Texas

[RebelChief]

Better to get a farmers help. We fail at most of our gardening projects. I'm sure I wont be eating any brussel sprouts next year! Bugs take them, the climate takes them or the chicken take them. I do have high hopes for the carrot graves my wife dug up, I just hope carrot tops don't appeal to the chicken. It is hard to exclude our chicken from anything as they can all fly easily clearing 6 foot fencing and I have no intention of clipping wings not the silkies. For us it is just a survival thing as we have predators around here like Jaguarundi and such, not to mention the neighbors wild and unrestrained dogs. Good luck getting Cameron County Animal control out to service a call. That just ain't happening.

I haven't decided about clipping wings...but I don't want them flying out of the fenced in area. . I watched a video on how to do it so I'm not as worried about it as I was. My father is quite the gardener so I'm hoping he will come out and help me get it going.

 

[RUNuts]

I haven't decided about clipping wings...but I don't want them flying out of the fenced in area. . I watched a video on how to do it so I'm not as worried about it as I was. My father is quite the gardener so I'm hoping he will come out and help me get it going.

Wing clipping only clips the feathers. Mine can fly about 4’ up with one wing clipped. Amusing to see them try the stuff they were doing & not quite make it.

yes to 4’. No to 6’. It works. They aren’t roosting on the 6’ fence anymore.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I haven't decided about clipping wings...but I don't want them flying out of the fenced in area. . I watched a video on how to do it so I'm not as worried about it as I was. My father is quite the gardener so I'm hoping he will come out and help me get it going.

Ours so rarely even attempt leaving the fenced area. We have lost 3-4 over the past few years, 2 to a neighbor dog that was taken to animal control and owner fined/animal was destroyed for killing my poor neighbors chicken. One just flew off and a broody(I think) that gave the dogs to much guff so was sent packing. Yep, there have surely been some wins and losses in the chicken department, but I think more wins in our case, besides we now have a feral one that adopted us. We have grass/we have food and difficulties stepping over them all. Chicken just love being under foot, they have serious skills there. Even the educationally challenged silkies do not leave the property. I'm always shocked they are as car and predator smart as they are. The only time they leave us alone is if we are using power equipment.

Oh just for the record, since you are new to Texas is to read "Vernon's Texas Health and Safety Code", chapters 620ish to 628ish. If you do talk to Cameron County Animal Control they always get it wrong and it is their job, plus they have to pass a test based on it within 6 months of hiring. Regardless get used to explaining Texas law to our local authorities they are "The Silkies" of the Texas world. If you are patient with them and can cite Texas law they can be loyal and attentive. Just so you know your fowl are livestock and afforded legal protections in Texas and a fowl hunting dog is legally defined as a coyote anyone witnessing the attack is free to kill it(no time frame specified). I cited my sources so feel ok about being so grim in a post.

But yup seriously an issue I have had living down here and the neighbor didn't care about taking food off of impoverished peoples plates so sure I don't mind taking his money. I am mean and vindictive when provoked and it is required. Additionally, I wasn't the only neighbor to talk to this "Christian" about it. His appraised property value has pretty much doubled now courtesy of me and a visit to the Tax Office stealing from the poor is just so offensive to me. I have other plans for this jerk but until they are realized I do not want to talk about them. Other than if someone has a pair of shiny mini truck-nuts and would like to send them my way please PM me just thinking those things need the church's blessings. Anyhow, it seems I can live nowhere without crazy neighbors. It is just my lot in life. Not as if the guy sent 3 family members to the hospital last August, I have had crazy neighbors since 2004.

We did have a brief 15 month stay in Austin with normal people from 2013-2014 but that ended when we moved down here. It was so cool having normal neighbors who would get their drink on in the middle of the street while watching their kids play and not the beer in a brown paper bag kind. Living down here we have had the full range from cartel drug dealears to certifiably insane, to the christian holier than thou types, not to mention the I am an important woman type of them. I do still love and visit my Leston gals they were cool neighbors to have and their dog goes crazy for me when I stop by abuela is also the coolest lady! @RUNuts you are free to unlike my post as I have made some hateful late edits.

 

[AllenK RGV]

So @RUNuts I do have to ask, I really liked the pepper rolling for my tamales, but is it normal do you think that you can taste it still when your poh-hole blows? I see my doctor later this month so was curious if I should ask about that.

Wow my nose is back on fire. Sure I put too dang much on but I am a stupid gringo.

 

[RebelChief]

Ours so rarely even attempt leaving the fenced area. We have lost 3-4 over the past few years, 2 to a neighbor dog that was taken to animal control and owner fined/animal was destroyed for killing my poor neighbors chicken. One just flew off and a broody(I think) that gave the dogs to much guff so was sent packing. Yep, there have surely been some wins and losses in the chicken department, but I think more wins in our case, besides we now have a feral one that adopted us. We have grass/we have food and difficulties stepping over them all. Chicken just love being under foot, they have serious skills there. Even the educationally challenged silkies do not leave the property. I'm always shocked they are as car and predator smart as they are. The only time they leave us alone is if we are using power equipment.

Oh just for the record, since you are new to Texas is to read "Vernon's Texas Health and Safety Code", chapters 620ish to 628ish. If you do talk to Cameron County Animal Control they always get it wrong and it is their job, plus they have to pass a test based on it within 6 months of hiring. Regardless get used to explaining Texas law to our local authorities they are "The Silkies" of the Texas world. If you are patient with them and can cite Texas law they can be loyal and attentive. Just so you know your fowl are livestock and afforded legal protections in Texas and a fowl hunting dog is legally defined as a coyote anyone witnessing the attack is free to kill it(no time frame specified). I cited my sources so feel ok about being so grim in a post.

But yup seriously an issue I have had living down here and the neighbor didn't care about taking food off of impoverished peoples plates so sure I don't mind taking his money. I am mean and vindictive when provoked and it is required. Additionally, I wasn't the only neighbor to talk to this "Christian" about it. His appraised property value has pretty much doubled now courtesy of me and a visit to the Tax Office stealing from the poor is just so offensive to me. I have other plans for this jerk but until they are realized I do not want to talk about them. Other than if someone has a pair of shiny mini truck-nuts and would like to send them my way please PM me just thinking those things need the church's blessings. Anyhow, it seems I can live nowhere without crazy neighbors. It is just my lot in life. Not as if the guy sent 3 family members to the hospital last August, I have had crazy neighbors since 2004.

We did have a brief 15 month stay in Austin with normal people from 2013-2014 but that ended when we moved down here. It was so cool having normal neighbors who would get their drink on in the middle of the street while watching their kids play and not the beer in a brown paper bag kind. Living down here we have had the full range from cartel drug dealears to certifiably insane, to the christian holier than thou types, not to mention the I am an important woman type of them. I do still love and visit my Leston gals they were cool neighbors to have and their dog goes crazy for me when I stop by abuela is also the coolest lady! @RUNuts you are free to unlike my post as I have made some hateful late edits.

I'm pretty lucky on the neighbor front here. I had horrible neighbors in Hawaii. For my chickens, as long as they aren't destroying their flowerbeds. One of my neighbors on the street allows them to free range and another neighbor is pissed. Sent out a big email about having many versions of cooked chicken if they don't stop visiting.

Will the chickens help me qualify for an agricultural discount on my property taxes? I have been reading and trying to understand their rules. I know there's a discount if you care for or provide support to wild life but if I read correctly you also have to have the agricultural exemption.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I'm pretty lucky on the neighbor front here. I had horrible neighbors in Hawaii. For my chickens, as long as they aren't destroying their flowerbeds. One of my neighbors on the street allows them to free range and another neighbor is pissed. Sent out a big email about having many versions of cooked chicken if they don't stop visiting.

Will the chickens help me qualify for an agricultural discount on my property taxes? I have been reading and trying to understand their rules. I know there's a discount if you care for or provide support to wild life but if I read correctly you also have to have the agricultural exemption.

I doubt that seriously as I suspect you aren't NPIP certified and an agricultural business. Get your TDUI or 100% from the VA and then taxes are a non issue in this state it took me forever to get to 100% you just have to keep refiling I also spent 3+ years as TDUI but still getting the full tax breaks. However should you want to go that route @Kiki is an expert on NPIP certification or at least my go to gal for it.

 

[sarcasm]

Will the chickens help me qualify for an agricultural discount on my property taxes? I have been reading and trying to understand their rules. I know there's a discount if you care for or provide support to wild life but if I read correctly you also have to have the agricultural exemption.

I had typed out some stuff about agricultural vs homestead property tax exemptions, but honestly this is probably going to be way more helpful since I'd have to make some assumptions about your situation. Contact your county's ag extension office by phone and talk with them, they're a fantastic resource. You can find contact info from here: https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/contact/

As a quick point though, in most counties beekeeping is one of the lowest-impact ways to qualify your land for ag valuation.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I had typed out some stuff about agricultural vs homestead property tax exemptions, but honestly this is probably going to be way more helpful since I'd have to make some assumptions about your situation. Contact your county's ag extension office by phone and talk with them, they're a fantastic resource. You can find contact info from here: https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/contact/

As a quick point though, in most counties beekeeping is one of the lowest-impact ways to qualify your land for ag valuation.

For sure the homestead property tax exemption is step 1 what is it a free 35k off your assessed value provided you have only 1 property. But being 90% disabled by either her or the spouse seems the easiest way forward to me. Just as the step up from 90% to 100% was not super hard for us as I am a sick man. Do not forget your Texas DV plates I think those kick in at 60%. It is crazy spending 10.50 or so a year on new 35k vehicles. Plus you can pretty much park wherever the heck you want. You can own a multi million dollar property once you get TDUI or 100% PT disability here and not pay taxes if it is your domicile.

In my part of the county though they assess property value at 25k/acre for taxation as a minimum unless using Eminent domain then it is only 300ish/acre offered. Insane how our citizens are treated I am starting to strongly dislike the government I fought for. That is some bannana republic crud. I am just shocked to see their assessed value continue to creep closer to my actual purchase price and diminishing my resale value.

From 2017 to 2018 our assessed value/acre went from 9300 to 27,000 they are only allowed to raise that by 10%/year by law is all I am saying. Looking at records on zillow.com I see it was the same for most of my neighbors, heck they are even paying that now for lots that are less than an acre land really isn't that expensive down here.

Watch those tax statements and check out your taxpayer Bill of Rights on the Texas Comptroller site. This County has done illegal things related to taxation. Not as if I care as I do not pay them. I just care about my neighbors. If you do not challenge your tax bill within their usuall 30 day window it is considered valid and there is no backdating of it allowed somehow.

Once again welcome to Texas! @RebelChief idiots still reelected that Ygarrez twat as our Tax Assesor Collector even after the Texas Rangers raided and arrested him for skimming the cash deposits so nothing has changed. He was found innocent that just shows you how corrupt our system is in south Texas. The Rangers are our version of the FBI in Texas they wouldn't move in on or investigate normal folk. I'm sure you can probably be a drug dealer/trafficer and not draw the attention of the Texas Rangers(nope not a baseball team) that kind of thing is left to local authorities.

 

[AllenK RGV]

SSDI deductions don't even hold a candle to the VA disability exemptions in this state. Do be prepared to do real work if you go the agricultural route for exemptions. I strongly recommend the VA route for you and hubby. I have yet to accept SSDI I will see if things get tight but would prefer using the post 9/11 GI Bill to go to school for welding first. I can see that as being useful, plus now my wife can join me and make it competitive I bet she would be better at it.

I have no interest in climbing inside a pipe to do pipeline welding work, but that is just me. I am sure it is required course curriculum. Welding steel fences just seems cool to me plus it is about an extra huge wad of cash monthly just to go to school as your job.

We could probably pay off our current house and cars in 3 years doing this, if not sooner. Yes I am the Vet and she is my spouse but she served harder than I ever did. This diphead loves his wife. So happy we got that 100% permanant and total last year. You mentioned someone in the family was rated 90% one more review and you will be 100% or TDUI is the only reason I keep mentioning it. Waking up one morning and finding 12k deposited in your bank account that you earned was quite a nice experience.

 

[janiedoe]

Ok so today is my birthday. I am like 51 or so but have heard from my Jeep dealer. Yes I want a Gladiator but my wife won't allow me to trade in the Wrangler. We probably couldnt give in the Renegade for free.

Happy Belated Birthday!