Central Tx, hot most of the year. Just got to being around 95 highs and lows 65 here in oct 2025. Evenings are cooling off nicely, huge break in the heat for us. Very welcoming, its been HOT this year down central and south Texas area this year. Big lack of rain this year even though up north in the state they got pounded by water earlier this year in that flooding tragedy.
Well my birds been molting all september. The second generation/age group of my flock started laying eggs these passed 3 days. Red sex links, brown leghorns. Still have a few more of them that should start laying in the next few days too. I got 5 eggs today!! (Outta 18 hens). Older girls been turned off all summer since march/April. Older girls just started back with my one AmeraUcana started laying. Black copper marans, goose egg. They dont lay worth a dang. I got em used, but i think they were used more than I was told. Meaning I think they are much older than I was told. Past laying ages.. its a shock to get a marans egg. I got a young BLM that should start laying soon, if shes a layer, then I'll know for sure I got dooped on too old of birds. I love them though. 3/4 leghorns are laying. Tiny eggs though, they should get larger as the hens grow into it more. I love leghorns... they chase grasshoppers best. They are shy and skiddish by choice... more hard headed... they all will eat outta your hand with some time training em to treat time.
I got a 3rd generation coming along to add to the 20 I got... 18 hens 2 rooster currently.. I got 1 old old looking cream legbar thats only laid 3 eggs I've seen.. I think she will choke soon from old age... got dooped with her too.
3rd generations is some amerIcana/Easter Eggers, more cream legbars, bcm, and an olive egger (bcm X clb)
Lost 2 chicks so far out of 17.. down to 15. Hopefully I get to 35 chickens..
Lost 3 chickens to hawks this summer. Free ranging half days usually.. 9am to 2pm, to 4pm. Sometimes 7pm.. depends when I put em up... today the wouldn't go up till dark.. stubborn today.. train em to the feed can baby! Like herding cats some days, easy peasey other days lol..
I've done alot of coop set ups and tried most things. Finally down to what works great for me in the south!!
Not cheap, not crazy expensive...?
TSC - horse pannel on the ground (level the ground). $120
TSC - poultry pens.. Square 12x12? $650 each.
Home depot -Tin for sides and room. Wire the tin on. 22 sheets of tin? $25 each.
Bell poultry drinker $85? Plus shipping (expensive) $120 each.
I forget who makes the feeder. Best I've found.. Great for vacations. It clogs some, but no huge deal if it stays dry. $300?
Best next box -250
Old nest boxs - $100
TsC horse stall pellets $6 a bag
This set up has been doing me good. For winter, I zip tie a tarp over the front to keep the winds and drafts down. Worked great. A light and timer in each coop. Extend daylight hours.. down here winter is just cooler really... so now through january is my laying season. JAN/FEB If it dips below 40 degrees much my birds turn off. They sure like to only lay in decent feeling weather. I know then northern birds lay in snow, but mine won't!
(The red coop is a juvenile grow out coop) I built it.. welded 1/2x1 wire.
GQF brooder I use.
Modified hoovabator genesis I use. Got 100% hatches before. Always been 90% or better hatches from the start... but i studied it well a long time ago too.
Update from the south!
I like to throw in good info on products to help newbies not waste their time on trash stuff...
Well my birds been molting all september. The second generation/age group of my flock started laying eggs these passed 3 days. Red sex links, brown leghorns. Still have a few more of them that should start laying in the next few days too. I got 5 eggs today!! (Outta 18 hens). Older girls been turned off all summer since march/April. Older girls just started back with my one AmeraUcana started laying. Black copper marans, goose egg. They dont lay worth a dang. I got em used, but i think they were used more than I was told. Meaning I think they are much older than I was told. Past laying ages.. its a shock to get a marans egg. I got a young BLM that should start laying soon, if shes a layer, then I'll know for sure I got dooped on too old of birds. I love them though. 3/4 leghorns are laying. Tiny eggs though, they should get larger as the hens grow into it more. I love leghorns... they chase grasshoppers best. They are shy and skiddish by choice... more hard headed... they all will eat outta your hand with some time training em to treat time.
I got a 3rd generation coming along to add to the 20 I got... 18 hens 2 rooster currently.. I got 1 old old looking cream legbar thats only laid 3 eggs I've seen.. I think she will choke soon from old age... got dooped with her too.
3rd generations is some amerIcana/Easter Eggers, more cream legbars, bcm, and an olive egger (bcm X clb)
Lost 2 chicks so far out of 17.. down to 15. Hopefully I get to 35 chickens..
Lost 3 chickens to hawks this summer. Free ranging half days usually.. 9am to 2pm, to 4pm. Sometimes 7pm.. depends when I put em up... today the wouldn't go up till dark.. stubborn today.. train em to the feed can baby! Like herding cats some days, easy peasey other days lol..
I've done alot of coop set ups and tried most things. Finally down to what works great for me in the south!!
Not cheap, not crazy expensive...?
TSC - horse pannel on the ground (level the ground). $120
TSC - poultry pens.. Square 12x12? $650 each.
Home depot -Tin for sides and room. Wire the tin on. 22 sheets of tin? $25 each.
Bell poultry drinker $85? Plus shipping (expensive) $120 each.
I forget who makes the feeder. Best I've found.. Great for vacations. It clogs some, but no huge deal if it stays dry. $300?
Best next box -250
Old nest boxs - $100
TsC horse stall pellets $6 a bag
This set up has been doing me good. For winter, I zip tie a tarp over the front to keep the winds and drafts down. Worked great. A light and timer in each coop. Extend daylight hours.. down here winter is just cooler really... so now through january is my laying season. JAN/FEB If it dips below 40 degrees much my birds turn off. They sure like to only lay in decent feeling weather. I know then northern birds lay in snow, but mine won't!
(The red coop is a juvenile grow out coop) I built it.. welded 1/2x1 wire.
GQF brooder I use.
Modified hoovabator genesis I use. Got 100% hatches before. Always been 90% or better hatches from the start... but i studied it well a long time ago too.
Update from the south!
I like to throw in good info on products to help newbies not waste their time on trash stuff...
