what breed should I buy

[Autumn T]

ACO- animal control officer

ok. I'll stick with just girls then.


a friend has EEs (she claims are arma-what-its) and they are VICIOUS mean...but they are never handled and they are over roostered with bare backs and heads from the 3 roos in the pen


I think I know why I get '5' birds... the city hall lady asked for my addy (to see if I am in city limits) well, I live next someone important's son...Mr Special who free ranges his dog and trained it to poo in mine....who got 3 ACO fired this yr for telling him to lock up the beastie because of leash laws and property damage to my flowers. bet it I was a few houses over I could have more birds

 

[Chicken Woman]

You can go online to your city or county website and search for the codes for chickens.

I asked Animal control (supervisor) and he said there were nothing saying I couldn't have chickens.

But when I researched city code it said no chickens ! SHHHHH !

 

[Autumn T]

I looked at our city online. either we are so small we have no zoning or ordinances or they don't post them.

ACO also told a friend IN city limits just 2 blocks from me he could put 5 cows on his 5 acres and up to 15 chickens

jeepers who to believe?!

 

[digitS']

I think you are already getting some very definite ideas about likes and dislikes. That's fine - most breeds should work for you. I'd go for the frumpy, dumpy types but that's just me . . . and my 6 foot backyard fences. If you are not letting them free-range, you don't really have to worry about whether you have the flighty, light-weights. Keep in mind that some domestic breeds can take flight and end up on the roof of your neighbor's house

.

Just to give you a preference - I like Black Australorps and the Barred Rocks are a 2nd choice. Neither of these are real colorful but the BA have a nice iridescent green on those black feathers.

Since you are only a block from the city hall, a conservative choice in number may be wise. Besides, a good laying hen will produce well over 200 eggs each year. Probably most families don't have too good of a reason to have 15 layers unless they have egg customers.

If you are talking about 10 or so meat birds, that's a different story. Heck, some people have that many or more in their garage and the neighbors never even know there's "livestock" next door until they are invited over for a chicken barbecue. It is the noise from mature laying hens and roosters that might get your neighborhood up early on a Sunday morning

.

Best of luck

,
Steve

 

[herechickchick]

Speckled Sussex, they are oh so sweet and very pretty! The laced Wyandottes are lookers too.

 

[digitS']

Quote:
That's Dallas/Fort Worth, right?

Ideal Hatchery isn't too far away. You may see their ad in the upper right corner of this page . . . or, the ads change from 1 time to another. There are other hatcheries in Texas, too (big state). But, Ideal has been around a long time.

Steve

 

[BantyHugger]

I recommend Ideal Poultry. If you order from any of the feed stores around here you'll get chicks from them anyway. I also suggest RIR. Their nice and i love red birds.

 

[Chickenaddict]

I think EE's, Wyandottes, Partridge rocks, sexlinks would be your best bet for color. If it were me i would get banties and 10 of them seeing as they are half the size of standards ya get more bang for your buck and since you don't want them for the eggs you could have a heck of a variety but i guess thats just the rebel coming out in me lol. Where i live you aren't suppose to have chickens at all unless you have at least 3 acres (we only have 1) But tons of people with smaller yards then us have them so we decided to go for it and free range them during the day. No problems whatsoever except for a predator loss once in a blue moon. The neighbors love them and so does the local sheriff

. If you got a rooster and placed him with 4 hens those poor hens would get wore down very quickly. I know free ranging isn't an option for you with the neighbor who lets his dog run loose unless you built a 6 ft privacy fence but even then if that dog wants in your yard he will dig a hole under the fence to get there. 8 by 12 coop with a nice size run for 5 chickens would be heaven for them

Best wishes to you.

Happy Holidays

 

[Autumn T]

yes, DFW = Dallas Ft Worth

I like the BAs they have such a pretty sheen to them

I am looking at the picks and right now we lean towards RIR, BA and barred.

the Homestead community near me sells ones I have never seen before but not sure if I want such 'fancy' birds. most are on the endangered list.

 

[digitS']

Those Speckled Sussex are on the "threatened" list, Autumn.

Some breeds are special just because there are so few still walking around. They don't have to be especially productive or even easy-keepers. There's also some good reasons why some breeds are NOT more popular, just as you may suspect

.

My brother had Sussex and they certainly don't seem fancy, just kinda "sparkly" with an old-fashioned chicken look. A lot of folks like them for more than just their looks. That nearby community may have Sussex and I imagine that Ideal does too.

Steve