Maine

[lazy gardener]

Anya, I'm glad your girls are doing well. My egg production has picked way up, and I have 20 eggs from my flock in the bator, as well as eggs from 2 other BYC members! Should be a busy spring. Hatch date scheduled for around 4/15.

If any readers are interested in straight run chicks, or even some layers, give me a shout!

 

[diana507]

Anyone have barred rocks? I have 10 isa browns and debating whether to add 6 more isa's or 6 barred rocks...

 

[MainerChick]

At long last our first egg has arrived! Hatch date 11/4, first egg 4/7, 34g from one of the Orpingtons. Yay!

 

[buckabucka]

At long last our first egg has arrived! Hatch date 11/4, first egg 4/7, 34g from one of the Orpingtons. Yay!

Congrats! Always exciting!

 

[obviousnewbie]

Hi, I'm Kate, I live in Scarborough next to Scarborough Beach & I'm just getting started on the research phase of this whole BYC idea.. We want them for eggs and as pets, and are thinking we want about 10 hardy (cold climate approved) girls who love to lay eggs. So far we have selected a prefab hen house from Chicken Condos (the urban ultimate plus 6' run) but haven't ordered it yet. For now, I'm researching and learning!
Kate

 

[VardoChicken]

Before you order, please consider that each bird needs about 4 SQFT to not feel crowded indoors. If you're not free ranging that is the absolute minimum I would suggest. More would be better considering our long winters. Outdoor run space is around 6 SQFT per bird. If you plug these numbers into the Urban (4x4) you get 16 Sqft indoors and 24 SQFT outdoors. If you want big cold hearty birds, it is unlikely that you can get more than 4 comfortably in that coop. I know they say it's more but please look into this more before you spend your money. I have 12x7 inside and they seem a bit crowded with 18 birds in there.
If you look around you will find there is many locally built coops available that can suit your needs much better.

Welcome and Good Luck!!

 

[obviousnewbie]

Thank you, Vardo Chicken! I appreciate your advice!! I will make sure to get enough space, and plan do do free range and have another run.... I have gone to one place so far in search of a locally built coop without finding anything good. I'll keep looking!
Kate
PS Why do these coop sellers say chickens enjoy crowding into the coop? I didn't believe that for one second..

 

[VardoChicken]

Blueseal in Windham had some last I was there... Metcalfs in Cornish did last year...going there today...will let you know if they have anything there. Andy's Agway in Biddeford/Saco had a few nice ones last year...couldn't say now though. And Lastly Craigslist has quite a few.

 

[obviousnewbie]

You are awesome! The only place I've gone to look so far was in Lyman. I will check those places out!!
Kate

Edited to add: I saw Andy's Agway and nearly stopped.. It didn't look like they had any sheds or other structures from the road. Next time will go in!

 

[Widget]

Hi, I'm Kate, I live in Scarborough next to Scarborough Beach & I'm just getting started on the research phase of this whole BYC idea.. We want them for eggs and as pets, and are thinking we want about 10 hardy (cold climate approved) girls who love to lay eggs. So far we have selected a prefab hen house from Chicken Condos (the urban ultimate plus 6' run) but haven't ordered it yet. For now, I'm researching and learning!
Kate

You picked the right place for friendly people with lots of chicken knowledge.
My advice is get a coop that is at least two or three times the size of what you think you need. From what I have seen the prefab ones are way too small unless you want only two or three birds. And no one I know is ever satisfied with only two or three.

I also recommend Longhorn Supply in Buxton. Not much to look at from the outside but fantastic customer service.