Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

All the young Orloffs have died. Good new is that the remaining seven are looking fine, even the one with the bacterial infection is recovering well. Gosh I hope this is a trend.

Any idea the cause? Maybe something in your soil?

The die is cast. My birthday present from my wife last week is a new coop large enough for 6 chickens. Next will be putting together the accessories: brooder, feeders, waterers, metal trash cans to hold feed, electricity to the coop, building a run, and so on, that you all know about. We settled on Blue Laced Red Wyandottes for our first little flock and made our first inquiry into chicks from a local breeder. We will wait until early spring before brooding our first group.

Lots of challenges ahead, but I have a smile on my face thinking about meeting them. I was in my early teens the last time we had our own little flock back on the farm. The eggs and eventually the chickens were my grandmother's hobby/contribution to our farm livelihood as I was growing up. I have happy memories of her and these hens will remind me of how much I loved/love her.

Welcome and don't hesitate to ask questions. On this thread especially we're good with knowing the winter stuff and giving each other tips. Quite a vast bit of knowledge from folks here, as well, and on a variety of topics - chicken or not.

 

[Widget]

Thanks, Widget. Do you buy it at a store, or privately? I got it from a local farm, which tends to be high for everything. If I ever need more than a few bales I'm definitely going to price shop!

I dont use it but I buy plenty of hay from a local feed store. They have straw listed at the $9 a bale. Their hay is a bit more than the local farmers charge but the hours are more convenient and the customer service cant be beat. I know if hay starts to get in short supply I will be one of their preferred customers.

 

[hoppy]

Welcome, Striperon!

LG: glad to hear that hay is a suitable alternative. I just about died at the price of a bale of straw when I bought it last weekend... $10.50! Is it typically that high?!

 

[lazy gardener]

Welcome, Striperon!

LG: glad to hear that hay is a suitable alternative. I just about died at the price of a bale of straw when I bought it last weekend... $10.50! Is it typically that high?!

 

[lazy gardener]

How long does it usually take a pullet to complete a molt? My girls are going into a molt, egg production down to about 50%. Also, I'm concerned that 4/5 appear to be underweight with a very prominent keel. The only one who appears to be adequately fleshed is the Alpha RIR. They're all acting and moving well, have their feed bowl almost always full of FF. Out to free range about 3 hours/day, otherwise, ranging in my garden. They've had 2 doses of Ivermectin pour on in the last 2 months. I did see a couple of small red mites on the eggs for a couple of days last week, none since I removed the hay from one of the nest boxes. DE and permethrin in bottom of nest boxes, and I'll re-apply to perches and joints where perches join walls. No signs of mites anywhere.

 

[Jazor]

Thanks, Widget. Do you buy it at a store, or privately? I got it from a local farm, which tends to be high for everything. If I ever need more than a few bales I'm definitely going to price shop!

If you guys are ever looking for a larger order just message me. One of my coworkers delivers hay on weekends but it's not for the guy lookin for a bale or two, we're talkin big orders. Feel free to let me know.

 

[anyasmifya]

Does anyone out there keep a chicken inside as a pet?

 

[lazy gardener]

There's a gal on the old timers/natural thread who does. Go to the thread: Pet chickens inside house.

 

[Jazor]

Does anyone out there keep a chicken inside as a pet?

Also I noticed in a duck thread someone that keeps a pekin inside as a pet--might be worth looking at but you're at your own risk. I felt like I had seen more than enough shameless "my precious" photos when I was about 10 pages into the thread--and there's hundreds of pages. Probably a few similarities you could draw upon as far as keeping a chicken inside, but don't say I didn't warn you.

I don't mean to be rude, but it was a thread I didn't spend too long visiting--put it that way.

 

[MEMama3]

Making just one more pitiful plea: I am hunting for a brahma, wyandotte, maran or barred rock either young hen or POL pullet. Pet quality is fine by us. Trying to stay within an hour of Fryeburg, but the closer the better. I want to do this soon as I have a bird in quarantine and I don't want to add her to the flock solo.