Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

I've tried twice to hatch turkey eggs with no luck. Out of 24 midget white eggs none hatched. So this year I decided to just buy the poults. While I wanted the MW I could only get Bourbon Reds or similar (since I agreed to substitutes in needed). Of course I haven't had too much luck with adult turkeys either. I had a Midget White pair and the hen was taken by a bobcat. I saw the whole thing and couldn't do anything about it. This was in Feb. of 2011 when we had way too much snow on the ground. The hen got out of the pen and slid down the hill behind the house into deep snow. The bobcat was able to grab her and drag her off. Hated to lose her but at lest I know what happened.

I don't have high expectations... I was kindof hatching turkeys on a whim - if they hatch, great. If not... that's fine, too. Obviously I'd love for them to hatch, but I'm kindof a pessimist. If I set myself up for believing nothing will hatch, then if it does I'm not disappointed and if I get something to hatch I'm pleased as punch!

I was hoping out of 6 duck eggs that I'd get 2 ducks... I got 5, but 4 males. Win some, lose some!

 

[gracejr]

Hi everyone. New here and just trying to get the ropes of where everything goes on these boards! This will be our first year with any sort of poultry. I'm excited, but nervous too. We're right in the Standish area, and hoping to get some help finding some chickens.

Since this is our first go-round, and our house isn't that large (no garage either), I'd love to find some pullets or some younger adult hens to start with this year. I'm not sure I'm up for raising chicks just yet, and I have no idea where I'd put a brooder in the house that would be toddler, cat and dog proof.

I was looking at Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, Barred Rocks and Spangled Sussex. As well as at least one Easter Egger. Our 5.5yo has laid claim to that one, and already named her Clucksy. lol Is it possible to find any of these breeds locally without having to get chicks? We'd be looking at starting with 6, up to a dozen max. I suppose they don't have to be specific breeds - I won't be showing them, just for eggs (and probably some meat in the future). I'd just like some gentle chickens that will be fine around the toddler, easy to handle, decent layers, good with the winters, and a variety of colors/patterns so they are easy to tell apart. And all full size, no bantams. Though one EE is a must, he really has his heart set on that.

Any suggestions on where to find them? I have looked on CL, but didn't see much when I tried searching. It will be a few weeks before I'm ready for them anyway. We still need to get the coop setup and a pen built.


Also... Can you put turkeys in with chickens? I don't think we'd be doing it this year, I want to get the ropes down with the basics before adding anything else! But maybe in the future. Just a few for meat would be all we'd get most likely. How much 'chicken space' would it remove from the coop per turkey?

Lastly, sorry if this is a foolish question... Is it possible to buy chicks and have a hen 'adopt' them? Or would chicks always need to be in a brooder despite having hens on hand?

 

[Widget]

Hey neighbor. I'm in Limington so we are close.

I may have some Buff Orpingtons available in a few weeks once they feather out and can be out of the brooder. I ordered some from Metcalf's in Cornish just to have a few. They are due in the end of this week. They should be all pullets. I'll know for sure when they grow out a bit. You wouldn't get any eggs until at least fall but they are a great breed of chicken. As for EE. I have some in the incubator but they aren't due to hatch until the end of the month. So it would be June before they can leave.

If you want some older pullets I know Longhorn in Buxton will have some Golden Comets at the beginning of May that will be about four months old. Those should be ready to lay within a month of arrival. But will probably be more skittish than younger birds. But at $10 ea you can't go wrong.

Depends on who you talk to in regards to turkeys and chickens. I've never had issues. The problem is blackhead. Doesn't bother the chickens but they can transmit it to turkeys.

I'm sure there are some really broody hens who would adopt chicks but I'm not really sure. I know many breeds (esp. Silkies) love to adopt eggs and hatch them out. In that case you don't always need a brooder but it helps in case the weather turns nasty or predators come calling or even other chickens get too curious.

Hi everyone. New here and just trying to get the ropes of where everything goes on these boards! This will be our first year with any sort of poultry. I'm excited, but nervous too. We're right in the Standish area, and hoping to get some help finding some chickens.

Since this is our first go-round, and our house isn't that large (no garage either), I'd love to find some pullets or some younger adult hens to start with this year. I'm not sure I'm up for raising chicks just yet, and I have no idea where I'd put a brooder in the house that would be toddler, cat and dog proof.

I was looking at Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, Barred Rocks and Spangled Sussex. As well as at least one Easter Egger. Our 5.5yo has laid claim to that one, and already named her Clucksy. lol Is it possible to find any of these breeds locally without having to get chicks? We'd be looking at starting with 6, up to a dozen max. I suppose they don't have to be specific breeds - I won't be showing them, just for eggs (and probably some meat in the future). I'd just like some gentle chickens that will be fine around the toddler, easy to handle, decent layers, good with the winters, and a variety of colors/patterns so they are easy to tell apart. And all full size, no bantams. Though one EE is a must, he really has his heart set on that.

Any suggestions on where to find them? I have looked on CL, but didn't see much when I tried searching. It will be a few weeks before I'm ready for them anyway. We still need to get the coop setup and a pen built.


Also... Can you put turkeys in with chickens? I don't think we'd be doing it this year, I want to get the ropes down with the basics before adding anything else! But maybe in the future. Just a few for meat would be all we'd get most likely. How much 'chicken space' would it remove from the coop per turkey?

Lastly, sorry if this is a foolish question... Is it possible to buy chicks and have a hen 'adopt' them? Or would chicks always need to be in a brooder despite having hens on hand?

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Hi everyone. New here and just trying to get the ropes of where everything goes on these boards! This will be our first year with any sort of poultry. I'm excited, but nervous too. We're right in the Standish area, and hoping to get some help finding some chickens.

Since this is our first go-round, and our house isn't that large (no garage either), I'd love to find some pullets or some younger adult hens to start with this year. I'm not sure I'm up for raising chicks just yet, and I have no idea where I'd put a brooder in the house that would be toddler, cat and dog proof.

I was looking at Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, Barred Rocks and Spangled Sussex. As well as at least one Easter Egger. Our 5.5yo has laid claim to that one, and already named her Clucksy. lol Is it possible to find any of these breeds locally without having to get chicks? We'd be looking at starting with 6, up to a dozen max. I suppose they don't have to be specific breeds - I won't be showing them, just for eggs (and probably some meat in the future). I'd just like some gentle chickens that will be fine around the toddler, easy to handle, decent layers, good with the winters, and a variety of colors/patterns so they are easy to tell apart. And all full size, no bantams. Though one EE is a must, he really has his heart set on that.

Any suggestions on where to find them? I have looked on CL, but didn't see much when I tried searching. It will be a few weeks before I'm ready for them anyway. We still need to get the coop setup and a pen built.


Also... Can you put turkeys in with chickens? I don't think we'd be doing it this year, I want to get the ropes down with the basics before adding anything else! But maybe in the future. Just a few for meat would be all we'd get most likely. How much 'chicken space' would it remove from the coop per turkey?

Lastly, sorry if this is a foolish question... Is it possible to buy chicks and have a hen 'adopt' them? Or would chicks always need to be in a brooder despite having hens on hand?

Welcome

Some hens won't accept chicks. They have to be broody first, and most likely for at least 2 weeks. If they've been sitting that long you can slip very young (less than 3 days old) under them at night and some will accept them, and some won't. If you have a broody hen that accepted chicks you don't need a brooder but it is a good idea to have somewhere (even just a cage in the coop) where they can be safe and eat in peace without the other flockmates picking on them or eating their food.

I have some ~7 week old pullets right now, mostly olive or easter eggers, but a few mutt brown egg layers. They're for sale if you're interested, I'm near Augusta.

 

[hoppy]

welcome to BYC. we have lots of chicken swaps going on around the state. this weekend on saturday there is one in augusta at the tractor supply (many of the tractor supply stores welcome us to set with out chickens and buy/sell them in the parking lot) these are poultry of any kind and of any age, you never know what you will find at a swap.
if you check out the maine swap thread, you may find one local to just browse if you are not ready to buy, you can see what people have and maybe make a contact for future birds.https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/622571/maine-chicken-stocks-swaps-and-shows-2012

I'll have a few turkeys that I'm hatching, any left overs will be available. those are due this weekend, bourbon reds.

Hi everyone. New here and just trying to get the ropes of where everything goes on these boards! This will be our first year with any sort of poultry. I'm excited, but nervous too. We're right in the Standish area,

 

[gracejr]

Oh, thank you for that! Augusta is a little bit of a drive and I'm not sure we'd have a coop ready by then, but, maybe one of the ones later in the month or next month.

superchemicalgirl - Maybe. With the cost of gas I'm not sure about driving that far, so we'll have to see. What sort of colors are your mixed pullets? As long as they're gentle and decent meat/egg crosses, I just want to be able to tell everyone apart. Any black, barred or speckled ones? Something easy to tell apart from the BOs or EEs? What are the olives?

Widget, I heard Metcalf's sells laying hens. Do you know if that's true? And are they decent? I need to call them or stop in and see, just haven't had a chance to do it yet. I'd absolutely be interested in some BOs and EEs when they're ready. Probably a pair each? Not sure how I'll tell the BOs apart, but I've heard great things about them and don't want just one. lol For EEs, do you find they are generally pretty easy to tell apart even from the same clutch?


So, how old are pullets before they start laying? Is 5 months old a standard age? I'd love to have eggs in the near future. What do you think about getting a pair of already laying hens, then more pullets as they become available? The coop will be big enough for 24, so there shouldn't be issues introducing young ones, should there?

Also, anyone know if there are restrictions on chickens or roosters in Standish? I tried looking online, but didn't find anything. We have a donkey living next door and a rooster down the road, so I'm guessing it's fine, I just wasn't sure if there were maximums on anything. If we were to get a roo, any suggestions? Our house is anything but soundproof, so a 'pleasant' crow is a must. Will getting a roo as a first time owner make anything more difficult? Any reason we shouldn't get one our first time with chickens?

 

[Widget]

Metcalf's sometimes has older birds. Mostly roos though. I'm there at least once a week and the outdoor pen is set up but no chickens yet.

Not sure on Standish's laws. It would depend on the zoning of your property. You don't have to have a roo unless you want fertile eggs. And some roos can be aggressive. I just got rid of one who attacked. Yet I have had others who were lovebugs.

Since EE come in all colors they should be fairly easy to tell apart. Other breeds are a bit more difficult but it can be done. Chickens do have unique personalities.

 

[kinsey228]

Oh, thank you for that! Augusta is a little bit of a drive and I'm not sure we'd have a coop ready by then, but, maybe one of the ones later in the month or next month.

superchemicalgirl - Maybe. With the cost of gas I'm not sure about driving that far, so we'll have to see. What sort of colors are your mixed pullets? As long as they're gentle and decent meat/egg crosses, I just want to be able to tell everyone apart. Any black, barred or speckled ones? Something easy to tell apart from the BOs or EEs? What are the olives?

Widget, I heard Metcalf's sells laying hens. Do you know if that's true? And are they decent? I need to call them or stop in and see, just haven't had a chance to do it yet. I'd absolutely be interested in some BOs and EEs when they're ready. Probably a pair each? Not sure how I'll tell the BOs apart, but I've heard great things about them and don't want just one. lol For EEs, do you find they are generally pretty easy to tell apart even from the same clutch?


So, how old are pullets before they start laying? Is 5 months old a standard age? I'd love to have eggs in the near future. What do you think about getting a pair of already laying hens, then more pullets as they become available? The coop will be big enough for 24, so there shouldn't be issues introducing young ones, should there?

Also, anyone know if there are restrictions on chickens or roosters in Standish? I tried looking online, but didn't find anything. We have a donkey living next door and a rooster down the road, so I'm guessing it's fine, I just wasn't sure if there were maximums on anything. If we were to get a roo, any suggestions? Our house is anything but soundproof, so a 'pleasant' crow is a must. Will getting a roo as a first time owner make anything more difficult? Any reason we shouldn't get one our first time with chickens?

There are usually pullets near point-of-lay (around 4-5 months) at the TSC swaps. A lot of people on here sell their chickens there. Oh and

. This site is a wonderful resource !

 

[gracejr]

I'm thinking I may be able to go up to the one the end of this month. That should also be plenty of time to get the coop and run finished, hopefully! Will threads for those ones be started as the date comes closer? I'd love to be able to get an idea of what will be available before driving that far, kwim?

 

[kinsey228]

I'm thinking I may be able to go up to the one the end of this month. That should also be plenty of time to get the coop and run finished, hopefully! Will threads for those ones be started as the date comes closer? I'd love to be able to get an idea of what will be available before driving that far, kwim?

There are threads for the swaps in Augusta, Wilton, Lewiston, Sanford, Skowhegan, and I think Waterville.