Texas

[NagemTX]

So everyone's impressions of climate may vary, but for me I get a strong sense of humidity soon after crossing the state line.
And that's our most frequent comment from new Floridians, usually rather bewildered sounding, "When does this let up?".
Not only do we have oceans on two sides, but a ton of water bodies and swampy areas.
From spring to the end of summer when we get our daily shower (yes, every day, usually 4 O'clock) it keeps the humidity boosted to as much as the air can hold. And warm air holds a lot more than cooler air!

Walt Disney, when he decided to build his park, realized people would be overcome by the mosquitoes. So he started a project to dry up the surrounding land, thousands of acres. It makes that area near Orlando feel dryer. And of course the beaches feel different from the sea breeze. So the experience a lot of tourists get is different from what tends to set in when someone is living here.

But the good news is, the sea breezes keep our maximum temperature down. We really don't get days over 100f. But the 95's are consistent all summer / fall.
Although the hot season is prolonged compared to somewhere like NC. I'm not sure how different or same it may be to Texas's heat duration. We expect to still be in the 80's often until Christmas. Winter is Jan - March. Still 70's / 80's some days. 30's others. The difference between the low and high can be really dramatic, 40 - 50 degrees, because sun.



Well, we don't get the snow Our worst winters in central FL have some hard frosts, they've been enough to kill tropical plants like my Bougainvillea, but many plants are fine. I don't like how drab the greens look in winter, more of an unhappy olive, but it's not all reduced to sticks.

I live on the coast of Texas my humidity is the same as Florida humidity .

Everything you pointed out for climate is what we have here. Pensacola and Milton is actually more north than I am now.

 

[ATXInstantFlock]

If you want them to last a few months, store them in the fridge, unwashed (as long as they aren't poopy) Generally, first year layers will lay throughout the winter regardless of temp.

Thx @Auntiejessi3 ! I've got roughly 8 dozen washed ones in the fridge that we are working through, so I'm not sure we can devote more fridge space to unwashed ones ATM.
I have mostly started setting some aside so we can give some of the clean ones away to good friends and neighbors.

Since I have two small kids (one semi responsible and the other... not), I try to avoid keeping anything "dirty" within reach.
We probably eat a ton of eggs for a small family, but these girls are mostly just crushing it with their laying.

 

[ATXInstantFlock]

From spring to the end of summer when we get our daily shower (yes, every day, usually 4 O'clock) it keeps the humidity boosted to as much as the air can hold.

I spent a summer in South Florida and I can confirm. Every single day it would rain in the afternoon . Never enough to really cool things down. Just enough to make it humid and gross.

On the bright side, I agree that it didn't get quite as hot as it does here in TX.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Thx @Auntiejessi3 ! I've got roughly 8 dozen washed ones in the fridge that we are working through, so I'm not sure we can devote more fridge space to unwashed ones ATM.
I have mostly started setting some aside so we can give some of the clean ones away to good friends and neighbors.

Since I have two small kids (one semi responsible and the other... not), I try to avoid keeping anything "dirty" within reach.
We probably eat a ton of eggs for a small family, but these girls are mostly just crushing it with their laying.

I completely understand! I have 5 new layers and the pullet eggs were piling up, lol. I like to make egg salad, hardboiled eggs, and homemade pasta with them.
Good lord I hate auto correct

 

[TexasBlues]

Thanks for the tip. For lack of a better plan, I moved my flock to a roughly 50/50 mix of 18% all flock pellets and 20% grower/starter crumbles, so I guess they're getting about 19% ATM.

Once I return from my short trip, I am going to resume giving some fermented feed out of the same mix, too.

Just remembered that the Livengood people out of Lockhart never responded to my email, I might give their retail store a call since I know I can buy that for a reasonable price here, without going to a huge effort. I know they make quite a few different lines of feed.

I was listening to the poultry keepers podcast about molt and feed. They brought in nutritionist Jeff Mattocks and he said:
“I would really like to see folks manage their molts better. When you see the first feathers drop put the entire flock on a molt feed – 12% protein, high fiber, low energy type feed. Feed this for 14 – 21 days to help push out the old feathers, reduce body weight back close to pullet or stag weights. Then, bring them out of the molt with a good high quality feed at around 18 – 20% protein, really good amino acid levels. This will ensure the best feather follicles and support feather growth and formation.”

 

[ATXInstantFlock]

I like to make egg salad, hardboiled eggs, and homemade pasta with them.

Ooh, homemade pasta is a good idea. I haven't done that in a while. My Jr chicken farmer loves fettuccine alfredo, too.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Ooh, homemade pasta is a good idea. I haven't done that in a while. My Jr chicken farmer loves fettuccine alfredo, too.

I make it in big batches and freeze the extra. There is nothing better than fresh homemade pasta

 

[Ckstelly]

Out of your list I have all those I have Blue Americanas, though I believe one of the hens or roosters carry a Splash Gene. At the moment I have those and French Black Copper Marans, Olive Eggers, and Coronation Sussex.

Do you have Black Copper Marans? Chick's? Looking for a couple. Love those babies! I used to have 8, but had to move, gave them to a friend.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Do you have Black Copper Marans? Chick's? Looking for a couple. Love those babies! I used to have 8, but had to move, gave them to a friend.

That user hasn't been on since 2018. Welcome to the Texas thread! Where about are you located?

 

[ATXInstantFlock]

Good afternoon y'all. Austin got 0.01" of rain today so our 42 day drought streak has ended.

In the last two days, I got one funny looking egg, and my girls laid egg #300 today!

Girls still avoiding bedtime since they enjoy their evening tuck ins, but hopefully my redneck solution works over the weekend. I think I've got a lighting solution that will finally take care of automation and with enough intensity that they won't be able to use a dark coop as an excuse.