Maine

[hoppy]

very cute!!!

We've had some excitement here at our coop! These little ones hatched yesterday!!

She was sitting on 6 eggs from MaineChick's hens. So far we've only seen these 3. Hoping there'll be 3 more soon!

 

[buckabucka]

I love seeing the chick and duckling photos! I can't wait to hatch some eggs...

 

[echosrevenge]

Mine aren't really preening more than usual - I had to catch five or six of the flock before I saw more than a flicker of movement - but I noticed a couple crawling around while I was plucking one of the old hens I culled a few days ago, so I wanted to do a whole-flock check today to see if it was just a couple on her, or getting more-than-a-couple on everyone. Gonna go pick up some more DE tomorrow from Rising Tide and put out a bigger community dust-box with wood ashes, DE, and Sevin in it after I clean, bleach, and dust the coop. Blurgh....creepy crawlies!!!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Mine aren't really preening more than usual - I had to catch five or six of the flock before I saw more than a flicker of movement - but I noticed a couple crawling around while I was plucking one of the old hens I culled a few days ago, so I wanted to do a whole-flock check today to see if it was just a couple on her, or getting more-than-a-couple on everyone. Gonna go pick up some more DE tomorrow from Rising Tide and put out a bigger community dust-box with wood ashes, DE, and Sevin in it after I clean, bleach, and dust the coop. Blurgh....creepy crawlies!!!

I spray mine with permethrin or pyrethrin - you can buy it in the horse section... Every time I clean the coop I get it out and do the roosts where they meet the walls, and the nesting boxes, and the floor cracks.


Plus I keep wood/pellet ashes in their sandbox turtle, plus DE and sand.

 

[Paulajon]

very cute!!!
Quote:
SO cute cograts....

 

[Paulajon]

anyone looking for BLRW I did find some hatching eggs from erijn5 on the BLRW thread. just in case anyone is still looking.

 

[Chambertin]

Excellent advice all around again.
One of the first things that attracted me to the Maine area was learning about the Maine Farm Link. Problem is I didnt qualify, dont have any real farm experience. Just a helping hand and plenty of time with animals.
http://www.mainefarmlink.org/

The federal and state assistance programs like the Foreign Trade program is very interesting.
Overseas markets will be a big part of the future, I havent seen a country that has the same land resources available for farming without a huge population burden. (Canada and Russia are too cold)
http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/mpd/export/index.html
There was even a sweet potato program that would double the benifits as sweet potatoes are HUGE in Korea and very popular in China too.

Also the protection program where I could "grow anything but houses" will protect the land for my famly's future (reduced estate tax and value of land upon taxation and transfer) and ability to get the land in the first place. Estate tax and assesment is a big part of my future plan because with my retirement investment being the farm and business there wont be much money, but a good deal of assets for transfer.
http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/mpd/farmland/

About growing seasons, thats another big reason I selected Maine. The plan is to pass down the farm to the next generation. Climate change is unavoidable and those zones are changing quick. So after 50 years that zone 4 or 5 could be a 6 or more. On the ground inspection of area, water, weather are darn important to finding a spot that will prosper with the coming upheaveal of seasons that we know. Plus I really like snowy winters. I see Maine and Michigan's upper pensula as good locations for limited adverse effects of climate changes.

So much more to learn and discover. This is going to be a big thing and Its really cool to see so many people willing to help and support.
Thanks again all!

I just fell into a new opportunity with a performer here in China and I could potentially be his US agent. That would allow a good deal of travel and a great source of income that would allow me to do some boots on ground property inspections. It would also give a large boost to the land capital compared to what my original plan was.
Man international life is really interesting.

 

[joanie_maine]

 

[MustardTiger]

Ugh lice. When I discovered that mine had a pretty bad infestation in the fall I dusted their vent areas and under their wings using permetherin in a nylon. it worked really well. I did it 3 times over 3 weeks and the lice were gone. it would be time consuming to do this with 30 chickens but at least they wouldnt be inside your house!

Two days ago I noticed one of my orps had some poop butt going on. I checked a few of them to make sure there were no lice/mites. I didn't see any but now I am going to go have to check them all again. normally my girls are really clean and the mention of lice just freaks me right out.

 

[Gallina Sarda]

Too cute - congrats! Do you keep Silkies specifically for their bloodiness?

We've had some excitement here at our coop! These little ones hatched yesterday!! She was sitting on 6 eggs from MaineChick's hens. So far we've only seen these 3. Hoping there'll be 3 more soon!