Maine

[buckabucka]

Does someone have a link to this law? I found an article that said in July 2012, NH lifted their minimum 12 chick purchase law because "neither Maine or Massachusetts had such restrictions".

Maybe the law is loosely enforced, since you can buy your chicks on Craigslist or other places. I hope it stays that way, because I really appreciate being able to pick up a few chicks.

 

[Cknldy]

Just my thoughts here but I think the 6 chick minimum at stores is a good idea for newbies. It keeps them from just getting 1 chick with no friends and we all know that sometimes chicks don't make it si it also keeps them from getting heartbroken. Don't forget about ending up with a bunch of males when most newbies want at least a few egg layers;-) For experienced poultry keepers it might be a hassle but I think most of us have developed a way to get around and find what we want in the chicken world! (Thanks BYC buy/sell/trade;-))

 

[lazy gardener]

I agree that the 6 minimum is a good starting point, but there should be some wiggle room for exclusions... for example: if a known flock keeper already has a brooder full of hatchlings, and wants to pick up a couple of special breeds to expand the flock. Or if you get chicks from one place, and an other place has the breed that you've been waiting for... or what about the newbie who lives in a town that states you can only have 3 hens? Those town laws need to match the state laws. I believe that for chicks under 8 weeks old, the flockster who hatches to sell is exempt from the 6 chick minimum law as long as they sell them directly from their property. That being said, I don't think I'd let a newbie have less than 4, and that, after I am assured that they have adequate housing and I'll provide a "brooding sheet" along with a "no take back" policy.

 

[Widget]

Hey all. My home internet is no more. At least for a while so I do not get to check in here that much. Nice to see everyone believes that this winter will end and baby chicks will be peeping soon.

Anyway I am in a real bind. My well pump died on Superbowl Sunday so I am currently without any source of running water. And yes it is as fun as it seems. No shower, no easy way to flush the toilet and most importantly no easy way to water the critters. While I hate all the snow we have received in the past couple of weeks it has provided water for some needs. Nothing like having large totes full of melting snow in my living room. But as you can imagine this is not exactly a great way to live. This is especially true when you have three horses who drink many, many gallons of water a day.

Estimate for replacement is somewhere around $2000 which is about $2000 more than I have right now. I have set up a Go Fund Me page which is something I thought I would never do. I have a hard enough time asking to borrow the proverbial cup of sugar let alone something like this. So I am reaching out here to see if people would be willing to share my page far and wide.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Hey all. My home internet is no more. At least for a while so I do not get to check in here that much. Nice to see everyone believes that this winter will end and baby chicks will be peeping soon.

Anyway I am in a real bind. My well pump died on Superbowl Sunday so I am currently without any source of running water. And yes it is as fun as it seems. No shower, no easy way to flush the toilet and most importantly no easy way to water the critters. While I hate all the snow we have received in the past couple of weeks it has provided water for some needs. Nothing like having large totes full of melting snow in my living room. But as you can imagine this is not exactly a great way to live. This is especially true when you have three horses who drink many, many gallons of water a day.

Estimate for replacement is somewhere around $2000 which is about $2000 more than I have right now. I have set up a Go Fund Me page which is something I thought I would never do. I have a hard enough time asking to borrow the proverbial cup of sugar let alone something like this. So I am reaching out here to see if people would be willing to share my page far and wide.

If you don't post it we can't share it. If it's not your thing, you can just skip past the post.


And as far as the law goes:
7 § 3972. Unlawful Use of Animals
1.
Unlawful use of animals
. It is unlawful for any person to:
A. Sell, display, raffle, give away or offer for sale within the
State any live animals that have been dyed or otherwise
artificially colored;
B. Sell, display, raffle, give away or offer for sale to the public
any live fowl, turtles or rabbits under 8 weeks of age in lots
of less than 6;

Lots more located at http://www.maine.gov/dacf/ahw/animal_health/documents/unlawful-use-of-animals.pdf

 

[buckabucka]

Thanks for tracking down the the wording of the law, SCG. I could not find it, although I admit I was rushing to leave for work when I searched. Apparently, the law is not always followed/enforced. While I do understand it's purpose, it is too bad there isn't some kind of exemption for people who already have more than 50 chickens.

I am sorry to hear about your well, Widget! It may be that your situation is more complicated, but we had our well pump replaced last year for around $800, so a second estimate may be worthwhile (assuming you can get online to read this).

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I admit I tried to argue my way out of it a number of years ago with the whole "I buy 5 bags of chicken feed a week here, you won't sell me 2 chicks???" argument. It didn't work. So I tracked down the law.

 

[lazy gardener]

Thanks for the posting on that law. I was mistaken.

 

[Widget]

http://www.gofundme.com/llm08g is the link to the Go Fund Me page.

I am planning on getting a couple of estimates but the price is based on what a friend of my brother has paid more than once (he owns several rental properties) for a replacement of a pump. Hopefully it will be less than $2000 but the way my luck runs it will be on the high end.

I just transferred 60 gallons of water from totes I borrowed from work to the water tank for the horses. Tons of fun filling a 5 gallon pail and tramping through the snow to the tank with the outside temperature at -5. Took a half hour and 10 trips. But the horses have water for the next three or four days.

Next year the tank is going to be relocated to be closer to the gate so if I have to tote water it will be a bit easier.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

My girls are very much in need of dust baths. What have you guys come up with for winter dust bath options and what do you use for material?