Texas

[epinkstn]

It looks like there are a lot of us that are new to the 'Texas' thread.

I also have a question about the best material for a larger run. I was also hoping my dogs and hens would be good friends.....NOT! We've already had a couple of close calls and we are only 9 weeks into this. I used 4 foot metal fence panels lined with chicken wire on the side open to the dogs/yard. It took the hens 5 days to figure out how to fly over it. I acquired 4 to 5 foot wood fence panels thinking I could use those, but now I think it would be a waste to use it + I can't see the girls through it when I'm in the house and it won't have the same ventilation as chain link. If I use chain link, should I put a layer of chicken wire or hardware cloth? Would it be better to use 4-5' panels and cover the whole run with hardware cloth or get taller chain link and leave it uncovered?? TIA

 

[Starfire669]

I don't see any problem then, unless you are planning on 57 or more birds in this coop!! I am jealous though, I only have 8 birds, which make me very happy. I am going to trade days in Conroe on Sunday, and hope to come home with 4 EE's!!

I do want a few more chickens, EE's like you. but not just yet. I need to get my 2nd coop build and move the chickens in before I add more. Plus with the ducks coming in a couple days my flock will already be disrupted enough for this week. Maybe in a month or so, like my husband says. (Am I really turning down chicken math? I think I am sick!)
If I am right on genders I will have 6 BA hens, 6 BO hens, 3 RIR hens, 3 BR hens, and 1 SLW hen. I will keep 2 Roos for my girls. So 21 chickens will live in that coop for now. The geese and ducks will get the 11ft X 6 ft open air coop (we have plans to extend it this fall before breeding season so we can separate the ganders). Boy am I gonna be busy getting all done.

 

[Starfire669]

Sounds like you've got a good plan for it all. Can't wait to see it all finished.

- TieDyeMommy

lol, lets see if we can make the end product they way we envision it.

 

[orumpoultry]

So here are the pics taken of our messy storage building before we cleared it out. I'll take pictures again in a day or 2 now that we can see the floor and walls. Any tips for converting this into a chicken coop that is OK for Texas heat? It is 8 X 14

Sounds like you've got a pretty good plan already. The more ventilation the better. If you can add "windows" with wire as well. The more the merrier down here in this heat. I think I'll be at the trade days this weekend, but not for sure yet. Im fraid I'll come home with more critters...

 

[Starfire669]

It looks like there are a lot of us that are new to the 'Texas' thread.

I also have a question about the best material for a larger run. I was also hoping my dogs and hens would be good friends.....NOT! We've already had a couple of close calls and we are only 9 weeks into this. I used 4 foot metal fence panels lined with chicken wire on the side open to the dogs/yard. It took the hens 5 days to figure out how to fly over it. I acquired 4 to 5 foot wood fence panels thinking I could use those, but now I think it would be a waste to use it + I can't see the girls through it when I'm in the house and it won't have the same ventilation as chain link. If I use chain link, should I put a layer of chicken wire or hardware cloth? Would it be better to use 4-5' panels and cover the whole run with hardware cloth or get taller chain link and leave it uncovered?? TIA

If you use chain link you will want chicken wire or hardware cloth layered on it or a chicken might poke its head through and get it bitten off by a dog.

 

[kenmlang]

I do want a few more chickens, EE's like you. but not just yet. I need to get my 2nd coop build and move the chickens in before I add more. Plus with the ducks coming in a couple days my flock will already be disrupted enough for this week. Maybe in a month or so, like my husband says. (Am I really turning down chicken math? I think I am sick!)
If I am right on genders I will have 6 BA hens, 6 BO hens, 3 RIR hens, 3 BR hens, and 1 SLW hen. I will keep 2 Roos for my girls. So 21 chickens will live in that coop for now. The geese and ducks will get the 11ft X 6 ft open air coop (we have plans to extend it this fall before breeding season so we can separate the ganders). Boy am I gonna be busy getting all done.

Better to be busy, than be bored.LOL I am thinking about getting into the rabbit thing also, boy, that is going to be expensive. I raised rabbits about 30 years ago, as a kid, enjoyed the hell out of it. Had 150 at one time. Made a bit of money with it. Not interested in the money making anymore, just feeding my family.

 

[tiedyemommy]

I do want a few more chickens, EE's like you. but not just yet. I need to get my 2nd coop build and move the chickens in before I add more. Plus with the ducks coming in a couple days my flock will already be disrupted enough for this week. Maybe in a month or so, like my husband says. (Am I really turning down chicken math? I think I am sick!)
If I am right on genders I will have 6 BA hens, 6 BO hens, 3 RIR hens, 3 BR hens, and 1 SLW hen. I will keep 2 Roos for my girls. So 21 chickens will live in that coop for now. The geese and ducks will get the 11ft X 6 ft open air coop (we have plans to extend it this fall before breeding season so we can separate the ganders). Boy am I gonna be busy getting all done.

You're only turning down chicken math due to a verbal agreement you entered with your husband so you can bring home the ducks.

They'll be worth the month vacation from acquiring new feather friends...it'll give you time to decide on if you want to keep the drake, or sell/give him to someone you know, before you bring home any new birds.

- TieDyeMommy

 

[Starfire669]

Better to be busy, than be bored.LOL I am thinking about getting into the rabbit thing also, boy, that is going to be expensive. I raised rabbits about 30 years ago, as a kid, enjoyed the hell out of it. Had 150 at one time. Made a bit of money with it. Not interested in the money making anymore, just feeding my family.

I raised rabbits as a child as well. I had 2 mini rabbits Cleopatra and Arnold Schwarzenegger (Cleo had beautiful "makeup", and Arnold looked like he ran face first into a barn, he had a very flat face!

, sorry Arnold) We also had meat rabbits, but I turned all but 1 into pets and named them all very strange names, the huge black fat female one was Attila,

. We only every ate 1 rabbit, and only because she killed and ate her own babies. So I think I will stay away from rabbits for now. Too expensive just making their cages from raw materials (which was what we did) and I don't know if i could eat a cute bunny now anymore than I could back then.

 

[Starfire669]

You're only turning down chicken math due to a verbal agreement you entered with your husband so you can bring home the ducks.

They'll be worth the month vacation from acquiring new feather friends...it'll give you time to decide on if you want to keep the drake, or sell/give him to someone you know, before you bring home any new birds.

- TieDyeMommy

lol, you mean as soon as I finish the 2nd coop I am going to go looking for more babies? your probably right. I really want ameracaunas or EE's or better yet both! I also wouldn't mind some more BR hens, they are so friendly and curious.

 

[kenmlang]

I raised rabbits as a child as well. I had 2 mini rabbits Cleopatra and Arnold Schwarzenegger (Cleo had beautiful "makeup", and Arnold looked like he ran face first into a barn, he had a very flat face!

, sorry Arnold) We also had meat rabbits, but I turned all but 1 into pets and named them all very strange names, the huge black fat female one was Attila,

. We only every ate 1 rabbit, and only because she killed and ate her own babies. So I think I will stay away from rabbits for now. Too expensive just making their cages from raw materials (which was what we did) and I don't know if i could eat a cute bunny now anymore than I could back then.

Back then I didn't see them as cute or cuddly, I saw them as meat and fur, as I made money off of both. Have you seen the price of groceries lately, and it's just going to get worse. Like I said, just trying to feed my family. I will tell you this, everytime I harvested one, I would thank him and God for the sacrifice and made sure it was quick and painless as possible.