Maine

[quailtrail]

I got 13 out of 14 chicks hatched. Something happened with the last one, but I'm not sure what. She was properly positioned and had absorbed most of the yoke. Just didn't make it. Everyone else is fuzzy, cheeping up a storm in the brooder.

sorry about the one lost...but Congrats on a great hatch!!!

 

[quailtrail]

Oh Bucka....

Hot potatoes are an old fashioned 'hand warmer' trick.  It works really well for the chicks to have that extra something giving them warmth.  I got them a small enough box that they could huddle and there would be just enough room for the potato.  Next... I have to find some small 'thing' to hold ice so when people want chicks/young birds in the hotter months there is a means to help them be 'air conditioned' on their ride.

So... I went to a TSC because I couldn't find what I wanted at the other three local feed stores.  Of course we had to go see what was in the bins of peeping.  I had to laugh and laugh.  They had a bin labeled their special feature breed and it was sold straight run.  EVERY one of them was a male.  I know this because it was Barred Rocks they were featuring and every little head had the telltale dot.  Oh man.  An employee heard me say they were all males and said, "Oh no, those are straight run."  Um... straight run isn't a sex its a selling tactic.  So I smiled nicely and said, oh, I know what straight run means but those are still all males.  See.  They are Barred Rocks and anything out of them that has a dot is a male.  All those have dots."  I laughed lightly and walked away as he said, "Oh," and went on to try answering someone who wanted his attention.  I got to wondering later if someone else didn't get in there who knew what I knew and scooped out all the ones without dots lol

I went to TSC yesterday same thing on the Barred Rocks. ..and 3 tubs said pullets! !!

 

[quailtrail]

My Americana eggs arrived!!! Can't wait for Sat to set them for the hatch-a-long. Candeled what's already in the incubator at day 5...appearing like a lot of yolk...a few looked promising. Will try again Friday and see what we have viable.

stupid auto correct changing my spelling lol

 

[ashandvine]

I went to TSC yesterday same thing on the Barred Rocks. ..and 3 tubs said pullets! !!

I think someone who knew what they were doing got in there first. Those chicks have all been there a week or two so... good for them I guess. Its going to stink for anyone else who doesn't know.

I put my first batch of chicks outside today. Granted, only in the foyer between the house and wood pit/workshop but it wasn't like inside. They were troopers. I have them back in for the night and they will go out again tomorrow. Eventually, they will be out all the time.

Anyone headed to the Augusta Swap? I am considering it but with all the kids in two it doesn't sound very appealing to me. I figure if they are all here and temps are even close to 40+ I have plenty of mucking out that needs doing.

 

[quailtrail]

Went to set the Ameraucana eggs in the new incubator been running and no heat!!! Just bought this yesterday I am joining the hatch-a-long and since they were shipped I could set tonight. ..but now I can't. Im a wreck as I wasn't aware if the increased issues with shipped eggs...and now this. ..hope its not a sign Can I at least place them in the running incubator with already set ones until I get a new one??

 

[Widget]

Thank you so much chickinpecker for clearing up this trapping issue! The raccoon was again outside the coop last night.

Yes, opossum are definitely here in Maine when I lived in Limington I saw one up a tree. I haven't seen any up here yet, (north of bangor) but I am sure some are around.

Yup. Definitely here in Limington. Have seen them several times. And a couple weeks ago in Westbrook there was one in the parking lot where I work. It had most likely been hit by a car and crawled over to where we found it. At first I thought it was dead but it was still alive. Poor thing. It died soon after. Having worked with one at a zoo in PA I do have a soft spot for them. We used her in animal shows to give people a close up look and try to educate them about possums. For instance did you know they have more teeth than any other North American land mammal? And the do not hang by their tails. They use the tail to grip branches to keep their balance though.

 

[Widget]

And it is officially Spring here. My chick order from Longhorn arrived today so now I have 3 White Leghorns and 5 Speckled Sussex peeping away in the brooder.

Surprisingly everyone who had ordered chicks to pick up tomorrow (when they were supposed to arrive) rushed to get them today. Guess everyone wanted a sign of warmer weather to remind them that it will get here eventually.

 

[striperon]

There was a young opossum under our bird feeder this winter. We are in Kennebunkport. They are supposedly really good at picking up ticks while lumbering around, and then grooming themselves and eating the ticks. At least they have a purpose, other than growing fur.

 

[mlowen]

I heard just recently that one theory of the increase in ticks and Lyme disease is because our fox population is so low. They eat the mice, voles, and squirrels and other furry creatures that carry the nymphs. The more hosts, the more ticks.

 

[CoopChick719]

B

I got 13 out of 14 chicks hatched. Something happened with the last one, but I'm not sure what. She was properly positioned and had absorbed most of the yoke. Just didn't make it. Everyone else is fuzzy, cheeping up a storm in the brooder.

Sorry about the 1 but congrats on the hatch,MEMama!!