Maine

[lazy gardener]

What a nice boy. I see that he's got the laced pattern of his Mom. Thanks.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

What a pretty boy! If we weren't in a homeowners association (bane of my existence) I would love to try having a rooster. My neighbor ended up with some accidentally and watching their behavior was fascinating. One sweet guy gave his life protecting his girls from a neighborhood dog.

Ok, now you all are selling me on Hamburgs! So many breeds to try.

 

[islandgirl82]

Thank you! I was not sold on keeping him until recently. I have no intentions of breeding him as I want to phase out EEs and go with Hamburgs and Wyandottes (though I'm not opposed to offering chicks and/or hatching eggs to people if they want them for as long as he's here). I had his father here briefly about a year ago but culled him because though he wasn't aggressive, he was petrified of everything and became a major liability to my girls. They were hand raised and love being with my children and me but he would chase them away from us and straight into the road. He would also begin crowing around 10pm and crow until about 3am...every single night at first and then it was around the clock. The first egg I got after culling him hatched into the boy I have now.

I was nervous about whether this boy would have inherited his father's nervousness but I'm liking him more and more as he matures. He knows who belongs and who doesn't and that includes knowing all of our neighbors, even if he's only seen them a few times. He doesn't even crow daily and when he does, his voice is fairly quiet. His mum is also very quiet. She talks to me a lot, but her voice is soft and I honestly knew nothing of the "egg song" until I joined byc because my girls just don't sing it.

Lazy Gardener, I'll have to get better pictures of his comb. He's an active guy and only the snow and freezing temps that morning made him stand still long enough for a very brief photo shoot.

 

[buckabucka]

Your chart made me laugh, Hiltonizer, not because it is not useful, but because every time I make a big purchase, I have scraps of paper like that all over the house. DH thinks I'm crazy!

 

[Cknldy]

There are no extra shipping charges with Welp. Their prices are only cents above others and when comparing breeds they are cheaper for a lot of the cool not run-of-the-mill production ones as compared to say McMurray. Barred rocks, RIR, BO and leghorns were all folks around here seemed to know about when I first started in poultry years ago. I asked about MFBDs, Mottled Houdans, etc and one guy asked my dh if I was speaking Spanish! Welp has been my go-to for ordering simply because it doesn't cost an additional $60 in shipping, quality and service has been great for me. I hope everyone is able to find what they want this year ! (Even if not "needed")

 

[lazy gardener]

There are other options that might be worth considering: Perkco feeds in Exeter has a fairly decent list of chicks available. Their prices are very reasonable. I do think they have a minimum of 25, but, as I remember, you can mix and match. Their price on C x R couldn't be beat. They only have one delivery date. I'm going from sketchy memory, but wouldn't hesitate to order from them. I'd want to find out what hatchery they use though, and do a google search regarding that hatchery's performance ratings. There are also the local feed stores. I had a miserable experience with one in my area last spring, and vowed that I personally would not go that route again. But, if you know your small feed store and the management, that might be an option. Again, find out who their supplier is, and if they allow special orders. Then, there's local. I expect to be hatching a lot of chicks this spring. A fair number of them should be black sex linked, walnut combed, green egg layers. Of course, I shouldn't count my chicks before they hatch! If any one is interested in my gals, PM.

 

[Widget]

I am going to start fresh with chickens this Spring. The coop is up but just needs perches and nest boxes installed. And the run just needs some fine tuning once Spring arrives and the snow is gone. The ducks decided to move in with the goats instead of staying with the coop so it will just be a dedicated chicken space. Now I am trying to decide what chickens to get. I know I want some Silkies and I will pick up a couple Golden Comets for the egg production. Other than that I am up for any breed that does well in Maine, needs help conservation wise, is relatively easy to get and does not cost an arm and a leg. I like Speckled Sussex and Salmon Faverolles but they are not the easiest breeds to find in these parts.

And,fingers crossed, I am hoping that my Saxony ducks hatch out some ducklings this year.

 

[buckabucka]

I don't remember her name, but the woman on the Maine thread that lives off the grid was raising salmon faverolles. Someone else might know who it is.....

 

[Branch Chickens]

Hi All,

Checking in as my wife and I recently moved to Maine (from the NH seacoast) and are finally getting settled. Our renovation hasn't quite finished but we wasted no time in getting 6 tetra tints to keep our breakfasts hearty and plans are in the works for spring meat chickens and turkeys. We did two started Turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas and enjoyed that.

We're between Augusta and Belfast. Looking forward to getting acquainted!

Welcome! We must live close. I also describe us as halfway between Augusta and Belfast.
I'm still carrying for a sick SLW in my kitchen. Diarrhea, little appetite, but she's doing better than she was.

 

[sparrowsnest]

Hello all! Wanted to share from up in the County. We've only had chickens since April and we're learning a lot, especially about 'chicken math". Some of you may remember our TSC pullets that are cockerel debacle. Well, our Barred Rock went broody right around Christmas. I got advice to allow it. It was her first time so we figured it was a practice run, Well, she must have picked it up pretty quick. Went out to the barn yesterday and found 3 live/2deceased chicks. Since we're having frigid weather, we brought them in the house to keep warm. When we checked last night there was another chick! "Tiny" is still on 3 eggs, but nothing yet this morning. All 4 chicks are inside and warm, eating and drinking. We started with 8 'pullets'(5 roos, 3 pullets), 11 replacement pullets from a neighbor and now 4 new chicks. Chicken math!