Maine

[Keric]

We still haven't gotten our fox. Kept the ducks in for about 2 weeks until I (and they) couldn't take it anymore. I figure if the fox comes back it'll help by either reducing the number of males I have or getting rid of the lone female that the boys are fighting over. Ah, it's starting to look like spring.


Those who keep bees - do you have Italian or Russian or a different type? Where did you buy your bees from?

carnolian is the type of bees and I got them from a guy named Tony in bucksfield. He splits his hives in the early spring and adds a new queen. Basically you bring him a one box complete hive( without bees of course) and he takes 5 frames of bees, honey and started brood and swaps them with half of your empty frames. He puts the new queen in there and all you have to do is check on them a week later.

 

[ashandvine]

Well... you would pm me I guess if you were interested in the get together.

I have good news to share... finally. One of my Ams began laying again today and in perfect time with the cockerel who started crowing a few days ago. Another week or so and they will all be laying and crowing instead of chicksicles and the eggs will be fertile... and this is how I got all excited about the RO before he died. Maybe I better button up and see.

This humidifier now has heavy paper towels wetted and hanging in the sides as well as the containers of water and sponge. Water condenses along the windows at the top so that I can hardly see in but the meter still says its only 41 percent humidity in there. When I open it it feels like a gentle sauna so I am going to just cross my fingers like this

and hope. Today was the first day to really feel like spring for a little while. I put my faith in the trees. The sap is running so... spring HAS to be on its way.

 

[lazy gardener]

Well... you would pm me I guess if you were interested in the get together.

I have good news to share... finally. One of my Ams began laying again today and in perfect time with the cockerel who started crowing a few days ago. Another week or so and they will all be laying and crowing instead of chicksicles and the eggs will be fertile... and this is how I got all excited about the RO before he died. Maybe I better button up and see.

This humidifier now has heavy paper towels wetted and hanging in the sides as well as the containers of water and sponge. Water condenses along the windows at the top so that I can hardly see in but the meter still says its only 41 percent humidity in there. When I open it it feels like a gentle sauna so I am going to just cross my fingers like this

and hope. Today was the first day to really feel like spring for a little while. I put my faith in the trees. The sap is running so... spring HAS to be on its way.

Is your hygrometer calibrated? With visible condensation, might it be off?? Just food for thought, a broody does not incubate in a sauna. And, yes, her body kicks out a lot of moisture, but taking atmospheric conditions into account, I find myself wondering just how important the exact degree of humidity is??? Congrats re: your Am and Roo coordinating their efforts. Good things are happening. SPRING IS ON THE WAY. I've got chicks upstairs, and downstairs. My 2 cats think they've died and gone to heaven!!!

 

[buckabucka]

Hooray, ashandvine! I hope there is still hope for my Ameraucanas starting up in the next week or two.

gracejr, it is likely that the quiet roo is not dominant, but he may still be mating the hens. My dominant roo sometimes allows the second roo to crow, and sometimes chases him down. He seems to allow mating with certain hens, although not with others.

DH was all excited about the bee talk. He says some of his happiest moments involved watching the bees and having them all hitting him in the face. He did not always wear the bee get-up. The main rule: always move very, very slowly, and never accidentally squish a bee. Also, never kill a black fly and let it fall into the hive. I think that may have been the time we made the frantic trip to the hospital.

 

[hoppy]

how far along are your eggs? if they are not due to hatch, you could be drowning them with too much humidity.

This humidifier now has heavy paper towels wetted and hanging in the sides as well as the containers of water and sponge. Water condenses along the windows at the top so that I can hardly see in but the meter still says its only 41 percent humidity in there. When I open it it feels like a gentle sauna so I am going to just cross my fingers like this

and hope.

 

[kinsey228]

This batch of hatching eggs should hatch on friday, and on monday 3 dozen+ hatching eggs will be shipped to my house. I am nervous about shipped eggs because I had such a horrible hatch last time I had them. Hopefully this time everything will be ok. I have Dominique, Red Dorking and 15+ assorted eggs coming in. The hubby only knows about the Dominique and Dorking eggs. I "forgot" to tell him about the others....

 

[hoppy]

he doesn't need to know until they hatch and may not even then.

This batch of hatching eggs should hatch on friday, and on monday 3 dozen+ hatching eggs will be shipped to my house. I am nervous about shipped eggs because I had such a horrible hatch last time I had them. Hopefully this time everything will be ok. I have Dominique, Red Dorking and 15+ assorted eggs coming in. The hubby only knows about the Dominique and Dorking eggs. I "forgot" to tell him about the others....

 

[kinsey228]

he doesn't need to know until they hatch and may not even then.

The really dark brown or the blue eggs might give it away. It's a good thing he works out of state. He won't be home when they hatch. Now, if only I can keep the kids quiet....

 

[CoopChick719]

Also, a gardening question... Picked up seeds and a mini-greenhouse yesterday. IF I can actually get the seeds to sprout and grow, this will be our first year with a garden. I'm planning on doing raised beds, either one or two 4'x8' grids. BUT, how do I determine when to start seeds indoors? I never got around to ordering from a catalog and wound up just picking up a bunch of heritage and organic Burpee seeds instead. Cucumbers, carrots, peas, green beans, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, and watermelon. There are more things I'd like to add, but for a first garden this should be plenty! Can I start everything indoors, or do some (like the carrots) need to go directly in the garden? I am completely new to gardening (obviously!), so any suggestions would be appreciated! Was the watermelon a bad idea, or should I go for it? Love watermelon, but man it takes a lot of space!

Also picked up some mammoth sunflower seeds for the kids and chickens, would I be better starting those indoors? Haven't decided yet where I'm even going to put them, maybe along the chicken fence? Any other plants that would be good to plant along the fence for the chickens to snack on through the wire?

Grace, I have a chart from MOFGA what tells when to start what in and out.... Lets see if I can find it online....well ok I can't. I'll scan and upload mine for you!

Hi Grace & Mainechick, First MC168 thank you for the MOFGA chart. I'm printing that out! Trying to figure out what I'm planting and where the heck I'm gonna plant it. My sister sent me the link below. You put in your zip code and it tells you what & when to plant for your area. http://sproutrobot.com/farmingdale-me/planting-calendar/04344

he doesn't need to know until they hatch and may not even then.

Kinsey, I have to agree with hoppy...what he doesn't know won't hurt him!

 

[CoopChick719]

Well... you would pm me I guess if you were interested in the get together.

I have good news to share... finally. One of my Ams began laying again today and in perfect time with the cockerel who started crowing a few days ago. Another week or so and they will all be laying and crowing instead of chicksicles and the eggs will be fertile... and this is how I got all excited about the RO before he died. Maybe I better button up and see.

This humidifier now has heavy paper towels wetted and hanging in the sides as well as the containers of water and sponge. Water condenses along the windows at the top so that I can hardly see in but the meter still says its only 41 percent humidity in there. When I open it it feels like a gentle sauna so I am going to just cross my fingers like this

and hope. Today was the first day to really feel like spring for a little while. I put my faith in the trees. The sap is running so... spring HAS to be on its way.

Congrats on the renewed laying and good luck with the hatch, ashandvine! I've had only a few eggs recently but the chicks are growing & healthy.