Maine

[Widget]

Hey, Widget, I think your horses need some exercise. wink wink. Let me know.

I'm off every weekend so if you have some free time just send me note. Other than fence building I don't have any major plans for the summer.

I do have to say that Stefnir was great on Sunday on our second trail ride of the season. We went down a trail we hadn't been before. Had a really steep uphill climb that he went up without any hesitation. After another 30 minutes we hadn't connected back with the main trail and came upon a fairly steep downhill area. Stefnir stopped and turned around as if to say "Enough for today". Normally I wouldn't let him decide when we turn for home but this time I listened to him and we went back the way we came. When we arrived at the really steep hill I just gave him his head and let him make his way down the hill. He hesitated for a second and then went down the hill like a trooper. Would love to explore that trail some more but don't think I would take a beginner down it. The hill was a bit scary especially on the way down.

Best of all there were no escapees today. .

 

[CoopChick719]

We still have two baby ducks. Not the best pic but such cute expressions. We are naming them (gasp!) Merry and Pippin.

Love the names! Very cute!!


Need some advice...my 2 Sizzles are sitting on 7 eggs, Hatch Day has come & gone. Today is Day 26. Does anyone know where I could get some day or week old chicks I could slip under them to replace the eggs?

 

[buckabucka]

Oh, the duckling photos are so sweet!


klf73, I found myself thinking, "oh, I would love another EE, or Wyandotte, or Welsummer, or Austra white", as though I could even consider adding any more birds! My goal is to get the numbers back under 50 (my supposed limit) by fall.

I have the 50 bird limit, too. I'm "meeting" that goal right now with some creative accounting:

46 chickens and turkeys in the coop (BELOW 50!)
1 banty hen brooding one duckling (WAY BELOW 50!)
15 roosters in the tractor (ALSO WAY BELOW 50)
3 adult ducks (WAY BELOW 50... don't have to mention the 20+ eggs she's currently brooding)
3 juvenile birds in one brooder, 15 in another, 3 in upstairs brooder.

See... I'm not over 50.

Oh, I see. I must have miscalculated.
22 in the old coop, along with 12 (11 weeks old) in the back section
24 (7 weeks old) in the jail
13 on one side of the hoop coop/ 4 on the other.

I feel better already. Thank you for the math lesson.

 

[MEMama3]

The coop is ready! I was seriously overthinking the door issue. I'm going with the KISS (keep it simple stupid) method now. One last thing that you all might be able to help me with: The coop door is 22" off the ground. Should I give them a ramp? I have standard size birds.

 

[PollyC]

The swap in Brunswick is Sat, the 1st. It has been advertised on Craigslist, Uncle Henrys, and on here in the swap sections as well as on Facebook. It already has quite a following and Mike is doing a real good job at getting the word out.

 

[gracejr]

I'd put in a ramp.

I like that math! I had a self imposed limit of 25. So 20 in the coop. 12 in the brooder. 28 eggs in the bator set to hatch tomorrow. Plus an unknown amount of eggs under a broody. And I'm still below limit! lol Though, roosters don't count anyway, right? So I have only 14 in the coop. And only 4 or so in the brooder. If only the feed bill reflected that math! lol

 

[lazy gardener]

I have the 50 bird limit, too. I'm "meeting" that goal right now with some creative accounting:

46 chickens and turkeys in the coop (BELOW 50!)
1 banty hen brooding one duckling (WAY BELOW 50!)
15 roosters in the tractor (ALSO WAY BELOW 50)
3 adult ducks (WAY BELOW 50... don't have to mention the 20+ eggs she's currently brooding)
3 juvenile birds in one brooder, 15 in another, 3 in upstairs brooder.

See... I'm not over 50.

Now, why couldn't we get away with that logic in algebra class???

 

[lazy gardener]

found one of those fruit chafer bugs today and tried to catch it for the chickens. Those things are indestructible and wicked fast. He got away! Is it abnormal to spend as much time chasing bugs for the chickens as it is to spend poking seeds into the soil?? Garden is all planted except for tomatoes, peppers, and basil. Then I can focus on the flowers.

 

[Mainechick168]

found one of those fruit chafer bugs today and tried to catch it for the chickens. Those things are indestructible and wicked fast. He got away! Is it abnormal to spend as much time chasing bugs for the chickens as it is to spend poking seeds into the soil?? Garden is all planted except for tomatoes, peppers, and basil. Then I can focus on the flowers.

My chickens wait outside the garden fence ( and sometimes try to get "through" it") while I'm digging...they have come to expect treats- I toss bugs and grubs out to them whenever I find them.
I've got almost everything planted here too! I'm trying a new variety of corn this year, last years variety was not my favorite. I've got two extra jalapeno seedlings if anyone wants them...!

 

[lazy gardener]

I can't wait to get my fence up for the flock. Right now, they're not getting out because they head right for my garden beds. Those patches of naked soil are just irresistible! BTW, any one want to give input about how toxic fertilizer is (5-10-10), or if the chickens would eat enough to be an issue. I can't imagine that they'd be interested after the first taste, but considering all the other junk they eat... also, what about Iron Phosphate as in Sluggo or Escargo?

The tables have turned on poor Stew. He's been in solitary confinement for a week due to bad manners. I let him out to range with the RIR pullet today, and he went right for her neck. Last night, I let him in the lower coop with one of the roos he tortured last week, and that roo, now being top dog, gave chase and would have thrashed the tar out of him if I didn't intervene. The drama is a pain.