Maine

[guesswhokatysue]

Also, any thoughts on Golden Comets in Maine? I've seen a post on here about them being reliable layers, but those people are from the more southern states, so the level of cold their chickens experience vs up here is VERY different.

 

[Widget]

Also, any thoughts on Golden Comets in Maine? I've seen a post on here about them being reliable layers, but those people are from the more southern states, so the level of cold their chickens experience vs up here is VERY different.

I have some young ready to lay pullets right now. Wish they would get down to business.

And last winter I had three hens that had no issues with the weather. All in all they are great layers, friendly and are winter hardy. I got mine at Longhorn in Buxton. They are sold out until October when they are planning on getting more in. When they do get them they are about 3 months old and only a month or so away from starting to lay.

 

[guesswhokatysue]

I have some young ready to lay pullets right now. Wish they would get down to business.

And last winter I had three hens that had no issues with the weather. All in all they are great layers, friendly and are winter hardy. I got mine at Longhorn in Buxton. They are sold out until October when they are planning on getting more in. When they do get them they are about 3 months old and only a month or so away from starting to lay.

It sounds like you live near me and if you want more, there is someone on Craigslist selling 9 wk old Golden Comets. We aren't ready to have them yet (which stinks because I want them SO bad). So if you are interested I would be happy to give you the link

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[Widget]

It sounds like you live near me and if you want more, there is someone on Craigslist selling 9 wk old Golden Comets. We aren't ready to have them yet (which stinks because I want them SO bad). So if you are interested I would be happy to give you the link

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Thanks but I have enough for now.

They should start laying any day. And I have some young chicks in the brooder so there will be no room in the coop come winter for any new additions.

 

[guesswhokatysue]

Thanks but I have enough for now.

They should start laying any day. And I have some young chicks in the brooder so there will be no room in the coop come winter for any new additions.

I seriously hope that we can get our stuff built up and get some soon! I have seen several people that are selling mature chicks (whatever they are) that aren't quite ready to lay, but are out of the brooder, which is right up my alley I think! Several breed varieties too. Now we have to decide exactly what we want...oh dear.

 

[MEMama3]

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!

Mypetchicken.com also has a nifty breed generator. You select the things that are important you and it tells you which chickens meet your needs. I know "cold hardy" is one of the options.

 

[dowgirl71]

I was born here and am still finding my way around.

Anything above Augusta is still a mystery.

It's "God's country" up here!

 

[guesswhokatysue]

Mypetchicken.com also has a nifty breed generator. You select the things that are important you and it tells you which chickens meet your needs. I know "cold hardy" is one of the options.

That. Is. Amazing.

I am going to go over there and look at that RIGHT NOW! Thank you

 

[Mainechick168]

What a mess we had yesterday!! It's about day 13 of my broody setting on her clutch- and one of the EE's snuck in her nest box and laid and egg- no big deal, you say??? Well...Penny is molting, and laying an egg with an extremely thin shell lately, and of course, the broody smooshed it all over herself and her eggs. She was not happy, but I had to bring her out and wash her off. I sort of cleaned up the worst off eggs, but I'm not sure if this is safe or not?? Is it a major problem for me to handle the eggs like this??

 

[Jazor]

It wasn't a glasses issue. I had been on call the night before and I swear they woke me up every 15 minutes without fail. I was a walking zombie.

Sorry about the dead fox, Ash, but I wanted to show how big that sucker was. He probably took down turkeys. If I had a live picture, I would have shown that. I have not seen a fox that big in a long time.

The fox I disposed of last week I would guess (and I do mean guess) would have stood a couple inches taller from ground-to-shoulder, and even weighted 5-7lbs more. He was the biggest fox I've seen--it's probably worth mentioning that he was, in my non-expert opinion/observation, a gray fox. I'm no expert at all, but I have heard of increasing numbers of gray fox attacks and encounters in the Southern Maine area this year. He was extremely aggressive, and I wasn't letting him carry on in my area. I didn't put him down to protect my animals, I put him down to protect my family as well as the hundreds of campers/hikers in my area. He crossed the main road coming toward me growling last week. Needless to say, that's not typical fox behaviour. He had either become way too accustomed to being around humans, or had himself a fancy case of the rabies.

Either way. One problem solved. He wont be back. If he was infected, I can only hope he didn't have a chance to pass it along.