Maine

[buckabucka]

My rooster was also distraught when I separated him.

A chicken-owner friend once told me, that an old-timer told him, to put a pine branch in the coop to help stop picking. I didn't think it would help, until I realized they eat them! Mine only like white pine. I put small branches in there all winter, replenishing them almost daily because they eat the needles quickly. Just one more preventive measure you might try (that is really easy).

 

[MustardTiger]

Mustard Tiger: Re: compost: you might have good luck contacting your local landscaping companies. You can buy finished compost (not as good as home made, but it will fill the immediate need for you) by the square yard, which is how you want to get it. Most companies will deliver. Last time I priced it, it was around $30/yd. Will you mix it in with existing soil, or will you build beds on the ground and fill them with compost? IMO, and everyone is welcome to it... (I'm an opinionated old lady, if you haven't noticed) bagged compost is a total waste of money. If you have the room, I'd also recommend that you look at the option of 4' wide beds. 3' is quite limiting, while 4' gives you more of a root zone to work with, and also allows you to easily reach across it from one side or the other. 4' won't be as apt to dry out as a 3' bed. also, you might want to look at the lasagna gardening concept.

I also get compost... or the makings for compost from my local dump. Dump day is a serious source of excitement for me, much to hubby's chagrin! He can't even get the trash out of the truck, before I'm scouting to see if there are any goodies that I need to bring home. I'm on the prowl again this spring, because I have the go ahead to build a new coop. He'll help with the design this time around. I scored some nice hinges at the habitat store yesterday.

I love opinions, its why I asked I don't care if they are 4' wide. My husband seems to think its a bit of a reach but that was my original suggestion so I will use your tips as ammunition to go with 4' ! We have some soil to mix with it from the half composted heap we tore off to make the garden patch (its a big heap - the garden is 45x60) so if it seems sufficiently composted I might add that in but I dont want to get weed seeds in there so that is iffy. Most likely I will be building them on the ground and filling from the ground up. $30/yard sounds good to me. Most places around here are up near $45/y which is what I was trying to avoid by asking here for a quick answer Ill just have to do the footwork!

 

[ducklucky]

Does the pine branch thing work for ducks too? Mine are soooo tired of being in their little barn, and the Pekins are starting to pick on the Buffs. Any suggestions for distractions? They refuse to set foot outside in the snow.

 

[Widget]

Not sure if ducks like the pine branches but I know goats do. My escapee made a beeline for the closest pine tree the last time she got out. The birds, on the other hand, tend to go out with the horses and scratch and sun bathe on the spilled hay.

Lots of melting going on here this weekend.

And a chance of another 5-10 inches of snow Wednesday/Thursday.

While at Longhorn today getting hay I remembered to pick up a bag of chick starter. Almost forgot that I might need some in a couple weeks. For some reason I seem to think that it is the beginning of winter not nearing the end. Heck I even thought that eggnog would be out in the stores soon. Took me a minute to realize that it is March going into April not November.

 

[CoopChick719]

I learned that pine needles are a good source of vitamin c for people as well as chickens. I've been sticking downed pine branches through the pen fence for them to nibble on.

 

[suzMEchicks]

Hi my two cents about getting compost from the dump. I know a lot of people have great luck with that but I got a bunch a couple years ago and got it home . Started to shovel it and realized it was full of big gross white grubs. Otherwise it was really nice stuff. I ended up dumping it out on tarps ( 2 big trash barrels full) and sifting through it all to get rid of the things. So after that I think you can get other people's troubles. But it is free. And I love free. I really need to get better at making my own compost. Gardening for 38 years and I am not good at that.Will revamp my compost bin. I got some ideas from a blog I saw thanks to MeMama3! Have a great day everyone! I love Monday . I'm a weekend supervisor ( Fri, Sat, Sunday) so its my day off and the sun just came out!

 

[MEMama3]

Excuse the censored expletives but *\¢<¡\¡<|~

rooster just cornered me in the coop and tried to flog me. It took me an honest five minutes to get him out and get the door closed and another five minutes to collect myself so I could leave the coop and get to the house. Chicken dinner tonight!

 

[suzMEchicks]

Wow! I can't have a rooster. I live so close to my neighbors who are barely tolerating my hens! I wish I could live on a farm! I'm glad you got out ok

 

[MEMama3]

Wow! I can't have a rooster. I live so close to my neighbors who are barely tolerating my hens! I wish I could live on a farm! I'm glad you got out ok

I'm not suppose to, but my neighbors said they didn't mind. "The Enforcer" is going to come and get him dinner ready.

 

[Jazor]

I have a co-worker looking for:

two golden laced wyandottes
two silver laced wyandottes
two speckled sussex

(all females).

Anyone know where I could help him find a few? He works in Portland, and between one of us we could meet up or pick up from a feed store etc.