Texas

[chicki-vicki]

Oh no - 7 - couto's for the kill - I am just now planing my coop & run - have been taking notes on how to fortify the building & grounds - hubby bought 15 acres and a shop on one of the local byous
I'm on the Gulf Coast & Louisiana - we have cyoutes, hawks, stray dogs,racoons,and I hate to think of whatelse. I do intend to do all I can using all the great ideas here on BYC . Sorry for the loss

 

[Chucklecluck]

Thank you Chicken Fever for your offer to help --  I need it - I am on the Gulf Coast - humid & hot , with mild winters. I 'm looking for pets - calm - socialable.  Egg laying average I would think - not heavy layers neccessarly.  I was thinking 6 girls,  I would love to have a rooster - an excepttional crower - I enjoy that.  I've read the more you handel the biddies the better the chance the more pet like they will be.  I have chosen my coop design (from 2 here on BYC) there is an existing 12 x 16 building I will be converting. Thinking 1/2 storage and 1/2 coop so that would be 8 x 12.  Picked a brooder design. think I understand that step. Planning a run 10 x 20, half covered (rains a lot here & shade will be needed). They will be able to be let out to free range a couple hrs 4 or 5 days a week (at this time I do not live on the property). I'm thinking let's see if I can manage 6 common backyard chickens - something calm, socialable, & sturdy.  Then I would like to have  some unusual to and flair.  I see a Breed section - think it's time for me to visit there.  I like the idea of receiving from fellow BYC. I'm thinking spring , I dont wont to try keeping biddies alive through winter - I not that sure of myself.  March - 3 mths from now - to build and study .  Any input I will gladly accept. 

I like Orpingtons they are very sweet mine will ride around the yard on my shoulder or head and my roosters are very calm and have a nice strong crow and very ready to handle. My only problem with them is the hens seem especially vulnerable to predators when free ranging. For me its been mainly the neighbors dog Orpingtons don't seem to be able to jump out fly very high

 

[Little Wing]

Im new - I see this Ideal - where is it - I will be needing chicks in a couple mths and have no idea how to start - other then friends sharing

Allso about roosters - i read where this man made a bachelor pad for his rooster - best I understood the rooster ran with the girls in the day and then was put up - as he explained the girls needed a break - any input would help ---thanks

Ideal is where most of the feed stores I know of around the Houston area get their chicks from. We have raised Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, White Leghorns and Easter Eggers from them and they were nice birds. If you want show quality or something special I suggest checking out the Buy-Sell-Trade forum https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/67/buy-sell-trade. Maybe go all in and get an incubator and some hatching eggs. It is easy and so cool to hatch and raise your own.
I don't separate my roos and hens. I think mine would freak out if they were separated as he is their protector day and night. They don't bother the girls at night so they get a break any way. My OE roo is very "froggy" first thing in the morning so he would go crazy until I let him out. I say let em roost together. Good Luck!

 

[chicken fever]

Out of all the many breeds I've owned, I personally like my cochins. They are very sociable tempered but they are medium layers. So you aren't gonna get your egg a day from them. Orpingtons are great as well and great layers, mine is just a cranky old lady lol. But of all my birds my barred rocks and easter eggers are the best layers with the barred being very friendly! Brahmas are another breed that are docile and good layers, but they take lo.get to mature. You are always welcome to pm me with ANY questions as well as others on here or just ask here on the thread lol all roosters are different as are the personality of each chicken... I have a roo that is exceptional at crowing and protecting then I have one that well let's face it...he's lazy. Hope this helps

Thank you Chicken Fever for your offer to help --  I need it - I am on the Gulf Coast - humid & hot , with mild winters. I 'm looking for pets - calm - socialable.  Egg laying average I would think - not heavy layers neccessarly.  I was thinking 6 girls,  I would love to have a rooster - an excepttional crower - I enjoy that.  I've read the more you handel the biddies the better the chance the more pet like they will be.  I have chosen my coop design (from 2 here on BYC) there is an existing 12 x 16 building I will be converting. Thinking 1/2 storage and 1/2 coop so that would be 8 x 12.  Picked a brooder design. think I understand that step. Planning a run 10 x 20, half covered (rains a lot here & shade will be needed). They will be able to be let out to free range a couple hrs 4 or 5 days a week (at this time I do not live on the property). I'm thinking let's see if I can manage 6 common backyard chickens - something calm, socialable, & sturdy.  Then I would like to have  some unusual to and flair.  I see a Breed section - think it's time for me to visit there.  I like the idea of receiving from fellow BYC. I'm thinking spring , I dont wont to try keeping biddies alive through winter - I not that sure of myself.  March - 3 mths from now - to build and study .  Any input I will gladly accept. 

 

[Melissa Rose]

Hi

!
I just wanted to pop in and say Hi to everyone

! I'm from around the San Antonio area and I doooo sooooo love my chickens

! It's nice to meet up with others in this area and chit chat since we share the same brutal weather patterns and such! Happy Day To All

 

[ChixAddict]

Hi Melissa!

Shouting out from Seguin!
Brutal weather is right! So glad it's cooling down some.

Happy Holidays!!!

 

[Gittx]

Welcome! I've gotten so many good ideas here, and always find the answers to new problems with the search engine. I live near a tiny town called Edom between Tyler, Canton, and Athens. During the summers I refer to it as the "Devils Triangle" During spring, winter and fall, there's no better place on earth! I have a closed flock because of infectious Coryza, but I have been hatching that flock's eggs to build another flock without, since it doesn't travel through the eggs. I'm planning on getting some EE this spring. I'm a vegetarian and I won't kill my birds, but have no problem eating eggs. Hope you enjoy your visits to this forum as much as I do!

These babies hatched Nov 18th.....They're growing like weeds!

Glad to meet ya!

 

[bird sitter]

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Are there any other fellow Texas who are participating in the NYD (New Years Day) Hatch? : )

~ Aspen

 

[bird sitter]

How does that work?