Maine

[klf73]

here goes....
dh met with the town, she was very nice. At first she was sticking to the 2 poultry and asked dh where he got 25. He of course opens his computer and showed her the reg that says 25 chickens, non-specified gender and there is no noise ordinance on farm animals. She wasn't aware of it and brought it to her boss. They are trying to put through a law that allows 12, but now said they should change it to 25 to fit the one dh showed her.

She said this is ridiculous, we live in Maine for god's sake.....

apparently any neighbor within 2 houses complained....but here's the kicker....not ONE has said ANYTHING to us and has taken eggs. We don't charge for eggs and told all of them to come to us if they have any problems. Needless to say NONE of them will be getting eggs any longer

she is not sure why they didn't come to us as we are easy to deal with. so, she said to keep her updated on our progress and she sees no problem with us keeping 5 roosters (especially since dh told her we could keep 25 roosters if we chose, to which she chuckled), and I didnt' notice we had probably 30 roos....but they were in so many coops.

so, fire sale, make an offer on the remaining hens....I have someone interested in two of the ee's which means if someone wants the 5 older hens (3yo) to go with the remaining ee/oe they can have them for free(the older ones). I know the marans are laying every other day but can't tell about the ameraucana and araucana because of the ee's

also, the 2 russian orloffs are available and the turken(not heartbroken if nobody wants her because her eggs are big), the w/c polish

I will get a pic of the trio of oegb, I will let them go for free? The roo is named Napoleon because he is small with a big attitude. He protects his girls well and hasn't hurt my sons although he has tried. Reminds me of a chihuahua with attitude....he is beautiful


eta- I will be posting all available hens on craigslist tonight!

 

[klf73]

Well, I may be interested in your PQ Ameraucanas - I like colorful dozens.
If you get takers for the lot, not worries. If not, I will gladly coordinate p/u when others are coming so it isn't a giant P.I.T.A. for you.
Think on it, and let me know if you decide we can work something out.
Your prices sound reasonable.
How old are the Ameraucana?

the ameraucana are 2 yo, will double check but the coyote took all my "old" girls 2 years ago and these were penned because they were too little to free range. I don't mind doing in pieces, and feel better now that dh talked to town, I now have a direction and know I won't lose all of them if I downsize quickly. I will pm you

 

[bwockbwock]

Krista,
I wondered if the roo you gave me, BW Ameracuana has a name. I love him! He is so pretty and so docile with people. I think my BO Roo is going to go bye, bye as he will not give up trying to attack him through the fencing I have him safely encircled by so he and the flock can get to know each other.

Julie

 

[ashandvine]

I am so glad this was as easy as you make it sound. Depending on your acreage I'm surprised its only 25. Is that just chickens or all birds?

Do you still have ducks too? I might take orloffs and polish. Turken-- as in those creepy hybrids?? I am not scared of big eggs but those birds are UGLY. What's their temperment like? Only seen them at the fairs.

You mentioned using eco-lights in a PM. Anyone else using those?

 

[klf73]

Krista,
I wondered if the roo you gave me, BW Ameracuana has a name. I love him! He is so pretty and so docile with people. I think my BO Roo is going to go bye, bye as he will not give up trying to attack him through the fencing I have him safely encircled by so he and the flock can get to know each other.

Julie

well, we just called him Red

, although not to him I guess. He comes running if you mimic the noise he makes for his girls because we do it everytime we give them treats, sounds like "tuk, tuk, tuk" noise. he is awesome and I would have been very sad to cull him. I grab him all the time and he just puts up with it and the only time he has attacked anything is when my blue orp decided to court his girls, he didn't like that much.

 

[klf73]

I am so glad this was as easy as you make it sound. Depending on your acreage I'm surprised its only 25. Is that just chickens or all birds?

Do you still have ducks too? I might take orloffs and polish. Turken-- as in those creepy hybrids?? I am not scared of big eggs but those birds are UGLY. What's their temperment like? Only seen them at the fairs.

You mentioned using eco-lights in a PM. Anyone else using those?

they are eco-glows, I like them because the lights always make me nervous, fire hazard...you know? I am trying to develop my own radiant type heater that isn't as expensive. the shipping cost is what killed me with those.

we kept the chocolate runners. I think they will be important for slug control in my berry garden.

The 25 is any poultry. the turken is pretty laid back, I hold her and she doesnt' try to get away. I think the orloffs are absolutely beautiful, I love the pattern, how tall they are and those huge beards.

I am still not happy about the downsize as they could have come to us and I would have been able to keep my girls.

 

[bwockbwock]

well, we just called him Red

, although not to him I guess. He comes running if you mimic the noise he makes for his girls because we do it everytime we give them treats, sounds like "tuk, tuk, tuk" noise. he is awesome and I would have been very sad to cull him. I grab him all the time and he just puts up with it and the only time he has attacked anything is when my blue orp decided to court his girls, he didn't like that much.

Red it will be!
Too funny, I call the birds around her when I have treats by saying duck, duck, duck. I used to have to call the ducks back from across the street. Chickens caught on to treat time pretty quickly.
One of my Muscovy hens figured out treat time is when I am cleaning in the yard as I often dig up bugs or worms, I am sure we are a sight waddling across the yard together, LOL.

 

[ashandvine]

Funny! I call, "Here chicky boos. Here chick chick chick."

Wow. 25 period. I'm glad I have a cemetery and beavers for two neighbors. The other has chix and the fourth is elderly and mostly deaf. Phew.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Do you still have ducks too? I might take orloffs and polish. Turken-- as in those creepy hybrids?? I am not scared of big eggs but those birds are UGLY. What's their temperment like? Only seen them at the fairs.

Turkens are all chicken (ie not a hybrid), lay a normal sized chicken egg, and have a naked neck (and a few areas of slightly naked but you can't really tell). They're sweet and good layers. They do awesome in the heat, they're fine in the cold and they're friendly. If you eat your roosters they're easier to pluck and make a nice sized carcass.
I have a bunch of turkens and love them a lot.
How could you not love this face (this is Gomez Addams):

 

[Widget]

I agree on all counts. I ended up with about ten chicks, two roosters and ten ducks. All are doing great. The orp roo has taken a shine to the three golden comet pullets since I had to put him in with them. The breda roo is sharing quarters with the ducks until i can finish the new pens. Glad I had the horse trailer to be used as temporary housing. I think the ducks are comfortable enough since they have started laying. Ten eggs in the past two days.

These are very nice birds. I hope more people will help so you can convince the town to relax. Responsible breeders/farmers are important to support. I'm not sure what to DO with them all but... I LIKE them!