Maine

[OpalSecret]

I'm also in Maine! I didn't read every single post in this thread 'cause there is so many but is anyone else in Jefferson?

Not me, I am up in Lexington Twp.

 

[Tony K T]

Theres Scott O'Brien in Jefferson,but he raises quail and I think he is still raising pheasants.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[lazy gardener]

Wasn't it a nice summer we had. Though a bit short. I got home from work today, and immediately started a wood fire.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Wasn't it a nice summer we had. Though a bit short. I got home from work today, and immediately started a wood fire.

I refused to turn the heat on in June, so we spent the day doing indoors work in flannels, slippers and knitted caps. We had piping hot chili for dinner and only now are we starting to feel warm.

Maine: Land of Manic Weather

Our chickens took every opportunity to voice their displeasure at the temperamental weather these past couple weeks... too cold... too hot... too cold...

 

[lazy gardener]

I have a broody hen. It was a challenge to provide a set up that accommodated her needs in this too hot, too cold, too wet, too hot, too cold weather. Final arrangements: she has taken over the 3 floor level nest boxes, which have an outside access door. I've given her an indoor space that is about 2.5 x 4', and can be increased after hatch to 4 x 4'. Every morning, I open the outside door, so she has view into the yard, and can go out into closed in broody run which is tarped for shade and protection from the rain. She thanks me for all of this work by growling at me every time I open or close her door to broody yard. However, I do think she enjoys having that door open so she can see the outdoors while she is setting.

Looking forward to candling eggs on Thursday. She was off to a rocky start, leaving eggs uncovered for a few hours on first and second day, but has been sitting well since.

 

[HoopyFrood]

I have a broody hen. It was a challenge to provide a set up that accommodated her needs in this too hot, too cold, too wet, too hot, too cold weather. Final arrangements: she has taken over the 3 floor level nest boxes, which have an outside access door. I've given her an indoor space that is about 2.5 x 4', and can be increased after hatch to 4 x 4'. Every morning, I open the outside door, so she has view into the yard, and can go out into closed in broody run which is tarped for shade and protection from the rain. She thanks me for all of this work by growling at me every time I open or close her door to broody yard. However, I do think she enjoys having that door open so she can see the outdoors while she is setting.

Looking forward to candling eggs on Thursday. She was off to a rocky start, leaving eggs uncovered for a few hours on first and second day, but has been sitting well since.

I'm sure she does enjoy it Nicely done! Good luck! Hopefully the weather will "nominalize" in the near future! Though our garden (and irrigation pump) are grateful for the rain. We had frost yesterday morning, though, and that's just ridiculous

 

[lazy gardener]

Wow. I'm thankful it didn't get this cold here as I'd uncovered all the peppers. The tomatoes and peppers already have bloom on them, and the beans are starting to climb. It would have been devastating to my garden if I'd been hit. My boss who lives in my town says it was 37 at her house that night.

 

[OpalSecret]

Wow! I don't know what the temps were here but I absolutely loved the cooler temps. It could stay in the 70s and not get higher. I am learning tho' I need to start seeds in March and make a hoop covering for the garden. I will be so glad when I finally get chickens and they can help to prepare the beds and I can start to make compost better.
We have a family of fox on our road and I've been realizing I will need to Fort Knox my coop when I start to build it. Not to mention the bobcat in the woods and the roaming coyote. I am afraid I will be ringing the dinner bell.
OHH!! I do have a barred owl! I was so excited last month to come upon them and get to talk with them while out walking the trail back there. They are down by the river.
I really wish I could get rid of that Japanese bamboo. The back 40 woods there look like a jungle and can't see the river wherever that bamboo crap is at.
I've been binging on Patara on YouTube to learn more, watching FB Marketplace as some one had an Eglu coop but I messaged her too late. It was what I had originally wanted but had realized what a pain to move it would be so I had decided to build my coop with a section to be a garden shed. BUT! I still could use that Eglu anyway as a transition type of coop or for the picked on etc.
Do you all have a transition coop of sorts separate coop or part of the coop you have?

For those who would like to see, this is my youtube channel for the trap camera footage of the wildlife here. Most are 10-60 seconds long. This is the best of:

We do add footage pretty regularly to the general video upload.

Once I do get chickens, will definitely have some footage there too.

 

[lazy gardener]

Hey, Opal. If you want an inexpensive, easy to build coop, you can't get any better than a Cattle Panel coop. A google search will turn up plenty of different designs. @Blooie built hers by using rebar to anchor the panels to the ground. She also used plastic lattice panels to sandwich the tarp in place. That coop, with no other framing has stood up well to her Wyoming hurricane force winds, and white out blizzards. I build my hoop buildings with a solid ridge pole and end framing, 2 x 4 framing at the bottom. My buildings could be completely buried under snow, and there would be absolutely no issue from the snow load. You could have an 8 x 8, walk in style coop up and functional with a fraction of the $$$$ and time involved in typical stick built construction. More bang for the buck than any prefab coops. When you consider that the coop size should be at least 4 s.f. per bird, and compare standard construction methods with the over pricing, false advertising, flimsy materials, and poor design of the pre fabs, it becomes a false economy to buy a prefab.

 

[OpalSecret]

Thanks lazy gardener!
I've checked out a lot of the pre-made coops for sale and you are right, many are flimsy or just not big enough or just have issues. They are good I think possibly for a transition or hospital or such or like mobile to move them like that Eglu was on wheels, although I have it in mind to build something as a sort of chicken taxi and yep, could probably build it a lot cheaper as those things are hugely expensive. I saw the plastic and couldn't help but wince a bit in remembering how kids' hard plastic cottages and playhouses and slides and whatnot fade in the sun and become so brittle, tho' these may be better made, yet still, not as good or durable I am thinking and well yea, no funds for that at this point.

I peeked at the cattle pen coops, those are quick and look great! Thanks! I've been taking this year to do research and learn before I start to build. It's been hard to wait but I also know I wasn't ready quite yet as I have a ton of other projects to do here first, working on the gardens now.
I have the site picked out at least and I have formulated an idea as to what I want. I figure I can watch for deals and I want to draw it out to be sure it makes sense and will work. Then start to gather materials for it and just prepare it a bit at a time.
I've also already checked with the land planning people to make sure there was nothing to prevent me from doing so, no ordinances or whatnot. I was pretty sure there wouldn't be as I am in the sticks, but I wanted to be sure before I did anything. As well as run it by my neighbors although I won't be starting out with a rooster and they won't be free range because of all the predators we have up here.

The coop/building will be on the large side tho', cause...I heard about chicken math and on top of that, I am not sure yet if I am gonna want to hatch my own chicks and separate a breed or two.
I will start off small of course, but want to have it so I can expand if I want without too much trouble. Then to have a nice garden shed as part of it as well. So I am taking my time and meanwhile, it's research time.

If you could have done anything different when you started with what you know now, what would it be?