Maine

[islandgirl82]

Well, I'm sad to say that full free-ranging time for my girls is now over and they're miserable.

Yesterday afternoon, my children and I heard all kinds of commotion outside and my son shouted that there was a fox out there. I ran out the door with the dogs just in time to scare it away from grabbing one of the chicks but three of my girls; my senior hen, my Olive Egger who is the biggest love bug ever and the one I was most concerned about of the three and my Hamburg all went missing. My daughter found my senior hen (who is no stranger to outsmarting fox - including by taking a swim in the pond with the ducks several years ago) way up the hill on the other side of the tennis court, almost to the neighbor's house, then she found the Olive Egger - this little girl decided the best place to go to evade the fox was to the beach!

After a long time, we found the Hamburg - or more, she came rushing out of another neighbor's hedges when she heard us calling for her. I was least concerned about her because she's so predator savvy and is an exceptional flyer (hence her name - Amelia Earhart). She's taken to the trees before and because of her coloring (Golden Spangled) I knew she'd be the hardest to find as she's so well camouflaged.

So, despite having a decent sized run that they never use, my newest endeavor is to expand it further. I know someone on here has used the electric poultry netting - LG, I believe that's you. How do you like it?

 

[freakshow5]

2 out of the 16 baby chicks I got yesterday didn't make it

 

[DaQatz]

Yeah seems McMurray is not a good place to order from. At least in our region. Btw freakshow5, what part of Southern maine are you in? I'm in the Berwicks area.

 

[lazy gardener]

Sorry for those of you who've lost shipped chicks recently. Congrats on the poult, SCG.

Re: electronet fencing. I really like it. It's not perfect, and does have some downsides, but... then again, nothing is perfect. The good thing is that it produces a good sized run which can be moved around your yard. (100 s.f. for the short fence, 1600 s.f. for the long fence) You just have to plan to move your ground rod with the fencing, or keep the ground rod stationary, and use that as a pivot point and rotate your fencing around it. It can be difficult to set up and take down alone, especially if you're vertically challenged. It requires extra posts unless you have a level yard without a lot of rocks. I just use light wt. fiberglass posts and the yellow screw type electric fencing doo-dads. You have to move it and mow around the fence line about once a month. I just set the posts in, mow the area, and then move them back out. That's an easy one person job, though any job is easier and more fun when you have help. Smaller birds will go through the fence with impunity. It packs quite a jolt. When I first got it, I thought it wasn't working, b/c I could grab hold of it, and barely feel a tingle. Then, one morning, I took my croc off, and stuck my toe in the dewy grass while holding onto the fence. If I wasn't awake before that experience, I certainly was afterwards! All in all, I'm very glad I bought it, and feel like it was a very good investment.

 

[nuchickontheblock]

So sorry. Good luck with the rest.

 

[nuchickontheblock]

We never insulated our coop and the chickens were just fine. In winter, we had a heat lamp, water warmer and plenty of bedding for them. A wide board for them to roost on so that they could sit on their little feet and if it was really cold they would huddle closer. If you have cold tolerant breeds, they acclimate to the cold gradually over the fall (usually molt some, then get nice thick underfeathers) and they are good to go for the winter. Some folks change their feed up some in the winter - we added some additional corn, some people feed warm oatmeal, etc.

Check out the many threads about this. Most chicken keepers say no to insulating. Good luck and have fun!

 

[freakshow5]

I live in Scarborough, but a lifetime ago(feels like it some days) I lived on springtree lane in South Berwick. All my other chicks are doing great. The other 2 were super tiny

Yeah seems McMurray is not a good place to order from. At least in our region. Btw freakshow5, what part of Southern maine are you in? I'm in the Berwicks area.

 

[freakshow5]

Can anyone help me identify what breed of chickens these might be.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

Does everyone have insulated coops? I am building either a 8×10 or a 8x12 coop with a nice size. I have 12 Isa browns. First time having chickens so not quite sure on coop stuff. Any info and advice is greatly appreciated.

I do not have an insulated coop. Mine is 8x8 with 8 foot ceilings (at least I think they are 8 feet). The max I have had is 10 girls and it has been plenty of space. I do have a heating lamp. Last winter I used it, but this winter I barely did (literally maybe 2x for a few hours) and I never kept it on overnight. All of my girls came through well and we had no problems with frostbite. I have a heater for the waterer.

Other random thoughts about my experience with my coop... (I'm only 2 years in, so pretty new, too!)

- I have 4 nest boxes and they all use only 1 of them and three birds use a nest they built on the floor... I don't get it! Apparently this is common behavior, though.
- What are you thinking for roosting? My coop came with ladder roosts and I do not recommend them. The birds end up pooping on each other and that gets to be messy when they can't dust bathe as much in the winter. I changed it so that they are all on one level.
- Speaking of dust bathing, in the winter you will want to have floor space to put a dust bath. (I learned this this winter.) With the size coops you are talking you won't have any problem fitting that in.
- I have a pulley system so that you can close the pop door to the run from the outside of the coop... makes it handy at night.
- Make sure you have ventilation above the birds. That is key in the winter.

Welcome to the world of chickens... they are so much fun!

 

[CoopChick719]

I came home to a turkey in the incubator!

Were you expecting a turkey or no?

Does everyone have insulated coops? I am building either a 8×10 or a 8x12 coop with a nice size. I have 12 Isa browns. First time having chickens so not quite sure on coop stuff. Any info and advice is greatly appreciated.

My coop is 8x12. The former owner did insulate it. You can really tell the difference in temp in an insulated coop even with the windows open for ventilation.

* Make your windows big enough to let in plenty of natural light. I wish mine were bigger and there was more than 2.

* Make sure your roosts aren't too close to the wall or there won't be enough room for the poop to fall to the floor. The girls will end up sitting in it. 2x4's turned on the wide side gives the girls a little more room for their feet & their feathers cover them quite nicely in the winter so their feet are warm.

* Speaking of poop--dropping boards or plastic trays/bins under the roost make cleaning up easier. I have 3 cement mixing trays & plastic acting as a poop slide into those trays under my roosts so the poop falls right in during the night. I can also scoop anything not under the roost in too. I do quasi-deep litter in my coop in winter to help keep the coop warmer. Although it doesn't quite compost like it would on a dirt floor, it does break down and there is less cleaning in winter when it's so freakin cold!

* I love my shelves in the coop--very handy. My 6 nesting boxes have a back door that can be accessed (from "the people room") without having to go into the main coop or what we call "the chicken room".

* Be sure to predator proof your run! I have 2 chain-link dog kennels--1 is 10 x 10, the other 8 x 6 x 4. They both have welded wire covered roofs, 2 feet of welded wire up the walls with a 2 foot wire apron covered with dirt, running outside from the bottom of the walls. The 2 feet up the walls is to prevent a predator from crawling in or reaching in to get a chicken. The 2 foot apron is to deter digging predators. Yes, the welded wire was pricey but I have piece of mind feeling that my run is pretty secure.

Have fun & don't be afraid to ask any questions! I've learned so much from this thread and the people here are GREAT!!

Well, I'm sad to say that full free-ranging time for my girls is now over and they're miserable.

Yesterday afternoon, my children and I heard all kinds of commotion outside and my son shouted that there was a fox out there. I ran out the door with the dogs just in time to scare it away from grabbing one of the chicks but three of my girls; my senior hen, my Olive Egger who is the biggest love bug ever and the one I was most concerned about of the three and my Hamburg all went missing.

islandgirl, I'm so sorry your girls are miserable but am happy that everyone was found unharmed!!! Been there myself recently!!