Texas

[GFamily]

Here is a picture of one of our coops. It is far to hot here in the summer to lock my birds up in a building that is closed.

I really really love this idea!

 

[GFamily]

Well I have a very sensitive nose so I want all the ventilation I can get and as we all know chicken poop can get very smelly on certain days so I like as much of a draft as I can get to help out. I've been in a few coops that could gag a maggot, but those weren't kept clean, I find it just helps with smell for extra airflow and it helps in the summer to keep chicks from overheating!

So far, our coop doesn't smell at all and the only thing that's in there is grass and bricks. I clean it once a week, but the 15 girls are still little (4 weeks) so I am sure that has something to do with the lack of smell.

 

[GFamily]

she should be fine then.. I'm sure many of the others would have been fine as well if people didn't cull them because of size (not blaming people for culling.. I just know it happens a lot to chicks that don't meet certain standards..which is a must with some breeding programs)

I am not breeding or doing anything like that. Only thing we're doing is eating eggs and once a hen stops laying we'll be eating them. That's about it...nothing fancy. However, the runt, I have always favored so, I might not be eating her and plus she's so little she probably wouldn't have any meat on her anyways.

 

[GFamily]

Me too. And I just found a wonderful enabler to get me started on Chocolate turkeys! And a baby goat. Half nubian half spanish. Should be neat looking male goat for my herd. Now just need to locate him some girls his age. Got a few months on that before he is ready to leave his mama.


When I worked at Jack in the Box I would hear the timers in my sleep. I would wake up and just be certain there was a batch of fries burning somewhere.

Fun Fun!

And the JinB comment made me laugh hard!

 

[GFamily]

My brother and I split an order from Ideal back in March. All 28 survived, until my brother's pup got several of his. To this day my twelve are growing strong, even my runt. I have to add that I purchased two from the feed store (also Ideal chicks) the week prior to getting our shipment. I thought to myself (from reading so many posts about losing chicks) that I would probably lose a few, but added with Murphy's Law since I got extra all mine would live. LOL It worked.

See, when I initially brought the idea up to my husband that I wanted chickens he said, "Ok how many do you want." I mean I gave him the benefits pros/cons whole sales pitch you know? I told him about 10. So I was thinking since the min order from McMurray was 15 that approx 5 could possibly not survive through shipment due to everything I'd been reading on here before purchasing the chicks. Well, I was VERY surprised that all 15 lived and are thriving. Don't get me wrong, I am happy I have 15 now! My husband asked me at one point, "Weren't some supposed to not do well in the shipping process?" I told him that yeah, that's what I thought, but God had different plans and I'm totally OK with that! Well, the chickens have started to "grow" on him now too. He goes out there every day when he gets off work even though he says "it's my thing not his". But, what do I see him doing? Staying out there with them for an hour and sneaking fruits/veggies to them! So I think he is starting to get chicken infatuation too!

 

[PSJ]

I really really love this idea!

Love this!

 

[GFamily]

Sorry for the posts! I was posting as I read. I will do multi next time. SORRY!

 

[Cockle-Dood]

i have one of my marans that is looking pretty runtish at the moment...but it seems to be doing fine as far as holding its own. IM going to let it play out and see how it develops....might just be a late bloomer

 

[GFamily]

i have one of my marans that is looking pretty runtish at the moment...but it seems to be doing fine as far as holding its own. IM going to let it play out and see how it develops....might just be a late bloomer

I did notice in just the last few days the runt has grown a lot more feathers, but she's still smaller than all the rest. I like her a lot so I am ok with her running with the flock as long as she wants and not culling her. Mine are just Red Star/Black Star sex links.

 

[mark9199]

Looking for recommendations on heat tolerant egg layers

I've been floundering.... trying to get this question in the right place.

I posted this earlier in the breed forum and someone suggested that I try here as well.

My coop is about completed and I'm planning on getting 3 egg layers very soon (going tomorrow to look and see what's available). I'm in southeast Texas and it's a hot climate. What would be your choice of three breeds if your priorities were egg production and heat tolerance followed by personality. Egg color is not really a priority.

The farm where I'm going has the following breeds from time to time and I've numbered the list in the order that I think would do best. Any help or suggestions are appreciated.

1 Plymouth Rock
2 Australorp
3 Sussex- Speckled
4 Orpington
5 RI Red
6 Brahma
7 Wyandotte
8 Iowa Blue
9 Ameraucana

All responses are greatly appreciated!

Mark