Maine

[lazy gardener]

I tried guineas twice, and I did not like them. Since I have had chickens, I have not had one tick at my house

Good to know re: chickens and ticks. We were over run with ticks last summer. I was pulling on average 2 ticks off each of my cats every week. they are the most disgusting things... the ticks, not my cats!!

 

[Paulajon]

Quote: I have 6 coral blue guinea hens almost a year old, I just separated them from my laying hens as they were causing stress to the layers chasing them, driving them away from food and not letting them back in the coop. I have found them to be more on the wild side then chickens, very hard to catch and love to fly up on the roof of the house, and they are great watchdogs , make a lot of noise when something is different, out of place or approaching . They are use to me so they will quiet down once they know it is me. They are in a coop with covered top as they can fly pretty high and are great escape artist. I have had them since day old and I feel they are very territorial and may have to be cooped up for some time if taking to a new resident, right now I have not let them free range as I don't want them flying into my other coops. Other then that they are ok , but I find them wild compared to my chickens and silkies . If you have close neighbors they can be considered pretty loud to some people. Hope this helps you......
I feed my giunea multi flock crumbles as they need a higher protein, they have also chased a mouse that ran through their coop ....

 

[CoopChick719]

Three more hatched over night and I figure a few more will come today. I have hatches about a week apart right now. Now that SO is turned off of cornish rocks (esp the baby wings at bbq places) and eggs for now he is totally into the hatching. He doesn't let on but I find him over the incubator all the time, "just checking." I am selling my Hedemora and almost wish I weren't. They are so sweet and quiet and soft....
Been a crazy few days. The dog ran into a car-- spring fever apparently, a few birds got loose, one got lost, kids had the day off and HAD to catch up on their fighting. Seeds are desperate to be started here. Spring is here. Chives are growing and the pussy willows are fuzzy... and a Bald Eagle was riding thermals 2 miles from my house. Time to get out the netting to protect everyone.

Glad to hear SO is comin' around! My DH was totally against getting the chickens but now he's buying them treats, helped me wrap the pen w/a tarp, making sure the chicks in the brooder have a roost, etc. I have to drop a few hints about expanding the pen this summer to let the idea brew a little.

OMG!! 7 have hatched 2 are zipping and I can see 4 have piped!!! Who would ever believe how exciting chicks can be!!!! Thank you Hoppy for all your advice over the last year.. and your patience with all our questions... And I have also enjoyed reading the post from this thread and others...

Hooray for hatchlings! Congrats to all the hatchers. Love hearing the stories & seeing the pictures.

Good to know re: chickens and ticks. We were over run with ticks last summer. I was pulling on average 2 ticks off each of my cats every week. they are the most disgusting things... the ticks, not my cats!!

Every night last summer we had to do a tick check on the dogs. We were find at least 2 a week more if DH took the dogs to his brother's house. He always seems to be overrun w/ticks. He should get some chickens!

 

[Mainechick168]

Ok, I have a bit of a question/poll regarding rooster behavior- and if DH is right, or if I am

I love our rooster, he is big and pretty and does his job well. He chased off a hawk the other day, and keeps all the ladies together, finds them bits of food and is not too rough on them. He does, how ever, have a few girls that he does not seem to like as much- the only way you would know this is that sometimes ( not all of the time) when they are around the smaller food bowl, he will peck at one of them until his preferred group has eatten their fill. DH thinks this is just terrible, because they have to wait until him and his faves are done eatting before they can, but I think it's not too major- they still eat, he does not do it all the time, and besides this, he is great......soo....thoughts?!

 

[Widget]

Ok, I have a bit of a question/poll regarding rooster behavior- and if DH is right, or if I am

I love our rooster, he is big and pretty and does his job well. He chased off a hawk the other day, and keeps all the ladies together, finds them bits of food and is not too rough on them. He does, how ever, have a few girls that he does not seem to like as much- the only way you would know this is that sometimes ( not all of the time) when they are around the smaller food bowl, he will peck at one of them until his preferred group has eatten their fill. DH thinks this is just terrible, because they have to wait until him and his faves are done eatting before they can, but I think it's not too major- they still eat, he does not do it all the time, and besides this, he is great......soo....thoughts?!

Makes sense that he would have his favorites. He is male after all.

As long as the other girls aren't harassed to the point they can't keep weight on then I don't see an issue.

 

[lazy gardener]

Makes sense that he would have his favorites. He is male after all.

As long as the other girls aren't harassed to the point they can't keep weight on then I don't see an issue.

If it really bothers you, you could put some of the food in a smaller dish for the outcasts. Reminds me of gym class... always being picked last! He's just doing what he was designed to do... showing perference for the hens that he percieives as being preferred breeding stock to provide strong chicks in the next generation.

 

[PollyC]

you could always set out another bowl of food for them

 

[Mainechick168]

It's not me that it bothers- it's husband, haha! They have one bowl outside, and one inside- maybe I will put two outside so DH will quit his complaining- I tried saying that it was just chicken behavior, and that other than that, he is an awesome rooster....but apparently someone is a little protective of our chickens!

 

[pellepeterson]

Please tell me we are not getting any more snow!!! I so need to finish our coop so I can get the chicks outside...I am at around 4 weeks as a chicken owner, they are feathering out nicely, and getting cranky in their rabbit cage confines. Can anyone tell this rookie when is a good time to put them outside? Do you heat or not? I have read about the light during the shorter days to help the hens lay, I would love some pointers...help if you can!

Thank you!

 

[lazy gardener]

Please tell me we are not getting any more snow!!! I so need to finish our coop so I can get the chicks outside...I am at around 4 weeks as a chicken owner, they are feathering out nicely, and getting cranky in their rabbit cage confines. Can anyone tell this rookie when is a good time to put them outside? Do you heat or not? I have read about the light during the shorter days to help the hens lay, I would love some pointers...help if you can!

Thank you!

I feel your pain! I'm so ready to have the chicks out of my basement. mine are 5 and 3.5 weeks. Got a start on the coop today (sealing the bottom and roof "peak" framing) . If it's not nasty tomorrow, may be able to get a start on erecting the frame, then I plan to cover it with poly while I work on the interior framing. Kind of going at it from every direction at once because of the cold and slop.