Maine

[buckabucka]

That brooder looks great! I really like that you can take the top off and use it outside.

I admit that I can count the number of hatches I have done on one hand, but still, I am frustated by what seems to be a large leaning toward roosters. It is still early, but this hatch looks to be 2 pullets/10 cockerel. Just because I was stewing over this, I added up all the eggs I have hatched and my pullet rate is 28%. I'm hoping to push this number far in the other direction with my next hatch. (Ha! Wishful thinking). I wonder how many roosters I can grow out in my carport.....

I am thankful that my 2 pullets are both Marans, as the whole purpose of this hatch was to add dark layers. I didn't really want to hatch white layers, as most are not very meaty, so I ordered 3 brown leghorns from Longhorn, along with 2 New Hampshires, just because I really like this mystery bird I have that looks like a NH. She lays olive, as she is a wheaten Ameraucana x ?? cross. Sweet bird, and very productive.

great day for Maine Maple Sunday! I have too much to do here to attend this year, but there are 3 places less than 5 miles from my house, so it is tempting.

 

[Mainechick168]

MustardTiger- your brooder looks great! Mine was....ugly to say the least! thrown together just in time...and then we took it apart and used it to build nest boxes...yours looks like a keeper though!

 

[lazy gardener]

Ash, did you get those chanteclers from the person on CL? I almost went and got some of those but...the timing just wasnt right for me. They are still on my bucket list though, but Ill probably go in search of white or buff. Its a cool mix youve got going!

that is it. Next year I am getting an incubator! I want to join in on this hatching.


Question: is there any indication at all to be able to sex day old EEs?

And tada! Here is the new brooder. Ready to go. I will tell you.. I HATE working with hardware cloth!







The top comes off completely and is very light so I can use it outside as a mini tractor/chick playpen.

I'm impressed! And I agree with you. HDW cloth is a menace!

 

[lazy gardener]

I have 1 male RIR and 2 BSL 4.5 weeks old if any one is interested. PM me.

 

[hoppy]

wow this is really nice, you probably could sell these (if you were so inclined to build more)
and as far as sexing EE as day olds, since they are a mix, would probably more depend on what the cross was.

Question: is there any indication at all to be able to sex day old EEs?

And tada! Here is the new brooder. Ready to go. I will tell you.. I HATE working with hardware cloth!





The top comes off completely and is very light so I can use it outside as a mini tractor/chick playpen.

 

[MustardTiger]

Thanks guys. It was fun to build. having a husband with quite a bit of building experience and having grown up in a shop myself, helps. Next time we would use thicker ply and leave out the internal frame made from 2x4s. It made the base really heavy.

Hoppy, hrm I would totally build these to sell. I would have to price it out, Hardware cloth is so expensive. We used 1/4 inch since we bought a big roll in bulk from amazon and per foot it ended up cheaper to buy it that way. 1/2 would look nicer. The design came from the brooder section. I am going to take it way too far and paint our farm logo on it too heh. we are going to add some hasps so that the top will be secure and sneaky cats wont get in.

I ask about the EEs since I will be picking some up soon and of course, I want to try and get ladies I don't know what the mix is. I can ask.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

I introduced myself a few months ago... we're moving to Maine this summer. We have officially found a property that allows chickens (no roosters) and already has a coop. Very excited! The earliest I'll be able to get them is mid-July, due to the moving schedule. I'm thinking barred rocks to start. Do you think it's too late to start them in mid-July? Will there still be young chicks available locally then? I'd like the experience of raising them.

It's been fun watching this forum... especially all the hatching going on!

 

[Widget]

I introduced myself a few months ago... we're moving to Maine this summer. We have officially found a property that allows chickens (no roosters) and already has a coop. Very excited! The earliest I'll be able to get them is mid-July, due to the moving schedule. I'm thinking barred rocks to start. Do you think it's too late to start them in mid-July? Will there still be young chicks available locally then? I'd like the experience of raising them.

It's been fun watching this forum... especially all the hatching going on!

Where in Maine will you be?

As for birds I would think the swaps that go on would be your best bet. And I'm sure many on this board will have something you may like. Maybe not Barred Rocks but with so many breeds out there I think you will find one or two or three that you would like to have.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Barred rocks might be a good bet because the chicks are sexable at birth.

If you can't have boys, then you either need sex linked chicks or older chicks (approx 4 weeks) so you can ensure they're girls.

If you buy at swaps, you have to buy young 'uns in groups of 6. You may want to look on craigslist or on our thread, instead, if you can't have 6.

July won't be "too late" to start. Many hatch year round up here.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

We ended up in Cape Elizabeth, surprisingly. (I know, I know... you guys warned me about the snobs. I'm heading in with thick skin!)

Glad to know it won't be too late. I am thinking of starting with 6-10.