Maine

[pellepeterson]

Is anyone else VERY upset to be at work on a BEAUTIFUL Maine Day like this!!!! I have work to do on my coop!!!! Our chickens did get an upgrade in their home last night, from a rabbit cage upstairs to a much larger, longer, taller temporary home downstairs. They were getting too big and too many in a small space. They were quite funny to watch as they realized they could jump and fly and not touch the top. They are happier now...I want to let them run in the grass for a while before it gets chilly tonight...Oh well, maybe tomorrow....Happy Spring Fellow Mainers....

 

[justinelee]

So looks like I might have three buff orpington roosters out of six straight runs... anyone want a baby buff roo? If no one is interested two of the roos will probably end up in the freezer!

 

[PollyC]

Hatching has started, Day 19 and I have one Viking bird out and 5 more working on getting out. Love the sound of new life in the hatcher

 

[ashandvine]

Turkey poults are just as fragile as they are reputed to be. One died in the egg and the other under the lamp. GRRRRRR.

 

[ashandvine]

New coop here and new geese. So pretty. Pics some time after my head stops spinning. Making the most of the double post 'error'

Sat or Sunday works for most folks... now about that celebrity appearance??

You coming SCG?

 

[longgrove]

weasel attacks are the worst, you only need to get hit once because they kill everything they can catch. I was almost wiped out in one day13 birds killed, and I figured that since it was now daylight, they would be safe until nightfall, wrong! the bugger came back killed all but 3 birds. we got that one, but a new one moved in the next yr but only got 1 bird. keeping dogs around I think has helped put a stop to them here.

I have a great fence ...for dogs, fox, etc. The wire is 2x4 welded, supported by a 2x4 frame. There is a 4' extension on the top of 1" plastic netting (sopported by 2x3 posts, attached to the aforementioned frame. It is, however no barrier to weasles. I lost my lovely buff Silkie (that I got from Hoppy) and badly injured one of the EEs (who, thankfully, recovered.) This happened at 10:00 in the morning,,,broad daylight. The coop is super fortified and they are locked in at night. I havn't dared let them out wothout supervision since (which really makes them mad), I have been toying with the idea of reinforcing the bottom 3 feet with 1" metal chicken wire, do ya'll think that would keep the weasles out?

 

[echosrevenge]

Longgrove, I dont think 1" chicken wire would be a barrier to weasels - like ferrets, they can squish their body through any hole their head fits in, and they have tiny heads. The 'least weasel', which I know is further south on the east coast but not sure if it's here in Maine, can fit through anything bigger than 1/2" but still kills like its bigger brethren... For weasel-proofing, everything I've read says hardware cloth - the smaller the better - is the only defense. Thankfully we've never had losses to weasels, but they are probably my #1 predator fear.

 

[lazy gardener]

I have a great fence ...for dogs, fox, etc. The wire is 2x4 welded, supported by a 2x4 frame. There is a 4' extension on the top of 1" plastic netting (sopported by 2x3 posts, attached to the aforementioned frame. It is, however no barrier to weasles. I lost my lovely buff Silkie (that I got from Hoppy) and badly injured one of the EEs (who, thankfully, recovered.) This happened at 10:00 in the morning,,,broad daylight. The coop is super fortified and they are locked in at night. I havn't dared let them out wothout supervision since (which really makes them mad), I have been toying with the idea of reinforcing the bottom 3 feet with 1" metal chicken wire, do ya'll think that would keep the weasles out?

My understanding is that they'll go through anything larger than 1/2" and they are very good climbers... so unless the entire structure is covered by 1/2" you're still at risk. Please, those with knowledge re: the dreaded weasel, weigh in. Now, if my tractor is completely closed in with 1/2" hdw cloth, and has a 2' skirt surrounding it, held down with tent pegs, but the tractor itself open to the ground... how predator proof will I be???????????????????????????????????

 

[Clover Run]

SCG... is now too late to mention that there were assembled boxes on sale at the Swap in your back yard?

Alright.  Its April!  This is the consensus regarding a get together:
Last weekend of the "April vacation" for public school seems to be best.  I am just going on what I have had for feedback so pm me if there are a mass of you who want to meet and swap and sip and what not at a different time.  Finding a central location has been a real trick.  I think I have a spot but am not going to call it until a I heard that more than two of you are showing up.  I will see if maybe we can't have a thread just for our get together but its so small I don't see the point.

Seeds, seats, cups, chicken related stuff and a name tag.  THAT is what is on the roster for what should be brought.  Other ideas?  Please share.

 

I will come as long as schedule allows - let me know date when you are able to narrow it down

 

[kinsey228]

I hear chirping from the eggs in the incubator !!!!

Tomorrow is day 21 so hopefully we will have some fuzzy butt pics tomorrow sometime.