Maine

[buckabucka]

Lazygardener, this new tractor will be on wheels. The school was throwing out an old "jail" (I guess it was used for a spring carnival or something). It is basically just some 2x4 walls that make a 7'x7' cube. We'll have to spend some money for a roof, but the wheels we had lying around.

The wheels are maybe 8", no innertube. Ours are not going to retract. I plan to have hardware cloth around the base which continues out onto the ground. On our other hoop coop tractor, we lift the hardware cloth skirt with a couple wires when we move it, so it doesn't get hung up on the ground, so I imagine this will be the same approach. No idea how these wheels will function yet. It moves now, but there is no weight on it yet.

 

[thatsjustducky]

Ok...so I am considering getting 2 or 3 guineas this spring. No other reason other than tick control and fowl entertainment I guess. I have about 10 acres and very chicken/ fowl tolerant neighbors in the country. Besides their noise has anyone had any negative issues (or even positive for that matter) with them? Is their feed the same and would I still have to supplement their feed in the summer time? My other concern is homing them. I was planning on getting established birds and was told (I think by hoppy) that they may not home like chickens if they are older? I was planning on keeping them cooped up for a week or so then let em have at it. My flock of chickens is completely free range so I'm wondering if they might just follow them into the coop if they go in at all at night. Anyone have thoughts?

We had some guineas for a almost a year and a half. Very noisy birds especially if you have a lot of different things going on at home. They are very good at alerting to "something not right". We had great success with keeping them penned up for a month, with access to the outdoors in a roofed enclosure. They also shared part of the chicken coop. They were separated by chicken wire but could see and hear each other. After that first month we let them out with the chickens. they would fly over fence and usually returned before night. We did have one decide to lay a clutch of eggs in the thickets, and wanted to stay there. We supplemented their foraging with layer crumbles and saw no ill effects. They are very adept at flight and at finding bugs.

 

[hoppy]

I have one 7' long. I have tires on one end and poles for lifting on the other end and Ijust wheel it around the yard. the end with tires is just a bit higher and I used lawn mower tires.

How big is your tractor, and is it going to be on skids or are you using wheels. I need to do a wheel assembly for my 8 x 8 cattle panel tractor, have 10" pneumatic "type" wheels (4) for it, but not sure how we'll end up doing the wheels to allow them to "drop down" for moving, and raise up when it's parked. If any of you out there have done a similar design, please chime in with your wisdom!!

 

[CoopChick719]

Thanks for the insight on my rooster question

. CoopChick, I'll make sure to tell J you think it's cute...you know, he also kisses them on the head when he shuts them in for the night....

I'm sure glad it's raining right now and not snowing!!

He cracks me up!!

 

[lazy gardener]

Lazygardener, this new tractor will be on wheels. The school was throwing out an old "jail" (I guess it was used for a spring carnival or something). It is basically just some 2x4 walls that make a 7'x7' cube. We'll have to spend some money for a roof, but the wheels we had lying around.

The wheels are maybe 8", no innertube. Ours are not going to retract. I plan to have hardware cloth around the base which continues out onto the ground. On our other hoop coop tractor, we lift the hardware cloth skirt with a couple wires when we move it, so it doesn't get hung up on the ground, so I imagine this will be the same approach. No idea how these wheels will function yet. It moves now, but there is no weight on it yet.

Thanks. Sounds like you got quite a steal with that "Jail". I'd toyed with the idea of a skirt, but kind of left it behind when I got my head wrapped around the idea of retracting wheels. With uneven ground, I'm guessing the skirt will be necessary anyways. Do you think yellow calico would look nice? (Just kidding!) what did you use for skirt, and how big? I hate the expense of running 1/2" hdw cloth all around it, but will if necessary.

 

[ashandvine]

So, today I was running around with my 1 year old helper, collecting sap, bringing in wood, making fires, watering and feeding chicks. I left a small container of food on a table and went to change the water. I returned to find my helper helping herself to chicken crumble. It does look a lot like nutty nuggets and she just stood there, frozen with two fists full when I came back in, waiting for my response. I couldn't find the camera fast enough.

Mainechick.... J is funny but remind him that all groups of breeding animals have hierarchy. That rooster won't let those 'out casts' get eaten by a dog or harassed even without doing something but there is a hierarchy and he will keep the peace by maintaining it.

 

[kinsey228]

So excited for the Augusta swap this weekend! I will only be able to stay for a couple of hours, but I still hope to get a few new ladies for the flock. I promised my son and dughter that they can each pick out one pullet.

 

[lazy gardener]

It's really spring: I just saw a flock of geese heading north!

 

[CoopChick719]

So, today I was running around with my 1 year old helper, collecting sap, bringing in wood, making fires, watering and feeding chicks. I left a small container of food on a table and went to change the water. I returned to find my helper helping herself to chicken crumble. It does look a lot like nutty nuggets and she just stood there, frozen with two fists full when I came back in, waiting for my response. I couldn't find the camera fast enough.

Mainechick.... J is funny but remind him that all groups of breeding animals have hierarchy. That rooster won't let those 'out casts' get eaten by a dog or harassed even without doing something but there is a hierarchy and he will keep the peace by maintaining it.

OMG...it does look like granola! Too funny, ashandvine!!!

Mainechick....does your roo know that J is kissing his girls?

It's really spring: I just saw a flock of geese heading north!

I had some fly over the coop the other day. My roo let out a warning call and everyone went stock still until the geese passed. I'm always amazed when they play Red Light, Green light!

 

[ashandvine]

So excited for the Augusta swap this weekend! I will only be able to stay for a couple of hours, but I still hope to get a few new ladies for the flock. I promised my son and daughter that they can each pick out one pullet.

I guess this means I should bring a few lol I can't actually sell less than 6 at a time because of them not being 8wks+. You know, I wondered about this: if a person next to me at the swap has pullets and someone buys from both them and me couldn't they mix and match? As long as they have six to go together that are about the same age? Maybe not, just wondering. I was just saying to SO that I need a second incubator. He didn't even flinch! What I really need is a sign out front as well that says
"Eggs... PLEASE buy some."