Maine

[Mainechick168]

I don't do anything to keep my water from freezing- I just make sure to go out multiple times on the coldest days with fresh water.

 

[Carrie54452002]

I don't do anything to keep my water from freezing- I just make sure to go out multiple times on the coldest days with fresh water.

We are gone for 9-10 hrs/day during the week. Also with my 3 kiddos mornings are not easy to find time to go out and bring fresh water... might have to start doing that though. Don't want to put the chickens in danger!

 

[gracejr]

Oh my goodness, gone for a month and missed so much!!

Violet (Mandy, right?), would he consider english orpingtons? I have a english orp cross rooster that I got from someone in Windham, he is a beast. My two english orp pullets are pretty good sized as well, and I'm assuming will still get a little bigger.


Widget, how long is that sale going on? Figures I just went to Blue Seal today to get food too!



We were going to do heated water on a heavy duty cord, but never got around to it. We just refill daily, twice a day if I remember. Other than that really bad cold snap once a day has seemed to suffice. Got one of those big plastic wash basins, a gallon or two? Takes quite a while to freeze it seems. I'm hoping we'll have some left over cash from the tax return this year to set up something permanent in the coop, but if not we'll just be lugging water again next winter.

 

[gracejr]

Question for you all - is there any way to encourage a hen to go broody? I don't want to yet, too cold, but I'm really hoping to get at least one broody in the spring. With a newborn in the house, I really don't want to deal with incubating or brooding out my own chicks. Too much mess! I do have a silkie hen, though she's never laid an egg. Otherwise I have americaunas, orpingtons, cochin, brahma, and sexlinks.

 

[Widget]

Until St. Patty's Day (3/17).

For those that missed the original post 50 lb. bags of Poulin Layer Pellets, Mash and Crumbles on on sale for $11.99. I just paid $14.30 a bag last week. Maybe not a huge savings but $2 and change is better than nothing. Heck that will get you about a half gallon of gas.

Quote:

 

[VioletBlueIvy]

This is a chicken solarium

And inside on a sunny day...

that looks so cozy - what a great idea; your girls look thoroughly pleased!

VioletBlueIvy, the solarium looks great!  You must have a roof rake.

I want a chicken solarium! I think I would use it too...you know, maybe bring in a nice lawn chair....

Thanks!The chickens love it, even on the coldest days as long as we have sun it it significantly warmer in there than outside. My mom gave me the idea. She had some huge sheets of Lexan from her old porch windows and used one to cover the pen/run attached to her coop, they were what she had on hand, just the right size, and she figured it would give them some solar gain. It certainly did! It got so warm in there the ground never froze and her chickens loved sunbathing all winter. So, when we (I say we, but I just held things and gave suggestions while my husband built it) added the run last fall we used the clear pvc roofing panels, and voila! Chicken solarium
I was going to cover the walls in the roofing too, but it would be way too hot in the summer, so my plan now is to make removable panels. It would make it even warmer and sunnier, be sturdier, and look nicer than the plastic sheeting and/or recycled feed bags
I don't have a roof rake! I have to use a broom, I have to climb up onto the feed barrel to reach the middle, thankfully I have only had to do it when it snows and we get no sun afterwards, or if we get a ton of snow I do, just to speed it up. It slides right off easy.
A LAWNCHAIR!....
Maybe even a little patio set.... margaritas anyone?

 

[MustardTiger]

Gosh everyone in here is prolific with the posting! Welcome to all the newcomers. Bucka, I am excited to see what you get from the egg selection!

Anna, the coop plans sound perfect. I want to build one the same size with a storage room inside and an "attic" for a gravity water system. I think it will have to wait till next year. We are putting in a half acre of garden and another chunk of orchard this year so it will be a busy time!!

 

[Keric]

where did your paint come from?

I want to say Bucksfield but not 100% . It was for sure out that way.

 

[Keric]

Has anyone here ever kept Malay's or Shamo's? They dont appear to be a cold weather bird... My son wants to have HIS own breed, and he wants something really really big. He loves the way they look. I am thinking Jersey Giant or Brahma would be better. But, the ones I have seen were nothing special size wise, of course I think they have all been hatchery stock...

Yeah those Fighting types are wicked awesome looking. The Malay is the tallest chicken breed. (OVER THREE FEET)! I would someday want to see some. I would avoid getting those types especially for a young Newbie. I read an article about them in Backyard Chickens. From what I understand they fight a lot. I know duh but I guess the chicks fight and there is even a special way that you have to introduce a rooster to a hen. Older hens will apparently fight inexperienced young cocks.
Your idea of the Brahma is perfect. I don't have any yet but I hear and read that they are one of the most docile breeds.

 

[VioletBlueIvy]

Oh my goodness, gone for a month and missed so much!!

Violet (Mandy, right?), would he consider english orpingtons? I have a english orp cross rooster that I got from someone in Windham, he is a beast. My two english orp pullets are pretty good sized as well, and I'm assuming will still get a little bigger.

I will have to look into those thanks for the suggestion.. He went through a couple catalogs and picked out white cornish game's out of all the birds in the catalog. He likes the way they look, with their big legs. Then he said he wants something really, really big, so we did a search for 'the largest chickens in the world' and saw Malay are the tallest, and considered gentle giants, and he just loved them. I did some reading and saw they are not an easy breed to keep due to health issues and it was suggested to try Shamo instead, they are almost as tall but healthier. Brahmas and Jersey giants were considered the next biggest.

I should have mentioned the Cornish Game's in the previous post. I wonder if anyone in Maine has some? He just wants a chicken all his own, we werent going to take on another breeding project just yet