Texas

[AAA#]

What in the world is a mosaic? I have never heard this before.

They are a newer chicken breed.

 

[sarcasm]

Hi everyone. I'm in the DFW metroplex and need advice on native plants that are non toxic.

I'm wanting to cover part of my run with a creeping plant to offer extra shade. What should I use that's safe for my girls to eat?

You might want to check with a local gardening club to get info on what varieties of plants grow well and/or are native to your exact area. Try looking for a master gardener association for your county or one nearby. There are a bunch of them in Texas, and they're almost always filled with people who will be happy to give you WAY more info than you expected about growing plants in your area.

I think most parts of Texas have at least some varieties of grapes that grow well, and those are great for chickens. You could likely plant those (maybe with some "cover plant" until they get established so the chickens don't decimate them before they take hold) and be set for years. Blackberries or raspberries might also be an option, depending on how high up you want them to go.

Annuals are recurring work, but cucumbers/melons, peas, and squash can all very easily be encouraged to climb and are great sources of food for humans and chickens to share. I plant a straw bale garden along an interior fence with these types of plants and basically just pick whatever the girls can't find or reach.

Anecdotally: there's wisteria, Virginia creeper, and trumpet vines growing all over the areas my chickens free-range. The chickens don't seem to be affected by munching on those, and those plants are so fast-growing I have a hard time keeping them contained to their designated areas (darn wisteria keeps trying to tie my driveway gate shut when I'm gone for an afternoon). I'm not sure if they'd be appropriate for growing on a run the chickens are confined to for large parts of the day though.

 

[redchick2]

Trumpet vines grow easily, have lovely flowers and return each year. The muscadine grapes are hardy too, but the vines get really thick.

 

[Jljohnson29]

Hello!!! My husband and I just started keeping chickens and we're from Abilene, TX. Glad to see so many people on here

 

[KDMdesigns]

Anyone on here from North Texas/DFW area know of any livestock/animal auction taking place within an hour from Dallas?

 

[Kiki]

East Texas folks..."Outbreak is closed and resolved"
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2018/03/tests-turn-low-path-h7n1-avian-flu-texas-farm

http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/w...?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=26131

 

[Athena2344]

I'd look up pea varities or vine spinach, We have two different species in our FFA community garden, and my personal favorite reseeds itself, is a climber, and produces a bit of shade, and is very hardy

 

[Athena2344]

It's called malabar spinach

 

[JudysMuscovy]

Yes, kinda - he's in conroe near cut n shoot. Easy to get to, I'm supposed to go back out to help out in payment for my twins - i haven't heard from him yet though.

@KikisGirls when you go to Conroe to pick up those qual message me you can come check out my flock. @ let me know what I have to do to get them tested. I am not far from cut nshoot

 

[Kiki]

@KikisGirls when you go to Conroe to pick up those qual message me you can come check out my flock. @ let me know what I have to do to get them tested

I'm picking up some quail down here close to me.

If you buy the antigen I will test them for you!