Round Top Antiques and Design Show- Spring 2023

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2023 Spring Antiques Show | Thursday, March 16 – Sunday, April 2
2023 Fall Antiques Show | Thursday, October 12 – Sunday, October 29
2024 Winter Antiques Show | Thursday, January 18 – Sunday, January 21

Hello, hello friends! I just returned from my second “big” Round Top, TX trip and I cannot wait to share with you all the details, and things I have learned about this two-week, bi-annual antique show. The last time I went, I scored a couple of large items, but because we had yet to finish building the house, I refrained from purchasing too many furniture items until this trip and budgeted for some “big ticket” items”.

It always helps to have a list of items you are looking for to keep from getting overwhelmed-there is A LOT to look at! Many vendors take card, but it always helps to bring cash and checks because the wifi networks the card readers work off of sometimes gets spotty.

Click HERE to read about my Fall 2021 Round Top trip!

What is the Round Top Antiques and Design Show?

Located under an hour and a half east of Austin, TX, the Round Top Antiques and Design show is a 2-week show, with shopping along TX HWY 237 between the towns of Round Top, Carmine, Warrenton, and Fayetteville, Texas. Along this 11-mile stretch of highway sit venues, barns, and fields filled with hundreds of vendors of all scales, ready to fulfill all your shopping desires.

Not all the vendors are open until later in the show dates, so before you visit, be sure to check out this website for more details if you have certain venues in mind. While the majority of sites are free, there are a select few that charge entry tickets or parking fees.

Click HERE for the 2023 show guide with comprehensive vendor, restaurant, and lodging lists,

Where to Stay?

Since the Antique Show is a large event with many visitors from all over the world, lodging tends to book quickly. You will not find a large hotel chain close by, with the largest town within an hour’s radius being Brenham, TX. Our number one choice is booking through Airbnb, VRBO, or similar local rental sites. These stays are precious and curated to the character that this area of Texas embodies.

Our most recent stay was in Country Dome Suites.

Click HERE for a comprehensive list of local stays.

What to Eat?

We always bring snacks and a pack of water bottles with us while shopping, but this year I was surprised to see how many more food options were available while shopping in the fields. Each field and venue is set up differently, but many had food trucks, bars, and restaurants.

Brussel Sprouts at The Garden Co.
Advocado Toast + Goat Cheese Toast + Matcha Latte at Casa Blanke

Some of our favorites in Round Top were:

  • The Garden Co (American and Cocktails)
  • Casa Blanke (smoothies)
  • Lulu’s (Italian)

Click HERE for a comprehensive list of restaurants around the area.

Shopping

Here is where the fun begins, and where each visitor is unique. Some vendors are open year-round (typically weekend operating hours), but the majority of the fun happens during show dates. Some smaller items will be firm on pricing but for larger furniture items you may be able to negotiate, especially if you are purchasing multiple items. If you’re wanting the best deals, go at the end of the show when vendors are more likely to lower prices to minimize having to repack their inventory.

Every location is a little different in terms of budget, activities, and set up so I will give you a summary of how we spent our 3 days of shopping.

Click HERE for a comprehensive guide of all vendors at the Spring show.

Day 1: Blue Hills

I love going to Blue Hills to start off the trip: 75+ dealers, and over 100,000 sq feet of carefully curated and beautiful shops filled with unique antiques, home decor, art, and more. Here you can purchase cocktails, coffee, and food from several vendors, and the bathrooms are always clean.

Blue Hills Website

I like to start here to get ideas and ease into the weekend-I very rarely purchase large items from these vendors because prices will be higher here. Typically I will leave day one with a couple of smaller decor items unless there is a must-have piece. This is a great social venue as there are picnic tables set up around and the atmosphere is very relaxed.

Some favorite vendors here are:

  • East End Salvage
  • Leftover’s Antiques
  • Gather Goods

Click HERE for a full vendor list at Blue Hills.

Day 2: Downtown and Beyond

We started day two in Round Top’s Downtown then moved south towards Warrenton, stopping at venues along the way. Prices here still vary, but personally, these shops still sit on the higher end of my budget.

Some highlights from day two of shopping are:

  • Fickle Farms White Barn (champagne vending machine)
  • The Compound
  • Market Hill

Day 3: Warrenton

Warrenton is my favorite, budget-wise. You are antiquing so naturally, some pieces will still be pricey, but I find a lot of larger items are much more reasonable. We tend to lose steam by the time we get to the fields here, but here is where I find the best treasures because sometimes you have to explore a little deeper. There are no permanent bathrooms here, only portapotties, and food choices are limited.

Our choice locations in Warrenton are the Excess I & II fields. Favorite vendors include:

  • Kock on Wood
  • Rengai Living

On our way back to our Airbnb, we also stopped at McLaren’s, which is a fun shop to walk through as the majority of the items are source form England!

My Finds and How I Style Them:

My favorite part of coming home is unwrapping everything and seeing all my treasures together! It’s an instant boost of serotonin to see everything cohesively work together. Every old piece has a story, and I’m thankful to be a small part of their journey.

In addition to the smaller, decorative pieces collected above, we also came home with a salvaged oak dining and coffee table! The dining table is 9’2″x 3’6″ and made (new) from salvaged oak in the Netherlands. There were several styles of this table all over Round Top, and style varied slightly with prices (for a 9′) ranging from $3800-$8,000.

While I don’t know the exact history of the coffee table, I adore the salvaged architectural legs and tall stature. It fits perfectly in our living room and I plan to add some large baskets underneath for blankets and other storage. After a bit of negotiating, we came home with this large, 6’x 4′ coffee table for under $1,200.

Not everything I purchased this weekend was old; we stopped by Magnolia Market in Waco on our way home where I purchased the large pottery vase and magnifying glass. I love how Johanna Gaines’s newer product lines mimic old antique pieces.

I also found some newer glassware in Round Top home decor-centered shops, so the Round Top Antique Show truly has something for all types of shoppers! You do not have to have a design business, or a large budget, to enjoy a weekend exploring Round Top! You don’t even HAVE to buy anything to enjoy going; sometimes it’s fun to simply be with friends, and explore the treasures that antiquing brings to light.

For more info on how to collect salvaged/antique items see this post here: How to Find Antique Materials/Goods

Happy hunting & talk soon,

xx, Lanna

How to Find Salvaged & Antique Materials/Goods

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It’s no secret that I love giving an antique salvage piece a new life in my home. I don’t know what it is about old things, but I am constantly drawn to their history and stories. Even though my house is brand new, I wanted it to feel like pieces had been here for centuries. That’s why I constantly look for salvaged architectural details such as bricks, tiles, doors, and even furniture pieces. Even if it’s new, I want it to look old. (Check out our exterior cladding HERE. It screams old-world design to me.)

Here are the gorgeous European Quarry tiles that were sourced by my friend Kaci at East End Salvage. We used them in our walk-in pantry and they perfectly replicate the old-world feel I want in every space of our home.

But Lanna, where do you find all these pieces? Where do I look to find some myself? Friend, let’s dive in.

  1. Antique/Salvage Vendors
    • Some of my favorite pieces have been sourced by people who find salvage for a living! I have met so many great vendors at Round Top Antique Show (see last year’s finds HERE) and through local contacts. Here’s a list of some of my favorites!
      • East End Salvage
      • Benny Jack Antiques
      • Stone Farm Living
      • Knock On Wood Antiques
      • The Old Grainery
  2. Facebook Marketplace
    • Facebook can be a tricky one to train toward your liking. My biggest tip here is to go in and search for items you like, even if you aren’t going to buy them yet. Search “bricks”, “tiles” “antique” and “architectural salvage”. Scroll and find similar items to what you are looking for and then save them-even if you won’t return to them. This will help train your Facebook algorithm to automatically pull up items you are interested in.
  3. Local Salvage/Surplus Stores
    • Habitat for Humanity has great items, and while they may not actually be old, a lot of times you can find tiles that will fit right in.
    • Search for salvage yards in your area and give them a shot-usually these are a trial and error but you never know when you’ll find a gem.
    • Garage/Estate sales.
      • Estate sales are superior
  4. Online
    • If you’re looking for antique furniture check out these below. There are usually items in all budget ranges.
      • 1st Dibs
      • Chairish
      • Etsy
The bricks in my laundry and mud room originally came from two separate textile mills in Massachusetts. They were sourced from Stone Farm LLC and sliced into thin pavers.

You’ll find thrill in the hunt. I remember growing up, I would always get super embarrassed by my mother slowing down when she saw large piles of thrown-out renovation trash. And I cringed as she would recruit me to load up an item pulled from what I saw as the garbage. But every item she pulled was turned into something beautiful down the line. I guess what they say about one’s trash is another’s treasure really is true.

Seeking out salvaged items is often a jog, not a sprint. So start looking in advance of when you will need something! I had my old windows for my greenhouse sitting in storage for years before I finally put them to use. So if you are able, plan ahead.

Photos by EMPhotograpy of the greenhouse before I changed the back wall last spring.

Salvage does not HAVE to be expensive to look nice. Almost every structural piece of my greenhouse I found either on Facebook Marketplace or sitting in an old barn on the property. Even the lockers and birdcage chandelier came from an estate sale. You have to be patient and always have your eye out for those cool pieces.

Happy hunting, and talk soon.

xx. Lanna

Our Guest Bedroom

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I like to start out every space I design with a mood and design board. This gives me the opportunity to “test” out products before I commit to purchasing them and allows me to play around with different design elements in a space. Plus, they’re fun!

When designing the guest bedroom, I wanted to create a home-away-from-home feel for our company, while staying true to my design style or warm and cozy. I grounded my design off this beautiful artwork I purchased From Laurel-Dawn Corner Studio and a gifted rug from Loloi Rugs. I love how the colors in each piece radiate warmth and comfort and give the room an elevated feel!

I still have several more items to add, but all good things come with time! Click HERE to read my tips about creating an inviting bedroom space.

Scroll below for links to products in this room.

Links:

Headboard: Nathan James Remi Channel Tufted Headboard

Bed: Harlow Solid Wood Bed Frame

Bedding: Midweight Premium Down Comforter, Lyocell Cotton Blend Duvet & Sham Set, 1200 Thread Count Cotton Rich Sateen Sheet Set 

Rug: Layla Olive Charcoal

Accent Chair: Penn Chair

Ceiling Fan: Minka Aire Orb

Throw Blanket: Chunky Knit Throw

Curtains: TWOPAGES Birkin Velvet Curtains in Sable

Curtain Rods: 1″ French Return

Artwork: Lauren Dawn Corner Studio

Click HERE to read my tips about creating an inviting bedroom space.

Click HERE to see some of my favorite bed options for a cozy transitional space.

Talk Soon.

xx, Lanna

Styling an Inviting Guest Bedroom

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As the holiday season comes to a close and the guests all make their way home, I’m sure the last thing on your mind is entertaining and hosting overnight company. Trust me, I am probably one of the last people who is thinking about wanting more people in her home right now. In a span of 14 days, we hosted out-of-town family and friends for a total of three different Christmas gatherings and two New Years’ Eve parties-oh-and closed and moved into our custom new home.

*Alexa, play Crazy by Patsy Cline*

Despite my need for retreating back under my rock, I think now is the perfect time to start thinking ahead for the next overnight event. But I am not talking about meal planning or buying presents: I am talking about creating a warm and inviting place for your guests to retreat to in the evening.

I love my people. And I always want them to find my home as a reflection of comfort and ease. A welcome place where they can let their guard down, their children can run free, and they can find restful sleep after a day of fun. That’s why I put so much thought into creating spaces they can enjoy as well.

Like most of my home, I treat styling my guest bedroom as a jog, not a sprint. Cozy places often take time to curate-it’s okay if everything isn’t perfect on day one!

Here are some tips for styling a great guest (or main) bedroom where the retreat is welcome:

1. Start with neutral base pieces that anchor the room, but can adapt to many color palettes and styles

I like to start with the most important aspect of a bedroom: the bed!

Finding bed separates are key in making a space flexible and interchangeable over time, so opt for a platform bed frame in black, white, or wood tones and a headboard that can either be mounted to the wall or attached to your bed frame.

Check out some of my favorite bed choices HERE

2. Pick a color palette and style that reflects your home

After all, your guest bedroom is inside YOUR home. YOU have to also love it and while you design it with your guests in mind, your guests will love seeing a reflection of your style.

Does choosing colors make you nervous? Don’t stress: an easy trick is to anchor your colors off a piece of art, or a rug you like. Then it will all be tied together.

3. Choose quality bedding and linens

Whether you are a white bedding fanatic like me or opt for colored linens, pick a quality thread count and nice pillows. Bedding can set a room apart and makes or breaks the whole “overnight” experience.

If you really want to get fancy, use lots of layers! Sheets, duvets, quilts, throw blankets, and pillows all make an ordinary bedroom feel like a luxurious hotel getaway.

4. Add room-darkening curtains

Sleeping in or needing to put a little down for a midday nap? Buy the room darkening curtains.

My favorite curtains are these from TWOPAGES. The price for quality is unmatched, and you can customize them!

5. Ambiance lighting

Lamps, Sconces, Pendants.

However, you choose to do it, add in calming ambiance lighting. We joke here about why we even installed overhead lighting because I use it so infrequently.

6. Take your time adding accent pieces

Accent pieces elevate a room, but are not necessary. I love to hunt for functional accent pieces like chairs, benches, wardrobes, and side tables at antique stores to add a mix of old-world charm, but you can find these pieces wherever you shop! These pieces are where your style can really shine-so don’t worry about needing to rush!

Creating these spaces is supposed to be FUN! So this is your permission to take your time and find those things you love. It doesn’t have to happen overnight, or even be perfect according to a textbook: this is your home, make it what you love. I always like to design virtual mood boards to help me make those tricky design choices that come with shopping online. That way you can be sure you love how an item looks in the space before committing to purchasing.

To see more of my evolving, work-in-progress, guest space or to shop my guest bedroom: Click HERE.

Talk soon.

xx, Lanna

Neutral Bed Options I Love

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I like to ground a bedroom with neutral, versatile pieces that can evolve with your style over time. Below are some beautiful rooms that I absolutely love the bed selection for:

Lone Fox Home, The Roosting PLace, McGee & Co

I’ve picked out a few favorites to help you build your cozy transitional bedroom without breaking the bank:

Platforms bed frames

Gallager 12″ Bed Frame

Harlow Solid Wood Platform Bed

Hanks 6″ Steel Bed

Headboards

Serena Steel Headboard – Modway

Halecrest Channel Tufted Headboard

Nathan James Remi Channel Tufted Headboard

Wood & Cane Panel Headboard 

Duron Headboard

I just love how all these add dimension and texture to the space! To see some other tips on how to create inviting bedroom spaces, click HERE.

Talk soon.

xx, Lanna

Big House: Exterior Cladding

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In some ways, I am thankful that our home has taken 2.5 years to come to fruition. I have learned a lot about myself in the past couple of years, specifically, I have really come into my own design style. I am no longer afraid to branch out and try some unorthodox (for past Lanna) methods. I am not afraid to do things differently than the trends are highlighting.

This being said: I originally envisioned living in a white-painted brick home. When we were working with our architect, almost every inspiration photo I sent her was white brick, with wooden accents, and a black roof. I was convinced that I needed a crisp, white modern farmhouse that looked like all those beautiful ones I have admired in magazines and on Pinterest. Until I saw one in person. Then another. And another. I was a little blinded by the number of white brick homes I began to see everywhere. They felt like copy-and-paste versions of a trend that will fade in a couple of years and then what happens when everyone wants natural red brick again?

Click HERE to see what inspired my exterior.

Don’t get me wrong here: if you love white-painted brick exteriors, that is amazing, and I encourage you to explore that with your own home if that is what you wish. I still think they are beautiful. But, for me, seeing the same white brick all over every home made me want to do something…different.

So I started thinking about what I wanted our home to be for us. I want to come home every day and feel in awe that I am blessed to live here.

So I started thinking about what I wanted our home to be for us.

Enchanted, Dazzled, Delight…Captivated. Captivated and embraced by the feelings that home encompasses. Many of these feelings have been stirred ironically when I have been furthest from home and exploring places around the world. I have been captivated by European buildings that have stood for hundreds of years, wearing every scar and wrinkle with pride. I have been delighted as I have walked through old downtown shops full of stories. Oh-if buildings could speak, what would they say?

At first, I didn’t know how to achieve this feeling on the exterior of my home, but I knew I wanted every aspect of my home to reflect those feelings of enchantment that have brought me tranquility down to my core. I wanted to blend that old-world feel of comfort with modern design. So I began searching. I needed to keep a rock/brick design element because our foundation had already been poured with brick ledges. I immediately thought of Austin stone to give me texture, but too much yellow reflection in the sunlight. So my search refined slowly from white homes to gray stone.

And then I found Horizon Stone, a company out of Chattanooga, TN that manufactures thin stone veneer (it’s actually made of cement and coated to look like beautiful stone!)

Click HERE to view our exact stone selection

When I clicked on their site and started exploring more I read: “…blending the best of old-world stone structures and modern technology, we affordably offer the timeless look of stone with the modern convenience of custom manufacturing.” There it was. Old world. Modern. A perfect match in my books. And affordable?? I order a sample of their 19th Century Stone in Hermitage.

I also ordered some other stone veneer samples to compare because I was nervous this product would surely not live up to its more affordable cost (from the stone yard we purchased from it was $6.50/sq ft, and this was comparable to what we would have paid to have brick installed, then painted!) Let me tell you, none of the other stone veneers I ordered could hold a flame to the color and texture that was on the Horizon Stone sample board.

So we ordered it.

The delivery sat on our job site for 6 months before we finally got to the stage where our masons could install it. But let me tell you that when they were able to install I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. Enchanted, Dazzled, Delighted, Captivated. And the masons even took the time to teach and show me how to lay the patterns and install the stone veneer myself, so while they definitely did 98% of the work, I can feel proud knowing that I had a hand in laying the stone of our forever home.

What’s even more exciting is the fact that we ordered too much stone! So we were able to also install it on our retaining wall, and even have enough to face the fronts of some add-ons we have planned down the road (Like a new barn and a workshop!) I cannot wait to continue to use this stone veneer as a way to tie our property together and to feel like we have brought a piece of history here, all while making our own.

FAQ’s

What is the difference between manufactured and natural stone?

Natural stone is made by nature and is quarried and cut into various shapes for different uses. Manufactured stone (also known as a stone veneer or cultured stone) is made of a cement mixture that is poured into molds and colored to look like real stone.

How much per sq ft did your exterior cost?

Prices may vary depending on the stone yard, your location, and cost inflation-but when we purchased ours it was $6.50 per sq ft.

What stone did you use?

Horizon Stone 19th Century in Hermitage

Are you going to use Horizon Stone again?

Yes! We have several additional structures planned (a workshop and a new barn) for our little homestead and I plan to use this stone veneer to tie all the buildings together!

I cannot wait to show you all more photos of our exterior as we get landscaping finalized! It’s going to be good. You can always stay up to date with the most recent updates on my Instagram: @TheRoostingPlace

Talk soon.

xx, Lanna

Mudroom Design

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While our future home is still well under construction, I recently shared on Instagram the design board for our mudroom and decided to share links to all the pieces that have inspired this room in our home!

I have to first include some honorable mentions that inspired my mudroom design: (you can find these and more on my Pinterest)

Hammers N Hugs
Monica Hibbs
Katarina Brucks

I love how all these spaces meld together with warm tones to give the most inviting spaces!

Click through below to find my sources! I’m super happy to have found most of my tiles at local discount stores over the past year and all that saving allowed me to buy the brass fixture of my dog wash dreams!

BRITTANIA MATTE PORCELAIN TILE

CLOE 5″ x 5″ CERAMIC TILE IN WHITE

ESMER INFINITY GLASS WALL TILE

GOOSENECK TUB-WALL-MOUNT FAUCET AND HAND SHOWER

Fiore Florence Slate & Sage Power-Loomed Rug

My thin brick pavers are coming from Stone Farm Living and I cannot wait to install these Reclaimed Chicago Bricks in my home! Stay tuned for more details because I will be able to get my hands on this space very soon!

Talk Soon.

xx, Lanna

7 Day Makeover

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My sister has had a really tough year. She fractured her spine playing volleyball this past September and has had to be in a giant brace for the majority of the year. On top of the brace, complications of physical therapy, and the potential for back surgery at the age of 13, there were a couple of outside factors that added tremendous emotional strain. While I won’t go into those details because it is not my story to tell, I can say that there is light at the end of the tunnel and most of the large hills have been climbed.

Now that she is going into high school this fall, my mom and I wanted to surprise her with something special to “reset” the trajectory of 2022. My sister and her scholastic team qualified for nationals which were held in Nashville, TN so for the past couple of months my mom and I planned to give her a complete room makeover while they were gone. That meant I had 7 days to tackle a complete room project that included: paint, closet demo and revamp, custom desk build, accent wall, new light fixture, and all the details in between.

You can watch the whole process on my Instagram: @theroostingplace

I consulted with my mom and sister to gauge exactly what they needed from this room. My mom wanted to ensure she had plenty of storage space and my sister wanted a modern boho vibe with greens and neutral bases. I also wanted to make sure this room was age-appropriate but would grow effortlessly with her over the upcoming years.

This post contains affiliate links.

The initial design:

The Before

This room used to be my mom’s craft room. My sister had outgrown her old room (built-in loft bed) and so they are using her old room as the office, and turning the craft room into her bedroom.

This makeover was challenging and I ran on fumes most of the week which peaked anxieties about not completing it on time. But when I say my husband is a rockstar, I mean it. He was willing to spend our weekend finishing the heavy lifting and fine-tuning to make this dream a reality. I’m so thankful for partners like Framebridge and Boutique Rugs (use code ROOSTINGPLACE for an additional 5% discount) for gifting some products featured in Lyndsey’s room. Those finishing touches really make a difference!

You can watch the whole process on my Instagram highlights.

The After

Links

Headboard

Vinyl Accent Wall

Sun Pillow (similar style)

Comforter

Sheets (super soft Amazon sheets!)

Throw blanket (similar)

Storage Trunk

“Let your light shine” Sign

Side Table

LED Strip Lights (these were having some issues sticking)

Light Fixture “Fandelier”

Rug

Gallery Frames

Desk Base

Baskets

Light Bulbs

Light rope

Curtains

Curtain Rods

curtain clips

Closet System

Closet drawer add-ons

Paint Colors:

SW Coastal Plain

BM Swiss Coffee

This speed makeover was so fun to do, and the joy that it brought will be a memory I will cherish forever. I cannot wait to watch her grow into this space and give her own creative touches over the years to come.

Talk soon.

xx, Lanna

Coop Maintenance

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Because we built our coop on the larger side and allow our birds to free-range, my maintenance schedule is very reasonable and easy to incorporate into our lives. Note that chickens are animals, and no coop will be clean all the time, but keeping a coop clean and free of moisture is vital to your flock’s health. Chickens poo where they roost, so keep this in mind when building a coop/placing roosting bars.

Everyone’s cleaning schedule looks a bit different based on their flock’s needs, but below I have outlined what works for us:

Daily:

My chickens have an auto door that opens and closes on a timer to allow them to free-range during daylight hours.

Remove eggs

Check Water in run

Fill feeders in run

Monthly:

Add a new layer of shavings to the coop (or as needed). Replace any nesting pads that are spent.

Scrub any poo-covered “touch” surfaces- now that I have added a ceiling to prevent my hens from roosting in the rafters, poo should stay out of the storage or contact spaces.

Add in dried herbs to freshen the coop. Or apply a coop spray.

Sprinkle First Saturday Lime and/or diatomaceous earth on surfaces to prevent unwanted buggies.

Bi-Annual:

I completely remove the shavings, leaving behind a small amount of the old so any existing good bacteria stay incorporated.

Add a new layer of mulch in the run

Annual:

Deep clean the coop with a pressure washer to remove any unwanted substances from walls, spray with a white vinegar/dish soap spray then scrub, rinse, and allow to completely dry.

Sprinkle First Saturday Lime and Diatomaceous Earth on surfaces

Apply a thick layer of new shavings

Replace nesting pads.

Remove mulch from run (I place it in my in-ground beds) and lay a new, thick layer of mulch.

I find this schedule pretty easy to follow, and adapt as I see fit for the health of my flock-but I hope this helps give an insight into what to expect when owning chickens!

Talk soon,

xx, Lanna

Thinking about Chickens?

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I personally think that chickens are extremely easy to maintain and super fun additions to a farm! Besides eggs, chickens can provide meat (if you choose) soil aeration, and compostable droppings (more on composting chicken manure here) to utilize in your garden! And you don’t have to have a fancy set-up to own chickens (although, it definitely makes chicken owning more appealing!)

Here are some things to think about when considering adding chickens to your farm:

Breed Selection:

I often get asked how you know which breed of chicken is right for you and that’s important to ask because not all chickens are made the same. The answer is simple: do your research and ask:

  • What is my climate? Do I need cold-hardy or heat-tolerant breeds?
  • How many eggs do I need? Some breeds are higher producers, others lower.
  • Do you care about size of the egg? Bantam and other small breeds lay smaller eggs.
  • Are you looking for a particular color of eggs? Egg color is determined by the genetics of a breed.
  • What size of coop do I have available? This determines how many hens you can keep (rule of thumb is 3-5 sq ft/bird).
  • How much run space can I provide? (Rule of thumb is at least 8-10 sq ft/bird-the more, the happier your chickens).

Shelter

Chickens need a clean place to roost that is off the ground, nesting boxes (preferably off the ground) to lay eggs, and to protect from the elements/predators. This space also needs to be well ventilated to prevent the buildup of dangerous fumes which can cause respiratory issues in your birds.

We put a fan in our coop to help circulate air in the hot Texas summers, but when it comes to the cold, the majority of the time chickens will hold their own without additional lamps due to the creation of air pockets under their feathers that will act as an insulating jacket!

Maintenance

Because we built our coop on the larger side and allow our birds to free-range, my maintenance schedule is very reasonable and easy to incorporate into our lives. Note that chickens are animals, and no coop will be clean all the time, but keeping a coop clean and free of moisture is vital to your flock’s health. Chickens poo where they roost, so keep this in mind when building a coop/placing roosting bars.

Everyone’s cleaning schedule looks a bit different but click HERE to see my yearly schedule.

Feeding

Primary feed, once chickens have reached laying age, is a layer feed. (we use Purina layer pellets). This will ensure your flock’s nutritional requirements are met.

You can supplement their diet with treats or fruits/vegetables but avoid potentially poisonous foods like:

  • citrus
  • rhubarb
  • avocado
  • uncooked beans
  • green potato skins
  • onions
  • nightshade leaves

My flock has access to pellets and fresh water at all times, and since allowing them to free-range/forage, I notice they don’t go through the feed as quickly!

My Flock

You can read about the breeds/temperaments of my current flock HERE.

Hope this shed some light on those questions to ask when preparing for chickens!

Talk Soon,

xx, Lanna