Maine

[lazy gardener]

Hello everyone,

Just moved to York County, ME from NH. I brought with me a mixed and varied flock - my roo is a NH Red, I have 3 buff orpingtons (my faves), 3 lakenvelders, a couple of hamburgs, a spitzhauben who thinks she is a roo too (tries her hardest to crow), couple polish, partridge rock, white leghorn, 5 brown leghorns and a few others (28 total). The weather has the newest, a lakenvelder/NH Red cross (I think, that's what she looks like) or the partridge rock very confused as someone is laying steadily and suddenly...lol

The first week they refused to set foot outside their coop, as though NH and ME somehow looked different, but now they are enjoying the warm weather and raking all my leaves for me

Welcome to the Maine thread. And welcome to Maine! You certainly have a varied flock. Lots of nice birds there. No roo??? My girls have picked up their laying. I'm suddenly getting 12 - 15 eggs/day!

So I'm bummed out to share that we lost our first chick today. Hubby checked on the birds this afternoon and found a silkie had passed. It was in the nestbox area under the heatlamp, so I don't think it was the cold that did it. At about six weeks, I'm not sure what could suddenly take one out beyond some non visible defect. We are still nursing a split-beak easter egger and have 30 other healthy birds. So I shouldn't complain too much. Still, that first loss is always frustrating!

So sorry for your loss. Somehow, I think I'd rather loose one that way- (fine one minute, dead the next) than have a lingering illness. When they pass suddenly, IMO, it's an idiopathic thing that is not likely to affect the rest of the flock.

 

[MainerChick]

So sorry for your loss. Somehow, I think I'd rather loose one that way- (fine one minute, dead the next) than have a lingering illness. When they pass suddenly, IMO, it's an idiopathic thing that is not likely to affect the rest of the flock.

I think you're right, and that's almost exactly what hubby and I figure is at work. He still buried it out in the woods to be safe. The rest of the flock, including the silkies, seemed to be quite robust and active tonight, so life goes on.

On a brighter note, one of our easter eggers has started a tentative attempt at a crow. It's coming out a bit like "Cock-a-do-a-CRACK" but he's trying. Very precocious! There is also at least one silkie with a comb developing, which is great to see. Am I right in assuming that even though they're tough to sex, a comb is a male indicator?

 

[lazy gardener]

I don't have silkies, so can't comment. EE roo combs will redden up and grow bigger, just like a comb on any other bird, though they maintain the pea shape... some to more of a degree than others. My avatar roo is an EE, but his comb is partly pea, partly straight.

 

[bedechicks]

Thanks!

 

[bedechicks]

Welcome to the Maine thread. And welcome to Maine! You certainly have a varied flock. Lots of nice birds there. No roo??? My girls have picked up their laying. I'm suddenly getting 12 - 15 eggs/day!

Thanks! Yes my Roo is the NH Red, nice boy with people, his ladies and the dogs and ducks! My other girls haven't decided to lay, but little Miss Mixed Breed was hatched in July and I she's raring to go, I guess, lol.

I wasn't sure which kind of chickens I would like, so I got a variety. The Buffs are my favorite, I liked my Faverolles too, but so did my old roommate, so I left them with her They were very docile and not doing well with some of the more active and assertive girls anyway. The prettiest bird is probably the speckled Sussex - the colors are amazing, but the Buffs are my sweet ones and pretty tame even though I didn't try and tame them down.

 

[lazy gardener]

I agree, speckled sussex are beautiful birds.

 

[lazy gardener]

Getting tiny little pullet eggs now! These are from the broody raised chicks. (4 girls coming into production)

 

[lazy gardener]

I know this is the wrong time of year to be asking: But... here goes. I need to remove my 2 cockrels from my flock. They're taking advantage of the gals who are low on the pecking order. They would each be great as a flock master. Little Man is red based EE with pea comb, slate legs. I'm thinking he'll pass on blue egg color. He has a lovely voice. He looks very much like my avatar roo. Juneau has same feather coloring, a beautiful pea comb... better than his daddy's comb! He's just developing his crow, sounds like a squeaky door hinge. All 3 of my boys get along great. But my girls can't handle 3 boys at once! If any readers need a flock master, please PM me. I am not looking to send them to someone else's stew pot. If they become stew, I'll be enjoying the meal!

 

[bedechicks]

I know this is the wrong time of year to be asking: But... here goes. I need to remove my 2 cockrels from my flock. They're taking advantage of the gals who are low on the pecking order. They would each be great as a flock master. Little Man is red based EE with pea comb, slate legs. I'm thinking he'll pass on blue egg color. He has a lovely voice. He looks very much like my avatar roo. Juneau has same feather coloring, a beautiful pea comb... better than his daddy's comb! He's just developing his crow, sounds like a squeaky door hinge. All 3 of my boys get along great. But my girls can't handle 3 boys at once! If any readers need a flock master, please PM me. I am not looking to send them to someone else's stew pot. If they become stew, I'll be enjoying the meal!

I was wondering how you guys find homes for excess roosters? I have four that are crosses between a RI Red and a WCBP who hid and hatched them out who are absolutely stunning. The few CL responses I have gotten all want them for eating and I would rather them not be, though I know that sounds sentimental. So is there a way to weed out those who just want a cheap meal (and a very small one as they are on the scrawny sided because of the polish)?

 

[superchemicalgirl]

No home finding here, we eat them. Problem solved.