My wife finally relented and it appears we will be getting some chickens for our backyard. I plan to keep about 6 or so in our slightly above average Houston-area yard (0.3 acre lot). As far as breeds go, a local guy has barred rocks, Rhode Island reds and black sex links. Of the 3, which are my best option? I don't mind mixing and matching and might actually prefer that. Number 1 priority will be docile, as we have 1 year old twins. Then productivity, then looks etc. I plan to free-range them only putting them up in the coop at night. Any other advice beyond breed recommendations for a newbie?

We had red sex linked recommended to us and they have been great. Given the options, I would do either the RI red or black sex link (for the RI red). I like the idea of having good laying birds that are good in the pot when their laying days are over.

I'm no expert, however, and im interested in other comments.

How close are your neighbors? Are they going to rat you out for raising chickens in your backyard?

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How close are your neighbors? Are they going to rat you out for raising chickens in your backyard?

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I am actually in Tomball. No city restrictions regarding fowl (provided I have less than 10) and no HOA.

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How close are your neighbors? Are they going to rat you out for raising chickens in your backyard?

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I am actually in Tomball. No city restrictions regarding fowl (provided I have less than 10) and no HOA.

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You lucky SOB.....I live in Houston and want a few chickens for eggs, but the city thinks that is a BIG NO NO for some dumb reason.

For consistency in egg laying, we have 7 leghorns that have produced 5-7 eggs a day for a year now (7 eggs probably 90%)

There are 2 good FB groups for backyard chicken/eggs.

Edit: groups focused on brazos valley and south texas

i live in a town where they are less than legal. i just talked to my neighbor and promised him eggs and to not get a rooster.

I would say NO to barred rocks. I added them to my flock last year with poor results. They are dominant/aggressive and don't seem to be the best layers.

I really like Americaunas. They are docile, and reliably lay a green colored egg. A little smaller than the others, too. So far, I've had Americaunas, Hampshire reds (might as well be RI Reds), Black Australorps (Black version of Buff Orpington), barred rocks, and adding Silver Wyandotts this year. The silvers are still pullets, so nothing to report yet. Of the others, only barred rocks are off of my list.

And yes, Leghorns are the champ of layers, just not terribly interesting.

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How close are your neighbors? Are they going to rat you out for raising chickens in your backyard?

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I am actually in Tomball. No city restrictions regarding fowl (provided I have less than 10) and no HOA.

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You lucky SOB.....I live in Houston and want a few chickens for eggs, but the city thinks that is a BIG NO NO for some dumb reason.

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Depends on your neighbors; we kept them in Houston for years with no problem, but friends have had bad luck because they have pesky neighbors.

Hens aren't prohibited outright, but there is a lot minimum requirement. Even if you're on a smaller city lot, you can easily get a medical exemption.

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And yes, Leghorns are the champ of layers, just not terribly interesting.

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We hatched the leghorns in my classroom 2 springs ago. We added/hatched 19 more various chicks/hatchlings this spring, about to parse out roos and some of the other 'boring' ladies... Keeping 1-3 unique roos as it isn't against city code (bryan)

Can't post pics to TexAgs...

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I would say NO to barred rocks. I added them to my flock last year with poor results. They are dominant/aggressive and don't seem to be the best layers.

I really like Americaunas. They are docile, and reliably lay a green colored egg. A little smaller than the others, too. So far, I've had Americaunas, Hampshire reds (might as well be RI Reds), Black Australorps (Black version of Buff Orpington), barred rocks, and adding Silver Wyandotts this year. The silvers are still pullets, so nothing to report yet. Of the others, only barred rocks are off of my list.

And yes, Leghorns are the champ of layers, just not terribly interesting.

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Any issues with mixing breeds? Based on your advice I'd do sex linked and RI reds (though barred are my favorite appearance wise).

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My wife finally relented and it appears we will be getting some chickens for our backyard. I plan to keep about 6 or so in our slightly above average Houston-area yard (0.3 acre lot). As far as breeds go, a local guy has barred rocks, Rhode Island reds and black sex links. Of the 3, which are my best option? I don't mind mixing and matching and might actually prefer that. Number 1 priority will be docile, as we have 1 year old twins. Then productivity, then looks etc. I plan to free-range them only putting them up in the coop at night. Any other advice beyond breed recommendations for a newbie?

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The local raptor population thanks you.

We have road island reds at our farm and they are good. How many eggs per week are you looking for? We have eight and I wish we had four. I'm sick of all the chicken **** around the house.

And ours are free ranging and we haven't lost one in two years and we have a ton of raptors. Those chickens are pretty smart.

No problem mixing breeds of those you mentioned. Dominque (spelling may be off) is related to barred rock, looks identical but I didn't face the problems that a previous poster mentione with BR. Consistent laying and docile. Personally I think any of the sex links are the best layers, and they mature quickly. We've tried around 10-12 different breeds of hens over the years. I also agree with the advise of adding Americuna, great birds plus pretty eggs. It makes a picturesque basket when mixed with white, brown and green eggs. Some Americuna even lay gold colored

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We have road island reds at our farm and they are good. How many eggs per week are you looking for? We have eight and I wish we had four. I'm sick of all the chicken **** around the house.

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Maybe 3-4 eggs a day? It sounds like I might be wanting more chickens than I actually need.

Also, if I do go with 6, how many nesting boxes would I need in the coop? Is it one per bird, or can I get by with less? Most of the coop plans I have seen that say they fit 6 birds only include 3 or so nesting boxes.

If I had 6 birds I'd place two nesting boxes, 3 at most. Usually mine use the same box and occasionally share a second box. But if you free range, they may find their own spots to lay. Then you have to go Easter egg hunting

Since you have kids and you won't be in trouble for having talkative birds, my suggestion would actually be to go with Barred Rocks.

Mine are consistent layers but they are also really mellow birds and they can be 'messed with' by you or the kids. The black and red sex links are great birds too, but mine are always a lot more skittish. They are good layers though.

For what its worth, 3-4 eggs a day is a realistic expectation from 6 birds. Care, weather, time of year all affect the birds differently. MOST of the time, you could do that with 4 birds.

To add what MROD92 said, I have 40 birds, and they use 4 nest boxes. LOL. I have 8 or so.

Good to know about them sharing a nesting box, I was totally unsure on that. Looks like I'll be picking up some chicks on Monday if everything works out. While they're in the brooder I'll have time to get the coop and everything else together.

Good luck, I started doing this years ago because my daughter had extremely serious health issues and a cleaner food source helped. 10 years later I've found it to be a very rewarding experience

Congrats! I think you are about to have the time of your life.

This is our second season with chickens. We acquired three older birds a year ago when a friend got caught by the local city inspector (he lived in an area where chickens were forbidden). As such, we adopted two Rhode Island Reds and a White bird....I honestly don't know her breed. Given they're older, at least three years old, they lay sporadically. That said, they're a hoot...we free range them and they come up beside me and walk with me when I'm out in the pasture. It's as if I have three little dogs.

About 16 weeks ago, we acquired three additional Rhode Island Reds and four Cukoo Morans (James Bond favorite egg). Two of the Reds are beginning to lay, though their eggs are a bit small. I suspect once all of them start laying we'll be swimming in eggs. As it is now, we have two dozen in the frig and we barely go through a dozen a week!

May I suggest you get a bag of dried Meal Worms? 50% protein, 25% fat, and the chickens absolutely love them. It's a great way to call them in after a day of free-ranging...though I suspect on .3 acres that won't be too hard.

Good Luck!

You say your wife finally relented? Slam dunk then. Reward her with the black sex links and she will never go back!

We have a Barred Rock and RI and have much better results from the RI. We get plenty of eggs, if we had a third we would probably be giving them to neighbors pretty often.

what are yall feeding?

mine are all pullets, but should be laying any day so i moved them to whatever brand of layer feed they had a tractor supply and will supplement with oyster shell when the start to lay. they also roam the back yard a few hours per day.

How long can chickens be left unattended? If I had 2-4 hens, could I give them plenty of water and feed and leave them for 4-5 consecutive nights every week?

We give ours all scraps too

Mixing breeds isn't a problem except that they need to have similar temperaments. Even the more docile breeds will peck the hell out of truly timid breeds--'cause they can. I added the 'rocks based on nostalgia--had 'em as a kid--but have heard from multiple sources and seen first hand that they can be aggressive.

Somebody else asked about how long they can go untended. The biggest problem with leaving them untended is eggs piling up. If an egg breaks, and one bird starts eating eggs, that can develop into a major headache. Best thing is to have a neighbor look in on them and gather eggs everyday.

You will not enjoy an older chicken as table fair after laying days are over. Broilers are less than one year in age at slaughter. If you want eggs, get layers - not dual purpose. Start over after three years for best efficiency.
RI Reds are good; Golden Comets are better.

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You will not enjoy an older chicken as table fair after laying days are over.

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What do you do with them when they become a non productive mouth to feed? Soup or gumbo makes anything taste ok

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You will not enjoy an older chicken as table fair after laying days are over.

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What do you do with them when they become a non productive mouth to feed? Soup or gumbo makes anything taste ok

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Mine free range in the evenings. Based on how they live and the predator population, I dont have a problem with birds living long enough to stop laying. LOL.

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You will not enjoy an older chicken as table fair after laying days are over.

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What do you do with them when they become a non productive mouth to feed? Soup or gumbo makes anything taste ok

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Pressure cooker makes them plenty tender

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You will not enjoy an older chicken as table fair after laying days are over.

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What do you do with them when they become a non productive mouth to feed? Soup or gumbo makes anything taste ok

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That's why french cooks invented coq au vin. . . Makes a tough hen taste pretty good.

We raised a leghorn and RI red from Tractor Supply chicks and they were both great layers and good birds. The leghorn was definitely the more docile/friendly of the two, but the red wasn't aggressive - just not overly keen on handling. A raccoon got the leghorn one night by reaching through the chicken wire before I reinforced it with finer mesh, and we got an older Welsummer off Craigslist. She was also a good bird and the prettiest of the three, IMO.

Layers are just too lean to eat. They are a far sight from baking or frying hens. I can usually find a home for them from someone who wants a decent but not great layer.