I am also in Central Texas (Waco) and have a small flock of Rhode Island Reds. They are pretty docile (even the roosters) and a couple of mine went broody last spring (although I didn’t let them keep the eggs). I’m going to let one of them raise some chicks this year just to see how it goes.
They seem to do ok in the heat as long as they have some shade and plenty of water. I bought a waterer like this at the local feedstore.
http://www.strombergschickens.com/images/founts/FT2500_L.jpg
It’s easy to clean and works well except when it gets too cold, then I have to shut it off and use a gravity type waterer.
One thing I would mention is to make your chicken house and run into Fort Knox. A few years ago, over a period of about 2 months, we lost a flock of 2 dozen chickens to raccoons, dogs, and hawks. When we bought more chicks again this spring, we built a very secure house and run and I now have the bravest chickens in the west. My irish wolfhound jumps at the fence and barks at them and they just look at him. Sometimes if he gets too close they peck his nose and he gets his feelings hurt.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Good luck!
Thank you for the advice.
We’re starting out small. I’ve NEVER dealt with chickens before so I’m sure I’ll have a lot of questions in the beginning.
Goats, dogs, cats, snakes, rabbits... those I can do. I’m sure it will be an interesting first year with the birds.
My DH is all over the coop and the chicken run plans. He’s going to start with a foot deep trench filled with concrete with barbed wire running beside it. Two layers of wire fencing. A roof on the run (for protection and shade). Misters on the roof of the run to keep them cool in the summer. I have a feeling that our chickens won’t have much to worry about! lol!
Do you have any idea about how many square feet per chicken is required for the run?
