BYC members in Massachusetts?

[ShrekDawg]

Anybody feed Poulin Grain?

 

[Merrymouse]

We ended up getting the silky- and a companion. 7 chickens- definitely will expand!!

We love pictures....hint..hint...

 

[keesmom]

Anybody feed Poulin Grain?

I have from time to time in the past. I wouldn't hesitate to use it if it were more available around here. I generally go to Blue Seal in NH. I figure it's fresher, and I save around $2-3 a bag buying it straight from them.

 

[s k y]

We love pictures....hint..hint...

Here they are
RIR - General Gao
Silky - Lily

Socializing- eating from my hand!

 

[ShrekDawg]

I have from time to time in the past. I wouldn't hesitate to use it if it were more available around here. I generally go to Blue Seal in NH. I figure it's fresher, and I save around $2-3 a bag buying it straight from them.

That makes sense! I was wondering because Morrison's is switching to that from Nutrena. I had been feeding Flock Raiser from TSC for winter and went back to buy Hearty Hen (Nutrena) and they told me and yeah. They say it's just as good or better and feed it to their chickens so I trust them. It is a little weird though cause last year they switched from Agway to Nutrena, which I liked cause I wanted Nutrena anyway, and now they're switching to Poulin Grain or maybe did a few months, I haven't been in in a while. But is switching brands so often common with feed stores or not really?? Either way, I'm excited to try it!

 

[dcba flock]

That makes sense! I was wondering because Morrison's is switching to that from Nutrena. I had been feeding Flock Raiser from TSC for winter and went back to buy Hearty Hen (Nutrena) and they told me and yeah. They say it's just as good or better and feed it to their chickens so I trust them. It is a little weird though cause last year they switched from Agway to Nutrena, which I liked cause I wanted Nutrena anyway, and now they're switching to Poulin Grain or maybe did a few months, I haven't been in in a while. But is switching brands so often common with feed stores or not really?? Either way, I'm excited to try it!

I have bought the Poulin the gentlemen that run the company were at the show in Springfield super nice and well informed guys! I liked their feed a lot but at my local dealer it's a little more expensive than some of the other feeds and I have to drive farther to get it.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I have bought the Poulin the gentlemen that run the company were at the show in Springfield super nice and well informed guys! I liked their feed a lot but at my local dealer it's a little more expensive than some of the other feeds and I have to drive farther to get it.

That's good to know the owners are nice and informed! That's almost as important as good feed nothing worse than poor customer service/rude people or ones who have no idea what they're doing. I'm not sure how expensive it is direct from them but at our store it's about the same as the other feed I was feeding

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think I might possibly have a broody hen and I'm torn between breaking her or getting her some hatching eggs

Either that or she was laying and I'm just being a jerk.

I've taken her off the nest twice, once last night when everyone else was on the roosts, and once this afternoon. I'm thinking she's broody based on the fact she was on it after dark but yeah. I think I'll put some ceramic eggs out and see if she is or not

 

[windyridgefarm]

I think I might possibly have a broody hen and I'm torn between breaking her or getting her some hatching eggs

Either that or she was laying and I'm just being a jerk.

I've taken her off the nest twice, once last night when everyone else was on the roosts, and once this afternoon. I'm thinking she's broody based on the fact she was on it after dark but yeah. I think I'll put some ceramic eggs out and see if she is or not

She may or may not be starting to go broody but if she is she has a long way to go. When she is you will know it by some very different behavior. She will go around puffed up and clucking in a way she hasn't before, She will also become more "aggressive", super charged with hormones she will be looking for a fight and taking on all comers going several steps up the pecking order. If you dont see these behaviors It is not uncommon for lower ranking hens and sometimes roosters to hang out in the nesting boxes as a safe sheltered place.
If she is broody and you decide to break her, one of the best ways is to put her in a cage/nesting box with a wire bottom so she cannot retain the heat she would need to brood eggs and give up. Just dont put her outside the run to keep her away from the nesting boxes, as a friend of mine did, talk about ringing the dinner bell.
Personally I just cant resist having more chicks lol.

 

[owlsayshoo]

Middlesex area- don't really want to give specifics, but pretty darn close to concord.

We must be practically neighbors -- I'm also pretty darn close to Concord!

Anyway, here's a general hello to everyone else! We just got our first chicks ever this week and we've already expanded, ha! I brought home 6 RIRs on Monday, then the whole family came with me to the feed store on Thursday and picked out 2 Barred Rocks and 2 Australorps. Hopefully that's it for now!

We're having our coop built right now by Coops for a Cause in NH. Has anyone used them? We'll be building the run ourselves and as people who have never had chickens before, I'm a little nervous we'll screw it up. I've scoured this site for tips and recommendations so hopefully all will be well!