Maine

[Mainechick168]

anna- did the break in to the coop? or just get in before you closed up? I'm still new to this game to, but we free range, and decided as opposed to having a set time to close them in, we do it when it gets dark, which is at like 4 now! We do have a dog, but he is not a LGD...he does "patrol" in the morning and before bed, and I wonder if just his scent has been a bit of a deterrent for predators? I'm sorry to hear you lost a bunch, that is really upsetting- I say my girls are just for eggs, but really, they are pets too and I like them all a whole lot!

 

[MustardTiger]

Hrm all this predator talk scares me. If nothing was eaten, from the little I have read, it sounds like dogs... I am knocking on wood right now because other than two failed hawk attacks we have had ZERO predators. Our run is covered and we put them in when it gets dark and only let them out when we are home (which is about 50% of the time in winter and most of the time in summer). We have a dog, and she does not guard the chickens (she is a pup and wants to play with them - they do not want to play with her!) but I do think her scent keeps critters away. I have only ever seen a skunk once or twice and I know there are coyotes close by but I have never seen or heard them on our property.

The only culprit we have had is the neighbors ****** basset hound who got one of our orpingtons in spring. Since then, they learned to keep far away from where those dogs are.

 

[annabananaandfamily]

They got in before we closed up. I usually close up after everyone in the house has settled in for the evening- around 8. Clearly not the way to go. I have a newfoundland, but shes about as far from a guard dog as they come. Mainechick, arent you here in Raymond too?

 

[Mainechick168]

They got in before we closed up. I usually close up after everyone in the house has settled in for the evening- around 8. Clearly not the way to go. I have a newfoundland, but shes about as far from a guard dog as they come. Mainechick, arent you here in Raymond too?

I'm in Farmingdale..not too close to Raymond! I bet your chickens would be fine to be closed up early..mine don't really do anything after it gets dark...although they complain majory if I don't let them out first thing in the morning!

 

[ejcimd]

Annabanana - So sorry to hear about your chicken babies...

My first batch of chickens I had in a coop and they free ranged during the day. A fox got in and just butchered 90% of my flock. Didn't even eat one, didn't take one just killed every chicken he could catch and left them all.

I bawled my eyes out. Now if he had just taken one and eaten it I wouldn't like it but I'd understand. Just killing... UGHHHHHH...


The only reason I know it was a fox is the tracks.

The chickens I have now are locked up when I get home at 5:10. My big birds only free range when I am at home. My bantams are free to roam, they fly and roost on tall things so it seems safe.

 

[Widget]

Mine end up being locked in 24/7. It is either that or be a free meal for whatever predators wander by during the day or night. I'm sure they would love to be able to wander about the yard but the way I see it so would the horses and goats.

I did get a job offer from Maine Med. I accepted it even though it is a temporary position but does have a great chance of becoming permanent. Being temporary mean no benefits though. The pay is not great either. It would be a real struggle to just take care of the basics. But it would be a job and who knows it may lead to something better. I'm still under consideration with TSC so hopefully I will hear back from them next week. Funny. I'm thankful I was offered a job but still a bit depressed and feeling like I'm treading water in a hurricane with no end in sight.

 

[hoppy]

http://umaine.edu/news/blog/2012/12/03/maines-best-roosts/

coop contest open to all maine residents with a coop.
first prize is $200/$100/$50 and 4&5 are a year mag subscription.
must enter by dec 31,2012. so coming right up.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Mine end up being locked in 24/7. It is either that or be a free meal for whatever predators wander by during the day or night. I'm sure they would love to be able to wander about the yard but the way I see it so would the horses and goats.

I did get a job offer from Maine Med. I accepted it even though it is a temporary position but does have a great chance of becoming permanent. Being temporary mean no benefits though. The pay is not great either. It would be a real struggle to just take care of the basics. But it would be a job and who knows it may lead to something better. I'm still under consideration with TSC so hopefully I will hear back from them next week. Funny. I'm thankful I was offered a job but still a bit depressed and feeling like I'm treading water in a hurricane with no end in sight.

Congrats on getting the job. If you're a hard worker you should have no problem finding another position within MMC.

I'm ready for it to stop being dark all the time.

 

[buckabucka]

Congratulations on the job, Widget! I think it is perfectly normal to feel out of sorts when you're looking for new work and deciding what's next. Things will settle down eventually.

SCG, I am also tired of the darkness. One more week until the solstice, and then we should be able to see a difference a month later. I guess that's kind of a long time, but it's coming.

I'm having a hard time getting into the chicken run. Since the door opens out (bad idea), it is catching on the ice. I'm going to try and do some chiseling tomorrow, because there will be no removing it once the snow comes.

 

[lazy gardener]

Hey, I'm in Winterport also. Planning to start with chicks in spring, (have had birds in past, both meat and layers.) I may have missed how many and what type of birds you have, what style of coop? I'm gleaning a lot of info from following you folks. Thanks.