Maine

[gracejr]

I hear chirping from the eggs in the incubator !!!! e  Tomorrow is day 21 so hopefully we will have some fuzzy butt pics tomorrow sometime.

Exciting!!! I can't wait until mine start hatching, but we're not even a week into it.


RE weasels: I'd suggest 1/2" hardware cloth, though I'm not sure how much and what parts of the coop you'd need to cover.


Ash, so sorry about the poults. Can't wait to see the new geese though.


Polly, what is a viking bird?


Justine, if nobody here wants roos, you can always try Craigslist. It's possible they might go as food, but somebody might be looking for a new rooster for their flock.


pelle, it was gorgeous out today! Spent the afternoon playing outside with the toddler while the baby was sleeping. It was nice to finally have some sunshine and warmth.

 

[buckabucka]

Quote: I think your tractor will be fine. Digging predators are not smart enough to move out beyond the hardware cloth skirt, and weasels shouldn't be able to get through the 1/2" holes.

ash, sorry about your turkeys!

 

[Keric]

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???????????????????????????????????

It's really hard to keep the weasels out. I have caught a mink in a have a heart. Maybe that would work for your weasel. Try cat food in the back of the trap and cover the whole thing with wood and other debris to make it inviting for them. Maybe spread a little cat food on the trap- wood debris to coax him. Also make sure the trigger device is set light and or tie the can to the back of the trap. Don't open the can all the way also. Good Luck

 

[gracejr]

Some pics of the new additions!

First up, 3 pullets I picked up from a friend yesterday. All 3 are easter egger mixes, and cute as can be! The blue is Piper, since she reminds me of a shore bird. Beardo is the one with the white face (right), and Clucksy is the other one (left).

Next up, the chicks! Right now I have... 8 straight run partridge rocks, 2 easter egger pullets, 2 red sexlink pullets, 2 buff orp pullets, 1 black sexlink pullet, and 3 silver laced wyandotte pullets.

Red Sexlinks - Bella and Stella

Easter Eggers - Easter and Bunny

Wyandottes - Cairo, Cleo, Isis

One of the Partridge Rocks

Orpingtons - Sunshine (younger), Goldilocks (older)

Black Sexlink - Miss Mary Mack

Can you tell my oldest (6.5yo) named them?

 

[ashandvine]

Great names.
A viking bird is an Icelandic

My geese are lovely and I have a huge thank you to offer to Chickenpicker who not only helped get them here but helped get their house off the truck. (The house was a day late.) And here is the most amazing part: I watched her lay an egg! No kidding. I did. She is in there preening up a nest. Talk about lovely.

Turkey poult number three is trying. Gosh I am nerved up. I ratcheted up the humidity and am watching closely. I might not get much sleep tonight. Its okay. Fri is a slow day and then Sat I take a class on grafting fruit trees. Phew. Pics of the new lovelies soon.

 

[dowgirl71]

I have a "bully" Dark Brahma chick.

It's too bad, because I was really excited to accidentally get her, but the way she just goes after all the others, I'm just not sure I want to keep her. Has anyone else run into this? I was just wondering what I should do. I have her in a separate pen, right now with one of my Araucanas (because she can "bully" a little too) and they are fine. They are all only about 3 wks old. Is this normal and are they just establishing the pecking order? Last year, I had all Barred Rocks and none of them did this. Just wondering...

 

[hoppy]

the weasel that got into my coop came through a hole that I was running an extension cord through and it was only slightly larger then the cord. the cord at the time was not in the hole which is how little weasel fit. 3/4".
weasel come for blood. if baiting a trap, cat food probably won't work but if you have some blood and drip it in there, they will keep coming back.

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?

 

[CoopChick719]

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....

Yes, very much so!! And unfortunately had to play chauffeur after I got out of work so no free ranging for the flock today!

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

Sorry to hear about your turkeys.

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

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

Some pics of the new additions!

First up, 3 pullets I picked up from a friend yesterday. All 3 are easter egger mixes, and cute as can be! The blue is Piper, since she reminds me of a shore bird.


Can you tell my oldest (6.5yo) named them?

Gracejr, Piper is so pretty! Your oldest did a fine job with the naming those cute little babies!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

SCG... are you working Sat????

I will pm my addy to those who want to come and I am one of the few women in the world who can give competent directions-- YES, I just said that. Mugs and chairs are a must. I was thinking 11-1:30. That's about as long as a movie and late enough to allow people to get here for snacking then run home for all their business... and it runs into the baby's nap but not too far. Input is welcome (hint hint) I would like folks to consider what they could bring to share. Boxes or bags are encouraged to carry your swaps. I have containers for anyone who wants fluff balls. Now, here comes the warning: I do have a dog and a baby. The dog is great but she is loud and so she will be kept in another room where she may bark occasionally because she hears us. The baby will be cute, not for swapping and I do still nurse her occasionally. There is not a lot of carpeting so allergies should be okay but I will vacuum and dust before you get here (the day ahead so it all settles again). OH and its cold here. Big rooms remember? Warm socks, sweater and warmer weather are recommended. I am not opposed to switching this to Sat but would like feedback first. SCG is quite the celebrity so I would change the day for her sake... but she's already been here lol

edited to add we have one baby turkey and another has pipped.

No celebrity here... but yes, when you work the weekend you work both Sat and Sun. I can't switch with anyone - usually I put myself on the weekends that no one else can work.

Sorry didn't check this thread yesterday. Busy with eggs, seeds, livestock, work, beehives, sewing...

 

[buckabucka]

Sewing?