Maine

[ashandvine]

I ran in and out of the fair today without checking out anything but the poultry show. I was stewarding and had to get home for the kids so I was in and out but it was very nice to see some of the birds shown which I had not seen in other Maine shows, like bantam Shamo and LF Langshans, Welsh Harlequin ducks and a Royal Palm Turkey. Who was it wanted the info on breeders?? I will go again with the kids on Thursday when we volunteer. They didn't have a sign on Rt 17 to mark the turn off so I got a little lost but was quickly found.

 

[ashandvine]

Also, my neighbor has decided that his NH Red cock has had too many 'crossing road' expeditions to get my gals and wants him rehomed. Anyone? He's big.

 

[ashandvine]

Also, my neighbor has decided that his NH Red cock has had too many 'crossing road' expeditions to get my gals and wants him rehomed. Anyone? He's big.

 

[Widget]

Here are some pictures from today after I let the birds out to free range.


Hidden Ducks.


Roaming Turkeys.


Curious Goose.

 

[guesswhokatysue]

Hey fellow Mainers, I need some advice on what breeds of layers you found to be cold hardy (and good layers). We are looking to start a backyard coop with a few chickens for fresh eggs, but I have ZERO idea what get for this area. The lady at Blue Seal told me a bunch yesterday, and naturally, I didn't write them down. I fail

. I was hoping someone on here might know. There are some chicks and young pullets for sale around, which is good, but the breeds I'm seeing are unfamiliar to me (and when I google them I am not getting much on their cold-hardiness). Any help is MUCH appreciated!

 

[hoppy]

wow, no doubt what those are!! wow!

October 3, 2012

Don't tell me there aren't any cats in Somerville, ME. A buddies game camera...no wonder I haven't seen any deer out there in years.


From my friend's Facebook page.

 

[Widget]

Hey fellow Mainers, I need some advice on what breeds of layers you found to be cold hardy (and good layers). We are looking to start a backyard coop with a few chickens for fresh eggs, but I have ZERO idea what get for this area. The lady at Blue Seal told me a bunch yesterday, and naturally, I didn't write them down. I fail

. I was hoping someone on here might know. There are some chicks and young pullets for sale around, which is good, but the breeds I'm seeing are unfamiliar to me (and when I google them I am not getting much on their cold-hardiness). Any help is MUCH appreciated!

Most any breed can do well with our winters if properly sheltered. Frostbite can be an issue for the birds with larger combs. With that said you can not go wrong with Australorps, Orpingtons, Barred Rocks and Wyandottes. There are certainly other great breeds but they might be more difficult to find. Cochins are great but not the most reliable layers. I am not a fan of the Rhode Island Reds since I have never met a nice one but other than frostbite they are good for the winter. I have Golden Comets that have no issue with the cold and lay well year round.

 

[lazy gardener]

Hey fellow Mainers, I need some advice on what breeds of layers you found to be cold hardy (and good layers). We are looking to start a backyard coop with a few chickens for fresh eggs, but I have ZERO idea what get for this area. The lady at Blue Seal told me a bunch yesterday, and naturally, I didn't write them down. I fail

. I was hoping someone on here might know. There are some chicks and young pullets for sale around, which is good, but the breeds I'm seeing are unfamiliar to me (and when I google them I am not getting much on their cold-hardiness). Any help is MUCH appreciated!

Welcome! You might want to check out Henderson's chicken breed chart. It tells the basics about different breeds, like cold hardiness, temperament, egg production, size. Pea and rose comb birds are supposedly less prone to frost bite. Are you starting birds this summer, or in the spring?

 

[lazy gardener]

Hey fellow Mainers, I need some advice on what breeds of layers you found to be cold hardy (and good layers). We are looking to start a backyard coop with a few chickens for fresh eggs, but I have ZERO idea what get for this area. The lady at Blue Seal told me a bunch yesterday, and naturally, I didn't write them down. I fail

. I was hoping someone on here might know. There are some chicks and young pullets for sale around, which is good, but the breeds I'm seeing are unfamiliar to me (and when I google them I am not getting much on their cold-hardiness). Any help is MUCH appreciated!

Welcome! You might want to check out Henderson's chicken breed chart. It tells the basics about different breeds, like cold hardiness, temperament, egg production, size. Pea and rose comb birds are supposedly less prone to frost bite. Are you starting birds this summer, or in the spring?

sorry for the dbl post. For some reason, when I hit submit, it doesn't go until I hit it again, then it goes x 2 .

 

[guesswhokatysue]

Most any breed can do well with our winters if properly sheltered. Frostbite can be an issue for the birds with larger combs. With that said you can not go wrong with Australorps, Orpingtons, Barred Rocks and Wyandottes. There are certainly other great breeds but they might be more difficult to find. Cochins are great but not the most reliable layers. I am not a fan of the Rhode Island Reds since I have never met a nice one but other than frostbite they are good for the winter. I have Golden Comets that have no issue with the cold and lay well year round.

Thank you for that advice! I was thinking about mixing it up (depending on what I could find) with some Wyandottes and Barred Rocks at least. I hadn't heard much about the Australorps, so I will go look into them as soon as I finish replying. Thanks for the info on the cochins as well, since I saw someone was selling them fairly cheap (wonder why haha). I know I can look this up, but I like actual people's reactions, of the breeds you listed, have you noticed a mild temperament? Any recommendation on which would have a friendly rooster (I know some of this has to do with my up-bringing of the roo, but I know there are some that are just naturally more docile than others). If you have no personal experience with the roosters that's ok too. For some reason I was straying away from the RIRs because I had heard they weren't that friendly, I am glad you haven't gone against all I have seen regarding that! Thank you so much for the help!

Welcome! You might want to check out Henderson's chicken breed chart. It tells the basics about different breeds, like cold hardiness, temperament, egg production, size. Pea and rose comb birds are supposedly less prone to frost bite. Are you starting birds this summer, or in the spring?

sorry for the dbl post. For some reason, when I hit submit, it doesn't go until I hit it again, then it goes x 2 .

Thank you for that chart. I am going to look that up also as soon as I am done here. I think if I start this summer it depends on how soon I can get started. If I am more than a couple weeks later starting I am not going to do it now, unless I can find some barely or almost mature hens (like 4-5 months vs. chicks). We know what we want to do with the coop, we are no just trying to figure out where to put it so it wont run any risk of contaminating our well. Otherwise, we are good there. If the "worst" happens, we get everything set up now, and get them in the spring, giving us a chance to spread out the cost a little. Fortunately, I found out that as far as zoning goes, we are considered "farm-residential" or something (according to my mom), so I don't have to worry about problems there. This is definitely a lot of work, but so far, I have definitely enjoyed the research

.