Maine

[TayFray!]

Ive got some fancy breed, and standard breed chickens for sale.. about 10 total, bantams and standards.. Please call text or email me if you are interested at [email protected] or (207)-779-7710

 

[buckabucka]

and this is what i spent the last 2 weekend doing.

Now THAT looks worthwhile! How many pens, total?

Edited to add... and for comparison, here's how I spent my weekend:

Wow! Nice work, Hoppy.

And SCG, you HAD to relax, otherwise you would've disturbed the cat.

I never got to my apple dessert, because I was busy completing my crazy-looking teepee-style cornstalk nest box. I will post a photo when I have time to take some and get on the real computer. It was not a practical project (they may even try to eat it!), but I had fun building it. I was supposed to clean the house this weekend for company coming at the end of this week, but instead, I trashed the place! I guess I'll be busy this week.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Wow! Nice work, Hoppy.
And SCG, you HAD to relax, otherwise you would've disturbed the cat.
I never got to my apple dessert, because I was busy completing my crazy-looking teepee-style cornstalk nest box. I will post a photo when I have time to take some and get on the real computer. It was not a practical project (they may even try to eat it!), but I had fun building it. I was supposed to clean the house this weekend for company coming at the end of this week, but instead, I trashed the place! I guess I'll be busy this week.

Can't wait to see it. I recall Penny from backtobasicliving blog did something similar out of pine boughs for her turkeys. It looked great and they loved it.

 

[buckabucka]

Wow! Nice work, Hoppy.

And SCG, you HAD to relax, otherwise you would've disturbed the cat.

I never got to my apple dessert, because I was busy completing my crazy-looking teepee-style cornstalk nest box. I will post a photo when I have time to take some and get on the real computer. It was not a practical project (they may even try to eat it!), but I had fun building it. I was supposed to clean the house this weekend for company coming at the end of this week, but instead, I trashed the place! I guess I'll be busy this week.

Can't wait to see it. I recall Penny from backtobasicliving blog did something similar out of pine boughs for her turkeys. It looked great and they loved it.

That looks like a good blog. I poked around for a minute and couldn't find the pine bough box, although looking at a photo of a turkey and her young ones, I could see a tiny bit of trellis and pine.
I got my idea from Heather of scratch cradle (Chestnutridge). She didn't make one, but on part 3 of her genetic mini-series (written over the summer but I just found it), there is a photo of a homemade box in Liberia. I thought it was really cool-looking, and next thing you know, I was cutting down cornstalks. Good thing I am not retired. It could get scary around here!

 

[Mainechick168]

Holy cow! looks nice!

and this is what i spent the last 2 weekend doing.

 

[ashandvine]

Now THAT looks worthwhile! How many pens, total?

Edited to add... and for comparison, here's how I spent my weekend:

That looks divine. You DO have a nice house. Wow.

Hoppy, are those birds really in your basement? Pooping and crowing and mating and ... in your basement?? Hmmm, not sure I am that dedicated yet. I would definitely need a different basement. These Favorelle babies are darling and I *am* worried about how to transition them into the winter environment but I am not sold on the idea of keeping them in the basement for months. I am sure if I want to add to my chores it could work. And if I didn't care what DH thought, or the land lord. What are those pens built out of to be able to stand on their own so well?

Hoppy, what is the cost to get into the show? I looked at the site but didn't notice an admission cost. I also took a little time to look at pictures from previous years. It was nice to see a few faces I knew in the winners circle.

 

[MustardTiger]

I have been thinking about this as well. I have to research more of what I know are natural wormers. Pumpkin is one so feed them lots of that. I want to learn a bit more (and maybe you can help do some leg work) on how tolerant chickens are to eating flea bane (grows wild). Permethrin is derived from chrysanthemums so I would imagine you could argue that its organic. If you can get to a point of high preventative measures on a regular basis you might be okay not to treat at all. DE, Pumpkin, garlic, vinegar water, oregano... not sure what else. You might want to read on the use of lime in keeping down disease/mareks in poultry houses. I have a link somewhere but you could find it easily by doing a search as well.

I will indeed look into the flea bane. I have read aboput pumpkin, specifically pumpkin seeds being helpful. I work at a holistically minded pet supply store so I am pretty familiar with most of the natural remedies and I assume many of the things that work on cats and dogs will work for chickens too. Brewers yeast is a thought too. Hrm maybe I will ask someone at Mofga for some specific info.
Ill report back with anything I find.

Thanks!

 

[hoppy]

that actually is NOT my basement. I have a separate building.
the pens are made of 1x1/2 and 1x2 welded wire. some stuff I had left over from a previous life. I was selling the wire cages that these were made out of and then came up with this genius idea, remove the j clips and now I have instant silkie pens. I ended up with I think 9 pens. I'm adding my call ducks next week so they get to live on the end by the hose and the drain.
today, I am planning on doing what SCG was doing yesterday.
well after I finish everything else I have to do.

and I had a great time at the augusta swap. I only have one bird left to sell and if i don't sell him, he's can stay. paint silkie roo that might carry khaki.
Ash- admission is free to get in to watch the show. we usually have a lunch wagon of hot foods which this time of year is really appreciated on those cold mornings. bring plenty of money and a carrier, as I know there will be some nice birds for sale I'm hoping to pick up one or 2 more myself.

That looks divine. You DO have a nice house. Wow.

Hoppy, are those birds really in your basement? Pooping and crowing and mating and ... in your basement?? Hmmm, not sure I am that dedicated yet. I would definitely need a different basement. These Favorelle babies are darling and I *am* worried about how to transition them into the winter environment but I am not sold on the idea of keeping them in the basement for months. I am sure if I want to add to my chores it could work. And if I didn't care what DH thought, or the land lord. What are those pens built out of to be able to stand on their own so well?

Hoppy, what is the cost to get into the show? I looked at the site but didn't notice an admission cost. I also took a little time to look at pictures from previous years. It was nice to see a few faces I knew in the winners circle.

 

[ashandvine]

bring plenty of money and a carrier, as I know there will be some nice birds for sale I'm hoping to pick up one or 2 more myself.

You are a TERRIBLE enabler. If I bring DH I am positive I won't be coming home with any more birds. As it is I doubt I would find who I want to find anyway (kacki polish hen or a nice Splash Am cock.)
At this point I just want brooders so I can be done with incubating and heat lamps and they don't have to be pretty. I am hanging on to my brahma for now hoping she'll go broody as the asiatics are supposed to. If not, she's dinner. I am not doing Sebastopols again for a while. I thought a lot about it and would like them for a number of reasons but I am going to get through this winter, downsize and try to focus over the next year so that my systems are efficient and I can be a better keeper who has at least one type of bird to show. I still think I want two types but we'll see.

My kids are getting excited about the show. After seeing those Lady Amherst pheasants and then seeing some of the unusual chickens at the fair they are both interested in going again. Although, my daughter did she say she didn't want to go to another swap because I didn't buy her that little rodent at the Augusta swap.

 

[hoppy]

me? an enabler??/ of course!! good thing you weren't at the last swap, free hamsters.
if you want broodies, you need silkies, they sit on nothing. beleive me, my son had to swap show birds because the one he was going show is now sitting and i'm at the point, she can sit, I have plenty of eggs to hatch.

You are a TERRIBLE enabler. If I bring DH I am positive I won't be coming home with any more birds. As it is I doubt I would find who I want to find anyway (kacki polish hen or a nice Splash Am cock.)
At this point I just want brooders so I can be done with incubating and heat lamps and they don't have to be pretty. I am hanging on to my brahma for now hoping she'll go broody as the asiatics are supposed to. If not, she's dinner. I am not doing Sebastopols again for a while. I thought a lot about it and would like them for a number of reasons but I am going to get through this winter, downsize and try to focus over the next year so that my systems are efficient and I can be a better keeper who has at least one type of bird to show. I still think I want two types but we'll see.

My kids are getting excited about the show. After seeing those Lady Amherst pheasants and then seeing some of the unusual chickens at the fair they are both interested in going again. Although, my daughter did she say she didn't want to go to another swap because I didn't buy her that little rodent at the Augusta swap.