We're getting chickens!

[aatx]

Hello! We live in north central Texas and have plans on getting a few chickens. (Just for eggs, not meat.)

No clue what type we will be able to find (not really interested in raising from chicks). Hopefully we can pick out a few breeds we like and then find some of them.

We have access to a 4'x8' metal shed that will be converted into the coop. It has a full size door on the 8' length side and is pretty much empty in the middle. We will place it next to and connect it to one of the goat pens and use that as their run. The pen is about 60' x 100' and only contains a few select yearling does. It's got wire and an electric fence around it now to protect the goats, but we'll need to add some chicken wire around the perimeter as well. We'll need to clip their wings (or at least one wing) to keep them from flying out.

I've ordered some horizontal nipples based on a few threads I read in here and have sent my husband the plans for the bucket feeder to build. (Thankfully we are pretty handy.) We'll need to add in some nest boxes. Not sure if we will build them inside or outside yet. Also will need to build some roosting places with a removable poop tray below. We'll need to figure out some ventilation as well.

I'm still trying to figure out the deep litter method. We have a ton of oak leaves in the yard right now and I am reading that is good to use on the floor if you are doing that.

I think we plan on starting out with around 6 birds.

I've spent many hours reading, but have lots more to learn.

So, based on the brief info I've provided, is there anything alarming that jumps out? Any guidance on some breeds that would be heat tolerant, moderate egg layers, and not flighty? And, if I have anything to say about it, most importantly have a good personality? My mother spent her younger life getting attacked by chickens almost daily and is deathly afraid of all birds, but she loves fresh eggs. I, on the other hand, love birds, but actually go through stages where eggs weird me out and I can't eat them. So, compromise is that I get to play with the birds and she gets the eggs. (Our house and my parent's house are on the same parcel of land so all projects are joint projects.)

 

[dawg53]

Welcome to BYC. Sex links and Leghorns are heat tolerant from my experience. Leghorns are flighty. Sex links and Leghorns will produce ALOT of eggs. There are other breeds that are heat tolerant. Personally I prefer Barred Rocks, they seem to acclimate to any temperature and are friendly. Everyone has their own preferences though.

 

[Odelia]

You want your nests inside. Chickens want to lay their eggs where they feel safe and they like it to be a little darker as well. Also don't forget the roosts. Chickens need a roost to perch on at night. They also don't mind having something to perch on in their run, but that isn't necessary. Most of your larger breeds are pretty docile. Things like your buff orpingtons and black Australorps, also salmon faverolles are very friendly birds. You can find lots of different breeds at your local feed stores at this time of year. Good luck on your new project.

 

[aatx]

Sex links and leg horns are both ones that I have seen chicks of available locally in the feed stores. (I just don't know if I am cut out to raise them from chicks.)

The last time I looked, they had Golden Sex Links, White Leg Horns, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, and some Dutch Bantams.

Oh, man, too much time spent looking at the babies. Now, I just kind of want to get the chicks and raise them inside for 4-5 weeks and our coop should then be ready for them...

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Goats and chickens do well together. For housing suggestions you might ask on the Texas thread, look in the Where am I -Where are You section of the forum. Google the Henderson chicken chart for a really good resource on breed characteristics such as temperament, egg laying, and temperature tolerance.

 

[aatx]

You want your nests inside. Chickens want to lay their eggs where they feel safe and they like it to be a little darker as well. Also don't forget the roosts. Chickens need a roost to perch on at night. They also don't mind having something to perch on in their run, but that isn't necessary. Most of your larger breeds are pretty docile. Things like your buff orpingtons and black Australorps, also salmon faverolles are very friendly birds. You can find lots of different breeds at your local feed stores at this time of year. Good luck on your new project.

Thanks. Got the roosts down as something to build. I like the ones that look a bit like a ladder. We cut limbs off the oak trees for the goats and leave them in the pen. The leaves are all stripped off and I think a few of them would make lovely roosts for inside the run.

I think I am saying inside/outside wrong on the nesting boxes. They would all be accessed by the chicken from the inside of the coop - but the question is are they totally contained on the inside so that we go inside to check for eggs or are they built into the wall so that we can lift up a lid from the outside to check for eggs. I have seen both styles on homemade and purchased coops.

 

[aatx]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Goats and chickens do well together. For housing suggestions you might ask on the Texas thread, look in the Where am I -Where are You section of the forum. Google the Henderson chicken chart for a really good resource on breed characteristics such as temperament, egg laying, and temperature tolerance.

I looked at the Texas thread yesterday and it was a bit overwhelming just on how large it was!

Thank you for the chart suggestion. I'll look that up.

 

[TwoCrows]

You don't have to use the standard litter for your coop and run. You can go with sand. Sand is an excellent medium for floors....it is soft on the foot pads, it stays dry, keeps the flies away, you can hose it down in the summer time and it will keep your birds exceptionally cool, many types of sand contain tiny stones for the gizzards, the chickens love to scratch around in it. and it is very easy to maintain. I use it everywhere. Coops, runs and even the nest boxes!! You can use river bed sand, I use arroyo and wash sand, sand and gravel companies usually carry it and will usually deliver, or you can even use play box sand.

Here is a great link to a thread on sand if you want to do some reading...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444759/got-sand-you-should

Good luck with all your poultry adventures and welcome to BYC!

 

[aatx]

You don't have to use the standard litter for your coop and run. You can go with sand. Sand is an excellent medium for floors....it is soft on the foot pads, it stays dry, keeps the flies away, you can hose it down in the summer time and it will keep your birds exceptionally cool, many types of sand contain tiny stones for the gizzards, the chickens love to scratch around in it. and it is very easy to maintain. I use it everywhere. Coops, runs and even the nest boxes!! You can use river bed sand, I use arroyo and wash sand, sand and gravel companies usually carry it and will usually deliver, or you can even use play box sand.

Here is a great link to a thread on sand if you want to do some reading...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444759/got-sand-you-should

Good luck with all your poultry adventures and welcome to BYC!

Hmmm, well, as against sand as I was a few minutes ago, my thoughts have changed after reading that thread! Thank you for that link.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your chickens projects. You might also want to post on your state thread to see if anyone has started birds available or knows where to get some if you don't want chicks. Besides the Leghorn/ Mediterranean breeds and Red Sex Links, Naked Necks are another breed that seems to be popular in hot climates.