Connecticut!

[TheNuttyChick]

Hi!​

 

[TheNuttyChick]

 

[Vamvakas]

Welcome people from CT, Im here to sell this strange chick that know one knows this breed. I posted pics on BYC and they still don't know the breed.

 

[new chick 203]

How is everyone doing on this rainy day? I'm so glad the heat wave is over. Should be a nice weekend.

 

[Adenium]

This weekend should be nice and productive....we're waiting on our repaired chainsaw to be shipped back to us so we can finally clear out a spot for our brand new chicken coop, which should be delivered next week! We bought one from Parent Structures in Vernon, a 5 x 6 ft highwall Amish-style. Of course, now I wish it were bigger as I have a confirmed partridge roo who won't have enough hens to "share the love". Definitely NOT spending that same amount for a second coop. I think we will have roo problems, but will cross that bridge when we get to it.

I love my little flock, but they are 5 1/2 weeks old and need to get OUT. I had my three bigger chicks outside with me wandering around while I was weeding yesterday, and it was heavenly. I realized that's what we were missing when we were kids and weeding was an awful chore....it's just that we didn't have peeping chicks surrounding us darting in and out of the bushes. They were so happy and so was I.

Sadly, today it's too wet. I tried to tell the chicks, but they just looked at me like I'm their evil prison guard. I bought their renewed affection with another handful of moistened starter mash. Little piggies.

 

[4cluckers]

Good news to report.
I made a phone call to a neighboring town (Ellington, CT) to the zoning/land use staff person. This town employee was so pleasant and helpful when I told him about my problem with our zoning rules. The zoning regulations in Somers say that all "Farm Animals" are to be housed in a structure that is 200 feet from a property line and 100 ft from the road. Well, I don't have 200 feet of extra space on my one acre lot to comply. So rather than fork over $185 to get a variance, I decided to just CHANGE THE ZONING LAWS, in my town. That and the fact that my neighbor hates me; (would serve me better to just go ahead and make the laws chicken friendly. That and the fact that I can make it easier for other residence to have chickens if they want to).

So this gentleman from Ellington told me that he could contact all the zoning departments in the state via email and forward my inquiry to them all. Oooo, it gets better! This means that every Town/City in Ct Government got his message. Within about a half hour I had several emails with ton of info on chicken variances and amendments and all kinds of great stuff. The information was so good that I downloaded an actual Amendment for New London's new chicken zoning changes; so that I could use it as a template for my Towns proposed changes.

The next thing I am going to do is go to our local Library and sign up to use one of their rooms for a talk on "How to Raise Backyard Chickens" and then they will put it in the paper for free (the time and date) since the discussion is going to be free to the public. Then I am going to see if I can raise some funds to pay for the zoning change. I went to my Town to get the form but they gave me the wrong form.

I was also pleasantly suprised when a worker came out from the back area and handed me a copy of a website that helps pp change laws so that they can have chickens. Something to do with an Agricultural Commitee or something. If anyone wants the info, I can post it here.
So there! I am on my way. Wish me luck
Carolyn

 

[TheNuttyChick]

Very interesting! I am curious about some other towns and haven't been able to find info. I'd love to her more! I was interested in towns in my area and what their laws were as far as property size, number of chickens, if roos are allowed and if you can get a breeders permit to allow roos. My list includes Southington, Meridan, Plainville, Bristol and New Britain. I know a lot of people in those towns that have chickens but are afraid to go to town hall and ask only to find out that they can't have them or have too many. Keep us all posted!​

 

[new chick 203]

I have to tell you all that my chickens were attacked by a coyote this weekend in broad day light, in their tractor, right next to the house. I caught him in the act, but not in time to save them. The girls in the permanent run were fine, but shaken. The coyote had tried to dig under but gave up and went for the easier target - my bantam cochin and her babies. I'm telling you all because I thought I was secure against daytime predators, I had no idea that we could have a coyote problem here and that they were so bold. The property is fenced, we have a good size dog, and we live right in town. I know allot of you use tractors as a permanent home and everyone should think about what would make them safer. He'll be back- we have put out traps and fixed the damage he did to the big run... so horrible.

 

[TheNuttyChick]

I'm sooo sorry to hear about your birds.
Did it get momma and all the babies?
I've seen coyote, fox and bear in my area too but haven't had a problem, yet.
My birds don't go out if there is nobody to keep an eye on them.
I don't have a tractor (just open the coop door and let them into the back yard which is fenced in and 2 young pups to watch over them (mostly antagonize them). I plan on building a run for them so it's more secure.
I really hope you catch it and any other friends it has.
I would have never expected that in broad daylight! I guess if they are hungry enough anything can happen.​

 

[new chick 203]

Thanks. It did get everyone in the tractor. When they free range I'm out there with them, but I thought the tractor was solid enough. We're re-enforcing the big run and waiting for DEP wildlife people to call us back. They say we may not be able to trap it. I find it hard to believe that the guy in Colorado could legally buy all that amo and assault rifles but I can't put out a havaheart trap!