am also in Conroe Texas. I have Australorps.Barred rocks - red sexlink -1 1/2 barred/ cream crested legbar -they are all hens - and silkies ! I think they are all great chickens and get a colorful basket of eggs. And they are all pretty docile
Chicken math is real!
I started out with 3 hens and I Rooster! I now have 13 hens and 1 rooster and 3 juvenile silkie's and 4 young silkies

 

[AllenK RGV]

@Lieander - just wanted to welcome you! I am also in Conroe Texas. I have Australorps.Barred rocks - red sexlink -1 1/2 barred/ cream crested legbar -they are all hens - and silkies ! I think they are all great chickens and get a colorful basket of eggs. And they are all pretty docile
Chicken math is real!
I started out with 3 hens and I Rooster! I now have 13 hens and 1 rooster and 3 juvenile silkie's and 4 young silkies

My wife is preventing my chicken math from working. I keep suggesting we need more, but keep getting shot down. Fact is we do not need eggs but fortunately I have roosters too so have a way to work around her there!

 

[JudysMuscovy]

My wife is preventing my chicken math from working. I keep suggesting we need more, but keep getting shot down. Fact is we do not need eggs but fortunately I have roosters too so have a way to work around her there!

I just kinda bring more in . I am a hatchaholic and can't help myself. Hubby just goes along with it cause once they are in the incubator there is no turning back

 

[AllenK RGV]

wow Texans get ready for power outages!
http://ercot.com/content/cdr/contours/rtmLmp.html

It looks as if our power grid is under stress tonight.