Texas

[Kilsharion]

Don't have fly issues. They tend to eat whatever does manage to get past the DE and cleaning.
Don't have smell issues. Decent litter methods, decent food and actually cleaning their coops gets rid of any potential problems there.
If you don't want a rooster, don't get one. Plenty of sex-linked breeds out there to make sure you don't. If, by some strange chance you do get one, give it to the feedstore to sell, post on here or cull it and make dinner for the family or the dogs.
Don't have time issues (and I work a crap ton of hours). Depends on what you do in your routine and how you plan it out. It is not going to be a seamless integration. Your life's routine will be impacted by getting them. If you do not automate the pop door, then you will be tied to getting up at sunrise and opening that door - and, going out at sunset to close it. Unless you intend to just leave it open all the time.

If you are on 1.5 acres, you are most likely in an RE zone. Make sure your county doesn't have restrictions for RE zoned property.
If you only have 3-4 chickens - it's all moot anyway unless you just don't ever, ever, ever take care of them.
If you're that worried about flies, smell, etc - move the planned location farther from the house.


My husband got started on the first of our stationary coops, today. Here he is with the initial foundation:




I'm looking forward to seeing it come together. We're building on a slope, so it's going to make life interesting. The runs will be 12'x40' with a conjoined coop that is 12'x8'. He's actually building the coop in two 6'x8' sections for ease of construction.

To think - just three more to go after this one.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I live in Arizona and looking to move in the near future. I used to be an over the road driver, found Texas to my liking. It has everything, I like; hunting fishing, and people that believe in live and let live, and self responsibility. The state has several climates, high desert to low desert, tropical to deathly dry, you name it Texas has it.

I am looking for a small town, I'm 65 soon to be 67 so there is no chance of living long enough not to be a stranger in Texas. The area West of Temple, east of Junction, south of Dallas, and north of San Antonio.... A big area.

 

[KnobbyOaks]

I live in Arizona and looking to move in the near future. I used to be an over the road driver, found Texas to my liking. It has everything, I like; hunting fishing, and people that believe in live and let live, and self responsibility. The state has several climates, high desert to low desert, tropical to deathly dry, you name it Texas has it.

I am looking for a small town, I'm 65 soon to be 67 so there is no chance of living long enough not to be a stranger in Texas. The area West of Temple, east of Junction, south of Dallas, and north of San Antonio.... A big area.

Welcome to your dreams. As far as the stranger thing goes, Texas is very welcoming to newcomers if they have a Texas frame of mind. Sounds like you do.

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
wrinkled eggs can be caused by:
Infectious Bronchitis
Stress
Overcrowding
Defective Shell Gland



edited to add: found this for ya
http://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf

 

[chickletteSarge]

wrinkled eggs can be caused by:
Infectious Bronchitis
Stress
Overcrowding
Defective Shell Gland



edited to add: found this for ya
http://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf

yinepu!!! you gots all the answers!!!
it turns out that my "rumpy" laid this egg while the rest of the flock was at school with me!
i believe it was from stress due to her getting put back in a pen instead of freeranging the yard...


oh and has anyone seen their hens x-rays with eggs inside?
if i can find a light box i will post them ASAP!
they look flippin sweet!!!

 

[bnjrob]

My husband got started on the first of our stationary coops, today. Here he is with the initial foundation:


I'm looking forward to seeing it come together. We're building on a slope, so it's going to make life interesting. The runs will be 12'x40' with a conjoined coop that is 12'x8'. He's actually building the coop in two 6'x8' sections for ease of construction.

To think - just three more to go after this one.

LOL - you sound like us. Construction somehow always seems to be ongoing here.

 

[StelleKitten]

I have a quick question. Do you think that this will work?

I found a problem about getting rid of my mean roo. Apparently he has been protecting my tiny banty hen from the two standard roos. So I was thinking about just giving her away this morning when my DH made an observation. That she is about the same size as my 4 week old chicks. So I put her in the brooder and everything seems to be going okay. She might get a little chunky eating the chick feed but I don't mind, she will lose it once everyone goes outside.

Do you guys think this could work out? Or should I rehome her too? I don't want those big roos trying to mount her, she's so tiny that if they hold her with their beak they can't actually get anywhere near her other end.

 

[hotrodflash]

I live in Arizona and looking to move in the near future. I used to be an over the road driver, found Texas to my liking. It has everything, I like; hunting fishing, and people that believe in live and let live, and self responsibility. The state has several climates, high desert to low desert, tropical to deathly dry, you name it Texas has it.

I am looking for a small town, I'm 65 soon to be 67 so there is no chance of living long enough not to be a stranger in Texas. The area West of Temple, east of Junction, south of Dallas, and north of San Antonio.... A big area.

You sound as if you will fit right in with the rest of us. But you can get involved in a church, or groups in the town like: town beautification group, library group, or the community center, Meals on Wheels etc...

 

[chickletteSarge]

I have a quick question. Do you think that this will work?

I found a problem about getting rid of my mean roo. Apparently he has been protecting my tiny banty hen from the two standard roos. So I was thinking about just giving her away this morning when my DH made an observation. That she is about the same size as my 4 week old chicks. So I put her in the brooder and everything seems to be going okay. She might get a little chunky eating the chick feed but I don't mind, she will lose it once everyone goes outside.

Do you guys think this could work out? Or should I rehome her too? I don't want those big roos trying to mount her, she's so tiny that if they hold her with their beak they can't actually get anywhere near her other end.

got pics of them? i had a silkie in with LF they did fine together! mu d'uccle on the other hand got... well.... she was forced under a really big cochin! then later like a month later she passed... now i have a buncha OEGBs that may be good hens for the roo she left behind... i wouldnt mind takin her and the roo off yer hands if i had the $ legal vehical and time to go get them....

 

[StelleKitten]

The roo is leaving today. Regardless. I just didn't realize that she was being protected by him. I'll give her a few days to see if she gets along with the chicks. If not then, I will soon have my favorite chicken up for grabs... Which makes me sad but I won't subject her to torment. She was my surprise chicken so many years ago. (She is three now) She was one of my original flock. The last one after this roo goes. But I can't stand him anymore, and they need him. So it works out. I just don't want to lose my sweet little Chickadee.

Edited to add:

That's my little Chickadee. Her back feathers are worn out from being a favorite. You can kind of figure out her size by the size of the chain link next to her.