Maine

[Widget]

Widget - I recommend NOT buying from lowes. You may pay a little more to buy from a local dealer but if anything ever goes wrong with it Lowes will not help at all. If you buy from a local dealer they will be much better at helping you with issues and repairing any problems. As I have mentioned I have had a horrible time with the Husqvarna tractor I got at lowes. Lucky for us DH came up with a way to fix it on our own with a little tinkering. It will be a $70 repair instead of a $400 repair. I am crossing my fingers it works! Also I have had great luck with Verizon and LG phones. I love them. I have an LG Vuze and it does whatever an iphone does. Granted, I am grandfathered in to an unlimited data contract that is really cheap - or else I might consider other options.

Pellepeterson; don't worry - most of my orpingtons and easter eggers didn't start laying until 20-22 weeks! I was so impatient but it happened

The local JD dealer is a bit odd and with my recent experience with Lowes I have nothing but praise for the Windham store. The manager there went above and beyond to correct an overcharge of $15. I ended up with a $100 gift card.

 

[MEMama3]

I am getting the wood for my coop addition today. I'm so excited to get it going. My game plan is to build the addition off site, then when it's done, pull down the siding on the coop wall while the girls free range and then secure the two parts together on the new platform (a higher platform so I don't have to stoop). I may upload my sketches later to see if you ladies have any suggestions.

 

[buckabucka]

I have some chickens that started laying at 19 weeks, and others started at 30 weeks. Not sure how old yours are, pellepeterson, but you may get some hints that eggs are coming: really bright red combs, hens suddenly acting friendlier, the rooster climbing into nest boxes and calling the girls, and the girls practicing using the nest box a lot. Good luck! That first egg is very exciting.

We like our John Deere mower. We got it at Lowes, but haven't had to use customer service for anything.

And here is a fact about me that proves I am weird: I do not have a phone. Of course, we have a home phone, but we don't pay anything (OOMA). DH has a fancy phone. I once did buy one of those cheap phones that has a 3 month plan or something (Tracphone?) because I was taking a trip by myself, but I never used it. If they come up with a plan that is $5 a month or less, I might bite the bullet, but I kind of like not being able to be reached. If I had kids, I'm sure I would want one.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm also in the anxiously awaiting the first egg crowd and anxiously trying to get my nest boxes finished before the grand event. Got the hole cut through the wall, built the frame work that finishes off the hole and provides the support for the box with hubby's direction and a lot of help. Am on my own today to re-do the frame and build the box with a divider, cause I didn't take into account how the frame would fit inside the box. My pullets are close. First 2 hatched 2/21. They and the EEs from 3/2 are doing the squat and wing spread when ever they are approached from above.

 

[ashandvine]

Depending on many things breeds start laying at 16 to twenty something weeks. Its tough because your EE and Ams take a whiiiile, but so do others. I wouldn't worry. With this heat its no wonder. It seems most of us in this thread are raising pets. Anyone have Games? I think I asked this before and got no where but I have to ask again just in case.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Depending on many things breeds start laying at 16 to twenty something weeks. Its tough because your EE and Ams take a whiiiile, but so do others. I wouldn't worry. With this heat its no wonder. It seems most of us in this thread are raising pets. Anyone have Games? I think I asked this before and got no where but I have to ask again just in case.

If you count cornish, I do.

I guess I should have listened to you guys about the last remaining baby duck.

 

[buckabucka]

So sorry about the duckling!

 

[MEMama3]

Here is the exterior views of the coop with the modifications I want to make (adding chicken doors and 18" to the right side). I'd show you the interior plan, but Google Sketchup is not something I seem to be able to wrap my head around. Basically, the roost pole is going to run 12" from the back using the support from the side of the nest box up to the rear chicken door. It is 12" off the ground and that gives them 18" clearance measured from the back wall (so actually a bit more). There are 2 doors because most of the year they go in the run off the back, but in early spring and late fall, they go in my veggie garden and I didn't want the coop to face backwards. It is 2' off the ground on stilts and measures 4' x 5'.
Back Wall (people access goes to the floor and hinges from the bottom so you can pull used bedding right into the lawn cart)

Front Wall

Left Wall (contains 2 nest boxes 12"x12" each)

Right Wall (screened windows set into the people access door that can be covered with reclaimed shutter doors)

I couldn't figure out how to add this, but the roof is set up on 2x4s and there is a trim piece to block wind gusts. The right side windows will be covered in plastic during the winter, but do you think the front venting window and this roof venting will be sufficient for winter? It is an uninsulated coop.

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

Does anyone have some silkie, Cochin, and/or sizzle hatching eggs for sale?? I've got some broody hens and would love some eggs for them. I'm looking for show quality or at least very very nice ones. I'm in Gray and I don't mind driving up to an hour away. I haven't had any luck with shipped eggs. Thanks!!

 

[buckabucka]

The coop plan looks good, MEmama! I would think your design has sufficient ventilation.