Connecticut!

[dusty910]

Helllooo everyone - newbie chick momma here! I've spent so much time trying to educate myself on the forums that I just noticed this thread

Very excited to see that there are some chicken people in my area!
I'm in Deep River right over the Essex line and started off with 3 americauana chicks. I am so fascinated with them - I can watch them for hours! Hoping to have eggs in about another month or so. I live in a heavily wooded area and we are loaded with wildlife but have not had any problems with them yet. My coop is under our deck where its somewhat sheltered from wind, rain and sun and power was easy to add. I have lights off the deck at night which I think is a bit of a deterrent to predators and since its right outside my bedroom, I would hope I could hear if they were in distress. They free range during the day when I'm outside to watch them. I have been told that I can have up to 20 chickens although we only have 1 1/2 acres - I think it is based on the area of town that you are in. I just keep thinking, wow, 17 more, its such a temptation! I'm trying to figure out where I can put another coop to add to my flock next spring

 

[ratlummountain]

hello, i'm new to the forum also.
great resource so far, i'm digging it.

seems i have some neighbors, i'm in barkhamsted, ct. (northwest quadrant)

i have 2 rhode island red's and 2 golden comets that are about 10 weeks old right now.
my first chicken venture and i'm loving it!

when we bought our house 3 years ago it came with 2 dilapidated chicken coops. we're in the process of sprucing one up for the girls. having fun but i forgot how much i hated sanding & painting.

soon enough i'll be posting pics in the "coop" section.

happy to meet ya'll!

 

[mom23chicklets]

Hi Everyone! From Sherman here, near the NY border, north of Danbury. Love my chickens! New to all this. Researched owning chickens to death before I finally made the leap.

I have: 4 Ameraucanas (had 5 but a fox got one at 8:30 am about 5 minutes after I let them out to free range) 3 Dominique, 3 Cuckoo Marans, 4 GLW, 2 SLW, 3 BO, 3 Speckled Sussex, 3 Golden Phoenix, 1 Golden Campine, 1 Australorp.

Anyone going to the Bridgewater Fair this August?

Ruth

 

[PurpleChicken]

Can't believe I missed this thread!!!

Beacon Falls here.

Mom23chicklets, we'll be there this year. We're gonna show a bird as a goof
since none of our birds are show quality (don't tell them). I was a vendor there
last year but this time I'm just gonna go and enjoy it. Great fair.

 

[thechickenfarmer]

Hey Everybody,
I'm so glad there are lots of CT chicken people now! I don't have as much time to go on the forum as I used to but it's great when I need to look something up. This hobby must be really catching on, I was in Borders book store in Danbury the other day and instead of the 1 chicken book they had a year ago there are at least 10!

mom23chicklets: Sounds like you have a great mix of chickens. How old are they? You're very close to me, I'm in Warren. We never miss the Bridgewater fair!

Jen

 

[dusty910]

Bridgwater Fair?? If there are chickens there, I would love to go! Can anyone tell me when the fair is?

 

[thechickenfarmer]

Follow this link to all the Bridgewater fair info........

http://www.bridgewaterfair.com/

 

[mom23chicklets]

Purplechicken, how does one enter to show a chicken? Does it have to be a certain age? Well, best of luck to you! What will you be showing?

thechickenfarmer, my chicks are mostly 2 months old. I ordered them from Meyer Hatchery and with the exception of the 1 DOA, and 2 that died shortly after, they are all healthy and growing! Before my hatchery order, I got 5 ameraucanas from a 4H person in Naugatuck. One hen got taken by a fox. I love my mix of chickens. On my wish list for the next time I get more chicks (don't know when that'll be) are welsummers, salmon favs, and a couple more ameraucanas.

I love that we chicken lovers have others who share the love! Most of my friends look at me funny when I tell them I got 27 chickens!

 

[PurpleChicken]

I'm not sure how to enter. I'll call a week or two in advance to find out. They usually have a large tent or two for birds, among other small livestock like rabbits. I'm sure some 4H folks would know what to do.

 

[thechickenfarmer]

Hi Again Everybody,
To show a chicken at the fair just go to the fair site and click on show/contests (I think) it has all the rules. The deadline is 8-12 and your chicken has to be at least 5 months old. The one thing I don't understand is how you get the required blood tests. I was going to call my vet in Roxbury to see if it's something he can do in his office or does someone have to come out and test the whole flock...??? I thought my son (9 yrs.) would be more interested than he is. I think he's worried about the chicken staying there for 3 days! I can't say I blame him so we haven't decided yet if we're going to do it.

mom23chicklets, I get strange looks from most of my friends too. Most think it's an awful lot of work just for fresh eggs, they don't get it. Oh well....
This spring I got an order from Ideal hatchery. In it was supposed to be 4 Welsummers but instead I got 2 and 2 brown leghorns (I think that's what they are). They're 8 weeks old now and I have to say I LOVE the Welsummers! They are soooooo pretty. I got them all as company for 1 lone Salmon Faverolle that the 2nd grade class hatched for me. There was something wrong with their turner and out of 40 eggs I got just 1. They were really dissapointed but the one that hatched is the most beautiful all white girl so I was thrilled. I'm going to introduce her to my other Faverolles as soon as she's old enough.
Have a great day everybody

Jen