Texas

[wday]

Hi guys. I'm new to Texas, though not to chickens. I'm moving down to Midland this April to be with my boyfriend, and we just got a house on nine acres. I can't wait to fill it up with chickens, but... I know nothing about the climate out here. I'm from Maine, so I'm used to heavy, hardy chickens, and I don't think that they'd do so well in the heat down here. Is anyone here from West Texas who could give me some pointers as to what breeds work well here?

Also, we have a small pond on the property, so I'm thinking maybe getting a trio of ducks (for both eggs and meat-- both me and the guy love duck!). What are the best options that aren't too hard to find?

Thanks!!

I prefer big heavy birds I have orpingtons Brahma's Wyandotte's and I'm looking for Cochin's all my birds do fine even in the heat of summer just make sure they have shade and fresh water.

 

[MKandtheforce]

Honestly, it is more about your husbandry and acclimating your chickens that is so important, not necessarily the breed that you have. Of course single combed birds are going to have larger combs to help dissipate heat in summer compared to the breeds that have compact combs.

A friend of mine that lives in Maine has a hen (large fowl) that came from my flock and despite coming from several generations that acclimated to Texas weather, that hen was outside in the cold and snow this winter to forage, and she was laying eggs, while her other breeds, some that were supposed to be cold tolerant birds, were not laying and were hiding in the barn to stay warm.

We try to get our birds acclimated to 100+ degree temps in summer without the need for a lot of extra care, because water is a precious commodity in TX because of the drought, and electricity can be easily disrupted, so we don't want our birds dependent on fans or air conditioning. In winter, they get north/west wind protection, but even living in open air coops, they do well.

I would say to not get hung up necessarily on a breed that someone recommends, mainly because there are just too many variables that go into whether or not chickens are hardy and how heat/cold tolerant they are. Husbandry, and some breeding choices, are much larger factors that come into play with chickens. If you get what you like and don't try to baby your chickens so much that they are unable to acclimate to the crazy weather we have in Texas, you'll be happier and so will your poultry.

This is good to hear. I don't tend to baby my chickens anyway, since we were never able to get electricity out to my old coop in Maine. All I was able to do was shovel the snow out of their pen and put bag balm on their frostbitten combs.

What sort of things can I do to help them acclimate to the heat? Or should I just let them be?

I prefer big heavy birds I have orpingtons Brahma's Wyandotte's and I'm looking for Cochin's all my birds do fine even in the heat of summer just make sure they have shade and fresh water.

Thanks!

 

[needlessjunk]

This is good to hear. I don't tend to baby my chickens anyway, since we were never able to get electricity out to my old coop in Maine. All I was able to do was shovel the snow out of their pen and put bag balm on their frostbitten combs.

What sort of things can I do to help them acclimate to the heat? Or should I just let them be?


Thanks!

When you are ready for ducks head on over to the duck forum. They are super helpful. My ducks tend to spend all summer in their pool since it's the coolest. Mine also sit on my back porch in the heat of the day since the cement is cool. Like others have said lots of fresh water and shade.

 

[sbarab]

I think it is easier to raise chickens in the heat than the extreme cold. Plenty of water and shade is what they will require. Whatever breeds you decide on will likely do just fine as long as you are not moving adult birds from Maine to TX.

I have chosen to go with featherless legged birds not because of heat, but because we get mud in the winter/spring. Sometimes for months.

 

[bnjrob]

This is good to hear. I don't tend to baby my chickens anyway, since we were never able to get electricity out to my old coop in Maine. All I was able to do was shovel the snow out of their pen and put bag balm on their frostbitten combs.

What sort of things can I do to help them acclimate to the heat? Or should I just let them be?


Thanks!

Air flow is the biggest thing. We have pens that are all open air and some that are coops, but even the coops have very large windows, and the roof of the coops is not closed in, so that air can come in under the eaves and flow out the top to help with heat buildup inside the coop. And one of our shorter coops actually has a solar powered fan to help blow hot air out of the coop.

Shade is a big deal. If you don't have it, then make it. Our pens have double layers of shade cloth on them over the wire runs, they are situated with their solid back/side walls to the west and north so that they provide shade during the hottest part of the afternoon when the sun is over in the southwest, and in winter it offers wind protection from the cold north/west winds. then the shade cloth covers the top and all sides, but we leave a 2 ft gap between the ground and the bottom of the shade cloth for air flow, otherwise it gets too hot in the run. For our one free range flock, we make sure that they have access to shade during the various times of the day.

The worst problem with heat stressed birds is always when it first gets hot after winter. We use hanging buckets with nipples in them for water, but when it is hot (or below 32* all day long and the nipples freeze), then they get a big rubber tub of water that they can wade in to help keep cool. Some of them will even wallow like a duck in the water if they are hot.

We also use frozen soda bottles to help with the heat, but once they have acclimated for the summer, I try not to use ice bottles unless the temp is around 105* or higher, because we really want them to be able to withstand normal summer temps which are usually around 100* at least. But when we first start seeing the hot weather, April/May timeframe is usually when the 90* starts, then I watch them closely and I will give them ice bottles in their water and in their runs to lay against, if they are looking too heat stressed below 100*.

But generally by June, they are acclimated enough to not require ice bottles in the runs unless the temp is over 100*, and I try to avoid giving them the ice bottles unless it is 105* if they are doing ok - just because there is no guarantee of electricity to freeze ice bottles. I use foil bubble wrap insulation around the water buckets, and that helps to keep the water cooler in summer/warmer in winter. Often, just throwing their old water onto the ground in their run will be enough for them to wallow in the puddle to stay cool, in addition to their wading pools, unless the wind is completely still, or it is 105* +.

We also freeze fruit/melons to give to them to help them cool off when it is over 100*.

One thing that we have, that my friend in Maine has not mentioned that y'all have, is that we have HUGE temperature swings in the same 8-24 hour time frame. This is generally in late Autumn through early Spring. We can go from 90* in the afternoon, to freezing or below by the next morning. It makes taking care of outside animals a lot more difficult. And this can go on for the entire season, every few days, with temps going back and forth from hot to cold. The swings to cold don't seem to bother our chickens as much as the being cold for a week and then suddenly being hot. For times that it is hot and then goes to cold, we will throw out sunflower seeds/scratch grains to help them have more energy for keeping themselves warm as the temp is shifting to the cold side. When it shifts to the hot side, we just have to watch them and see how they are, change water more frequently to get them cooler water to drink. This time of year is a pain because we still have their tarps on the north/west side of their wire runs, but we are having days of 80* and the runs can get pretty warm if the sun is shining, so sometimes I have to take the tarps down, then put them back up a few days later if we have strong cold winds coming. It can get crazy sometimes.

You'll figure out a routine, just watch the birds you have and you can tell how much heat stress they can take at what time

 

[MKandtheforce]

When you are ready for ducks head on over to the duck forum. They are super helpful. My ducks tend to spend all summer in their pool since it's the coolest. Mine also sit on my back porch in the heat of the day since the cement is cool. Like others have said lots of fresh water and shade.

I'll definitely have to check out the duck forum! Even though I've had chickens, I've never had ducks. I'm pretty excited to get them, though! Do you keep yours for eggs, meat, or just because they're fun?

I think it is easier to raise chickens in the heat than the extreme cold. Plenty of water and shade is what they will require. Whatever breeds you decide on will likely do just fine as long as you are not moving adult birds from Maine to TX.

I have chosen to go with featherless legged birds not because of heat, but because we get mud in the winter/spring. Sometimes for months.

Mud isn't a new thing to me, fortunately, haha. Maine is absolutely nasty in mud season! And I'm not bringing my ladies down here. My mom said she'd be happy to adopt them (as well as my coop-- since I paid for the whole thing, they're just happy they can have it for free!). I'm starting over completely!

Air flow is the biggest thing. We have pens that are all open air and some that are coops, but even the coops have very large windows, and the roof of the coops is not closed in, so that air can come in under the eaves and flow out the top to help with heat buildup inside the coop. And one of our shorter coops actually has a solar powered fan to help blow hot air out of the coop.

Shade is a big deal. If you don't have it, then make it. Our pens have double layers of shade cloth on them over the wire runs, they are situated with their solid back/side walls to the west and north so that they provide shade during the hottest part of the afternoon when the sun is over in the southwest, and in winter it offers wind protection from the cold north/west winds. then the shade cloth covers the top and all sides, but we leave a 2 ft gap between the ground and the bottom of the shade cloth for air flow, otherwise it gets too hot in the run. For our one free range flock, we make sure that they have access to shade during the various times of the day.

The worst problem with heat stressed birds is always when it first gets hot after winter. We use hanging buckets with nipples in them for water, but when it is hot (or below 32* all day long and the nipples freeze), then they get a big rubber tub of water that they can wade in to help keep cool. Some of them will even wallow like a duck in the water if they are hot.

We also use frozen soda bottles to help with the heat, but once they have acclimated for the summer, I try not to use ice bottles unless the temp is around 105* or higher, because we really want them to be able to withstand normal summer temps which are usually around 100* at least. But when we first start seeing the hot weather, April/May timeframe is usually when the 90* starts, then I watch them closely and I will give them ice bottles in their water and in their runs to lay against, if they are looking too heat stressed below 100*.

But generally by June, they are acclimated enough to not require ice bottles in the runs unless the temp is over 100*, and I try to avoid giving them the ice bottles unless it is 105* if they are doing ok - just because there is no guarantee of electricity to freeze ice bottles. I use foil bubble wrap insulation around the water buckets, and that helps to keep the water cooler in summer/warmer in winter. Often, just throwing their old water onto the ground in their run will be enough for them to wallow in the puddle to stay cool, in addition to their wading pools, unless the wind is completely still, or it is 105* +.

We also freeze fruit/melons to give to them to help them cool off when it is over 100*.

One thing that we have, that my friend in Maine has not mentioned that y'all have, is that we have HUGE temperature swings in the same 8-24 hour time frame. This is generally in late Autumn through early Spring. We can go from 90* in the afternoon, to freezing or below by the next morning. It makes taking care of outside animals a lot more difficult. And this can go on for the entire season, every few days, with temps going back and forth from hot to cold. The swings to cold don't seem to bother our chickens as much as the being cold for a week and then suddenly being hot. For times that it is hot and then goes to cold, we will throw out sunflower seeds/scratch grains to help them have more energy for keeping themselves warm as the temp is shifting to the cold side. When it shifts to the hot side, we just have to watch them and see how they are, change water more frequently to get them cooler water to drink. This time of year is a pain because we still have their tarps on the north/west side of their wire runs, but we are having days of 80* and the runs can get pretty warm if the sun is shining, so sometimes I have to take the tarps down, then put them back up a few days later if we have strong cold winds coming. It can get crazy sometimes.

You'll figure out a routine, just watch the birds you have and you can tell how much heat stress they can take at what time

Thanks so much for this really informative post!! I'm going to save it so that I can keep referring back to it, haha. I'm thinking I might get one of those small kiddie pools for the birds. I have a small pond, but it's out front and I'd like to make the main chicken/goat space out back.

Do you happen to have any pictures of your set-up? I'd like to see how you've made your shade. I plan on letting the chickens free-range instead of making a run (we've got 9.5 acres, which should be plenty of space for a small flock!), so I'm planning on making a very basic sort of coop, or maybe even just setting up roosts in the shop. I don't know how ventilated it is, so I'll have to check on that and figure how to better the air flow.

Thanks again for giving me a lot to think about!!

 

[needlessjunk]

I'll definitely have to check out the duck forum! Even though I've had chickens, I've never had ducks. I'm pretty excited to get them, though! Do you keep yours for eggs, meat, or just because they're fun?


Mud isn't a new thing to me, fortunately, haha. Maine is absolutely nasty in mud season! And I'm not bringing my ladies down here. My mom said she'd be happy to adopt them (as well as my coop-- since I paid for the whole thing, they're just happy they can have it for free!). I'm starting over completely!


Thanks so much for this really informative post!! I'm going to save it so that I can keep referring back to it, haha. I'm thinking I might get one of those small kiddie pools for the birds. I have a small pond, but it's out front and I'd like to make the main chicken/goat space out back.

Do you happen to have any pictures of your set-up? I'd like to see how you've made your shade. I plan on letting the chickens free-range instead of making a run (we've got 9.5 acres, which should be plenty of space for a small flock!), so I'm planning on making a very basic sort of coop, or maybe even just setting up roosts in the shop. I don't know how ventilated it is, so I'll have to check on that and figure how to better the air flow.

Thanks again for giving me a lot to think about!!

Mine are for eggs and pets. I wanted chickens but then read about how ducks are easier on the lawn and went with it. I absolutly LOVE them. They will mucky up any water source in a matter of hours and are messy but I don't think its bad at all. I've never had chickens so I can't compare but I do think they are at the same level as guinea pigs and other furry critters with a love of water and mud

 

[Belott]

Might need to do a Crockett meet-up.

Sounds like a plan to me!!! Would love to meet yall.
I've been all up and down FM 2022. I have friends at Church who live on 2022.

David

 

[KageChick]

Hi guys. I'm new to Texas, though not to chickens. I'm moving down to Midland this April to be with my boyfriend, and we just got a house on nine acres. I can't wait to fill it up with chickens, but... I know nothing about the climate out here. I'm from Maine, so I'm used to heavy, hardy chickens, and I don't think that they'd do so well in the heat down here. Is anyone here from West Texas who could give me some pointers as to what breeds work well here?

Also, we have a small pond on the property, so I'm thinking maybe getting a trio of ducks (for both eggs and meat-- both me and the guy love duck!). What are the best options that aren't too hard to find?

Thanks!!

MK,
Welcome to Texas My best friend lives in West Texas and has Marans, Polish, Barred Rock, Rhode Island Reds, Americauna, and a few other breeds I am forgetting. She loves her chickens as much as I do, we are in South Texas though on the Coastal Plain. She has a large run for them but also free ranges them. She said the wind is pretty strong out there so they wrapped the coop in tarps (not pretty but effective) to help keep them warm because the wind chill on the plains is stiff sometimes. But they have tolerated the heat pretty well, she has shade trees and I think shade will be a huge factor for your birds staying cool. Sometimes when we are hitting in the 100's you might have to put out ice water. My Wyandottes do not tolerate the heat well down here in south Texas. But we have a lot more humidity down here by the coast, they are a lot drier up there than we are. She is near Sweetwater which is just east of Midland so I can ask her any questions you might have. If you get the chance to check out my chicken blog! Stay in touch with me, I would love to hear how your new homestead goes! OH, and I want ducks too! I would love to hear how raising ducks is compared to chickens.

http://www.essentiallymomma.com/chicken-blog

 

[cochinfever]

Hello from texarkana Texas