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Anyone else do the backyard chicken thing? I've got 6 now, and am getting about an egg a day from each. They are New Hampshire Reds. My little girls love them, and they give us breakfast every day!

We're looking to expand to 12 chickens this summer actually and was wondering what breeds y'all recommend that can handle the TX heat. We could stay with the Reds, but wanted to introduce some variety.

We are right at the starting point. One of the men that works for me is going to start some construction in my backyard. We do not have a lot of room and we are exited about fresh eggs and fresh chickens.

Years ago neighbors of my parents had some that left eggs of various colors, blue, green etc, so my mom made "green eggs and ham" for my nephew

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RPB wrote:Years ago neighbors of my parents had some that left eggs of various colors, blue, green etc, so my mom made "green eggs and ham" for my nephew

We looked at that for our grandkids. I believe they are called Araucana's. The problem is their eggs are small and I am 4XL.

I'm very interested. I'm not sure if Fort Worth has allowed it yet or not. . . even if they do. . . I'm sure our HOA won't approve. We do a hot breakfast everyday and easily use six eggs plus egg whites between four kids, my wife, and me.

In Pasadena I had a neighbor that raised some pigs ... until the city smelled them
Rabbits and chickens I can see, as ok, check livestock ordinances

Irving is anything, but a rooster and a pig - I think.

When the children were younger my Bride hit upon backyard livestock as a part of their home schooling. Eschewing the obvious, chickens, they decided upon African Geese and Khaki Campbell Ducks, who upon emerging from their shells immediately imprinted on my Bride as "Momma". Raising geese and ducks in the Southern Nevada desert was problematic at best, but once we found solutions to our problems, was quite entertaining. Feed was cheap and The "Momma" would collect several dozens of eggs each week. We lived in the far north west of the Las Vegas Valley, so she would on occasion load both of her broods up in crew cab and head for "Tule Springs" now known as "Floyd Lamb Park" which had several large ponds that were stocked for fishing. The kids, the geese, and the ducks would all dutifully follow behind her as she headed for the big pond on the northside, there to cavort in the early hours of the day. Then after a few hours She would call the eldest gander and goose(Romeo and Juliet)by name and they'd parade back to the truck.
If I had it to do over again, I think I'd vote for the geese and ducks this time.

LOVE my cluckers! Haven't bought store eggs in over 6 years! Cannot go back to "store" eggs.

Have kind of a mixed crew right now. Like the Production Reds and Austrolorps because they lay large brown eggs and tolerate our SE TX heat well - some don't and won't lay in the heat. We also have a few Americaunas (Easter Egg Chickens), some Rock and some that someone gave me that I am not really sure what they are. We also have a handful of guinea hens - great bug getters!

My cluckers not only supply eggs, but as they roam free during the day they are on patrol for rodents and snakes. I have seen them eat small snakes and moles. They also help keep flies down by "dispersing" our large animal "piles" We have a few cattle and goats as well. Some meals most everything has come from our small place - that is a great feeling!

Has anyone had problems with their chickens bringing in chicken snakes? I was talking to my neighbor just awhile ago and we were discussing this thread. I had told him before what I had planned to do. Well tonight he was telling me he was afraid I would cause us to have chickens snakes. I am in the City and would hate to go to jail for firing a firearm in the City, but I am NO snake fan.

Secondly, does anyone know which chickens began to lay the quickest and how long before they began to lay? I understand you need about three foot of space for each laying hen.

Haven't thought about chickens. Will have to check my HOA rules.

I have a 4x4 Hen House, elevated, with a 24 sq/ft "run" for them off the coop. Two nesting boxes, but they only use one. That's for 6 birds. We also let them roam the yard (1 acre) whenever we're home.

As for snakes, I can say that with the chickens, we no longer have any. I've seen them gobble down a 12" grass snake in three bites. They love Scorpions and Walking Sticks. They are the best pest control you can have. The only "chicken snake" (black rat snake) we've seen was way before we got chickens. I couldn't see it, and stepped on it. I had more jump than Larry Bird when that happened...fly in to the air, look down to identify snake, and land away from it...it was in slow-mo.

Ours started laying eggs at about 20 weeks of age. For the most part, we get an egg a day from each. Once in a blue moon, we'll only get 5.

pbwalker wrote:I have a 4x4 Hen House, elevated, with a 24 sq/ft "run" for them off the coop. Two nesting boxes, but they only use one. That's for 6 birds. We also let them roam the yard (1 acre) whenever we're home.

As for snakes, I can say that with the chickens, we no longer have any. I've seen them gobble down a 12" grass snake in three bites. They love Scorpions and Walking Sticks. They are the best pest control you can have. The only "chicken snake" (black rat snake) we've seen was way before we got chickens. I couldn't see it, and stepped on it. I had more jump than Larry Bird when that happened...fly in to the air, look down to identify snake, and land away from it...it was in slow-mo.

Ours started laying eggs at about 20 weeks of age. For the most part, we get an egg a day from each. Once in a blue moon, we'll only get 5.

Anyway you could post pics of the hen house & run? I think in town we can keep hens , just no roosters.... A visual of how much space
required would be nice. Thanks.

I have 13 chickens of variety. We had 20 but we lost 7 due to mereks! Anyways lucky 13 are doing fine now but they are pullets that haven't reached maturity yet. I am hoping for some eggs any week now that it is warming up.

I am currently learning about these birds and doing as much research as possible. I am reading, "storey's guide to raising chickens". Great resource! One thing we are doing beside deep mulch bed in the coop is putting hay under the roost. When it catches the mannure I take it to the compost.

We free range for a couple hours every day as well. It's a lot of fun.