Texas

[ShadowsFIAL]

Took three days but now my three chickies are getting along! Fleur, Soisti, and Duchess are running about the yard picking up the bird seed I threw out as a treat this morning.

 

[Cockle-Dood]

Now u cant post something like that without pics!

 

[ShadowsFIAL]

Now u cant post something like that without pics!

I will get pics asap. I am being a wimp and don't want to go outside again xD it is cold.

 

[misskeeter]

I'm so sorry to hear this. It seems crazy to me that they have drought restrictions in place in March. We are still drowning in snow and stuff up here. Also, I looked up Wichita Falls on Google Maps and it has pictures of a water fall.... I'm guessing that it's more just a "fall" right now.

A classmate of mine just had an article in the NY Times on making a garden out of straw bales. There is some watering initially but then it seems to do fine on its own afterwards. Plus you can move it pretty easily, maybe even put it on a dolly or something so it can get sun / rain when the weather changes. Here's a link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/21/g...olproof-vegetable-plot.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0

Good luck, and I hope you can convince your town council to allow you an exemption for watering.

It is a pretty pathetic waterfall right now. When the drought was at its worst last year, there was no "falls" in wichita falls...

I am proud to announce that I have just bought chickens!!! We will be proud owners of 6 chickens - 2 Buffs, 2New Hampshire Reds, 1 Barred Rocks, and 1 Rhode Island Red. I am SO excited!!!! I get to pick them up next Saturday!!!! I can't wait. It's going to be like a kid waiting for Christmas Day! I think I might drive my husband crazy talking about them. The kids and I are going to love naming them. Well, my two oldest will. Baby Jack will just squeal at them. It's going to be hard to sleep I'm so excited!

yay! chickens ROCK

 

[Imprfctme]

Took three days but now my three chickies are getting along! Fleur, Soisti, and Duchess are running about the yard picking up the bird seed I threw out as a treat this morning.

Aw, duchess is our puppy's name! Love it. Please do send a photo

 

[Imprfctme]

Thanks for all the positive and encouraging feedback. Tonight I'm designing the coop and tomorrow we will be at Lowes getting the wood and wire. Heck we may even have chicks by tomorrow night.

I think I want Rhode Island Reds ... is that a good breed for the hot Texas summers?

What about the breeds designed for hotter weather, like Minorcans? Sicilian buttercups? Pendenseca (sp?) are a Spanish breed that are also designed for heat but are getting a lot of popularity right now because they lay super dark chocolate brown eggs. I think Sarge mentioned it, but getting a "real" RIR is next to impossible from a hatchery. THey are all production reds. I have seen more feather picking and aggression with these birds too. Just mentioning but of course any chicken is better than no chicken,

 

[RachaelS]

I'm so sorry to hear this. It seems crazy to me that they have drought restrictions in place in March. We are still drowning in snow and stuff up here. Also, I looked up Wichita Falls on Google Maps and it has pictures of a water fall.... I'm guessing that it's more just a "fall" right now.

A classmate of mine just had an article in the NY Times on making a garden out of straw bales. There is some watering initially but then it seems to do fine on its own afterwards. Plus you can move it pretty easily, maybe even put it on a dolly or something so it can get sun / rain when the weather changes. Here's a link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/21/g...olproof-vegetable-plot.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0

Good luck, and I hope you can convince your town council to allow you an exemption for watering.

I read another one that says the straw won't hold water like soil and must be watered daily in the summer to keep it moist http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com/straw-bale-gardening.html

Anyone every tried it, seems like is would be easy, if the water thing on this article is not correct.

 

[topdycke]

Check out this thread. Someone found a mystery egg on their porch and they are hatching it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750468/new-australian-hatching-mystery-egg-at-home/60

I have become an interesting participant in the hatch-a-long and I am still sans-chickens. A red-tailed hawk is nesting in a pine tree directly over my barn. The nest is probably 50+ feet up and I have a decent pair of binoculars that I can use to watch. I dont know precisely when she laid them. She stays on the nest and I see the male circle near occasionally to chase the crows. We have been watching her for a couple of weeks now. Hopefully she built the nest well enough as it is blowing pretty good today.

 

[StelleKitten]

So, it's not working with being with the little chicks. I have to say though she fixed their bullying problems. Now they all huddle in the corner as far away from her as possible. As sad as I am to say this, I am going to have to find her a home but I first want to get a few eggs to hatch from her. I'm quite sure the next few will be fertile as her roo kept her covered every day. I am sad but there just isn't a spot for her in my flock anymore.

 

[topdycke]

I have become an interesting participant in the hatch-a-long and I am still sans-chickens. A red-tailed hawk is nesting in a pine tree directly over my barn. The nest is probably 50+ feet up and I have a decent pair of binoculars that I can use to watch. I dont know precisely when she laid them. She stays on the nest and I see the male circle near occasionally to chase the crows. We have been watching her for a couple of weeks now. Hopefully she built the nest well enough as it is blowing pretty good today.