Maine

[Jazor]

I have to take a moment and vent to you all because you're the only ones who will really understand my frustration and disappointment.

Monday mornings I take all my "countertop eggs" and prepare them for the fridge to make room for my new weeks eggs. While the coffee brewed, I took each egg, washed it, dried it and dated it. I was going to grab one more carton because there were a few too many for the one carton and all of a sudden my cat comes flying out of the upper cabinet (where she is NOT allowed to be), crashes onto the counter and goes flying out of the room. In her wake were 18 eggs (all but 2 crushed) splattered on the floor that had been previously organized by breed, neatly in their carton. The carton even landed in the dog's water dish, swelling it immediately, just to add insult to injury.

I am so mad and so bummed. It brings me joy to see all my eggs sitting in their little box and she destroyed them all.

I don't have cats, and for many reasons. You've just added one more to that list. Sorry to hear about the trouble! Get the spray bottle out and teach 'er a lesson?

Anyone visit the Monmouth Fair over the last week? The fiancee and I stopped out Friday after work. The oxen pull was really good, and pretty entertaining. They had a small, but decent, amount of other stock (goats, steer, pigs, mini-hosses, chooks, and rabbits). The rabbits were oddly a favorite of mine. Not that I'd ever want any, but there was a flemish giant that was just over 20lbs and it blew my mind! Never seen one like that.

For anyone interested the list of Maine Agricultural fairs can be found here. Topsham fair starts up Tuesday, which means I need to finish my coop tonight so I have evenings free to go play a bit this week!

Cheers,
Jazor

 

[MEMama3]

I don't have cats, and for many reasons. You've just added one more to that list. Sorry to hear about the trouble! Get the spray bottle out and teach 'er a lesson?

Anyone visit the Monmouth Fair over the last week? The fiancee and I stopped out Friday after work. The oxen pull was really good, and pretty entertaining. They had a small, but decent, amount of other stock (goats, steer, pigs, mini-hosses, chooks, and rabbits). The rabbits were oddly a favorite of mine. Not that I'd ever want any, but there was a flemish giant that was just over 20lbs and it blew my mind! Never seen one like that. For anyone interested the list of Maine Agricultural fairs can be found here. Topsham fair starts up Tuesday, which means I need to finish my coop tonight so I have evenings free to go play a bit this week! Cheers, Jazor

She was unceremoniously tossed outside, so hopefully she got the message. I know her sister did since she hid under the bed and I haven't seen her reappear yet.

 

[Jazor]

Here's a random question in reference to coop supplies:

Anyone have crafty ideas or suggestions on replacements for pine shavings? I figure grass clippings in the run is fine, but I'm looking for something for the coop (which is actually a section of my barn). Ideas?

For those of you who use shavings--where do you get them, and what's your average price? I've been picking them up at various farm supply stores between Augusta-Yarmouth and been paying around $5 per bail (~3cu.ft.). My cousin swears he's seen them for half the price, but I'm not sure if they were half the volume. Suggestions welcome!

Thanks,
Jazor

 

[Widget]

Here's a random question in reference to coop supplies:

Anyone have crafty ideas or suggestions on replacements for pine shavings? I figure grass clippings in the run is fine, but I'm looking for something for the coop (which is actually a section of my barn). Ideas?

For those of you who use shavings--where do you get them, and what's your average price? I've been picking them up at various farm supply stores between Augusta-Yarmouth and been paying around $5 per bail (~3cu.ft.). My cousin swears he's seen them for half the price, but I'm not sure if they were half the volume. Suggestions welcome!

Thanks,
Jazor

Around here shavings go for $5-$5.25 a bale. Price drops to $4.75 a bale if you buy 10 or more at once.

 

[mlowen]

Here's a random question in reference to coop supplies:

Anyone have crafty ideas or suggestions on replacements for pine shavings? I figure grass clippings in the run is fine, but I'm looking for something for the coop (which is actually a section of my barn). Ideas?

For those of you who use shavings--where do you get them, and what's your average price? I've been picking them up at various farm supply stores between Augusta-Yarmouth and been paying around $5 per bail (~3cu.ft.). My cousin swears he's seen them for half the price, but I'm not sure if they were half the volume. Suggestions welcome!

Thanks,
Jazor

I use the leaves from my yard. (I have a LOT of leaves.) I get free deep litter materials and free leaf shredding service from the girls. They also add poop, for next year's garden ammendment.

 

[Jazor]

Around here shavings go for $5-$5.25 a bale. Price drops to $4.75 a bale if you buy 10 or more at once.

Ok, thanks! I guess I've been right about on point with what I've found lately. Just didn't want to be spending two times more than necessary, but I will keep up with this. Thank you kindly.

I use the leaves from my yard. (I have a LOT of leaves.) I get free deep litter materials and free leaf shredding service from the girls. They also add poop, for next year's garden ammendment.

I've been reading a bit about doing this. Suppose it won't be too handy until fall, when I can actually acquire the leaves. I'm sure the extra fertilizer will come in handy.

Cheers,
Jazor

 

[ashandvine]

Perhaps she has been having a lot of success with her kegel exercises.

I am not familiar with Trombioccino squash, so I'll have to look that one up. Maybe that can be next year's experiment.

I use the leaves from my yard. (I have a LOT of leaves.) I get free deep litter materials and free leaf shredding service from the girls. They also add poop, for next year's garden ammendment.

I found deep litter did not work well here at all in warmer months. I hated it. In the winter it was alright. I was 'deep littering' whether or not I liked it come frigid temps. I know a man who uses wood chips. He grinds up brush from his property himself and uses that. Some folks use hay but I wouldn't do that again with chickens. Geese and ducks are alright for it but not the chickens.

 

[CoopChick719]

I was told my white one is show-quality... do you know how to get started in the showing scene?

Hoppy's your woman for showing!

Well my bad luck continues. Sarah Jane my Royal Bahamian Potcake passed away a couple days ago.

. Natural causes and I was with her when she passed. And now the full sister to the Pyr I lost a couple weeks ago has a solid mass on her elbow. It is either an abscess or a tumor. She goes in Tuesday to get that checked. Plus my poor Icelandic gelding with Sweet Itch is really having a hard time with his allergies this year. He has rubbed off the hair on his face and chest so he has many scabs and raw spots. He has also lost all the weight he had gained so now he looks terrible. He is now on steroids to help with the itching, some ulcer medication since he could have ulcers from all the stress, a regimented feeding program plus a couple supplements to help with his skin. After a week his skin does look better and he does not appear to be scratching as much as he did. At least his vet is very optimistic that we can get things turned around. At this rate I might as well just have my paycheck direct deposited with the vets.

Sarah Jane
12/25/2001-7/21/2013

Widget I am so sorry to hear about Sarah Jane and your other troubles.

I hope things get better soon!!

Found our first TWO eggs, today from our EE (half sister to some of yours, lazygardiner). I was amazed that there was two and wondered how she did it, but figure I must've just missed the one, yesterday. No wonder she's been so noisy, lately!

Congrats on your eggs!! My EE consistenly lays double-yokers.

How do I train my chicken to lay in the nest box? Bob and Jules!

Adding to the other great advice about the nesting box--I used the golf balls for a long time. One of my broody girls thinks they're her own personal clutch! A friend told me to stuff the nesting boxes you want them to use right full with nesting material. I filled mine up half-way with shavings sure enough those are the boxes they started using more often.

Perhaps she has been having a lot of success with her kegel exercises.

I have to take a moment and vent to you all because you're the only ones who will really understand my frustration and disappointment. Monday mornings I take all my "countertop eggs" and prepare them for the fridge to make room for my new weeks eggs. While the coffee brewed, I took each egg, washed it, dried it and dated it. I was going to grab one more carton because there were a few too many for the one carton and all of a sudden my cat comes flying out of the upper cabinet (where she is NOT allowed to be), crashes onto the counter and goes flying out of the room. In her wake were 18 eggs (all but 2 crushed) splattered on the floor that had been previously organized by breed, neatly in their carton. The carton even landed in the dog's water dish, swelling it immediately, just to add insult to injury. I am so mad and so bummed. It brings me joy to see all my eggs sitting in their little box and she destroyed them all.

Deep breaths MEMama3...deep cleansing breaths!!

What a pain in the patootie...after all that work!!

My cat was acting like a nutjob this weekend. I wonder if it's the change in the weather.

Here's a random question in reference to coop supplies:

Anyone have crafty ideas or suggestions on replacements for pine shavings? I figure grass clippings in the run is fine, but I'm looking for something for the coop (which is actually a section of my barn). Ideas? For those of you who use shavings--where do you get them, and what's your average price? I've been picking them up at various farm supply stores between Augusta-Yarmouth and been paying around $5 per bail (~3cu.ft.). My cousin swears he's seen them for half the price, but I'm not sure if they were half the volume. Suggestions welcome! Thanks, Jazor

I use grass clippings & shredded leaves in my coop as well as my run. I also use shredded newspaper & cardboard in the coop & nesting boxes. I get my pine flake shavings at Tractor Supply Co. for around $4.50--$5.50 a bale. Occasionally they'll have a 2 for $8 sale. My sister uses pine pellet stall bedding 40lbs. for $6 (TSC). The pellets break down, absorb urine & smell and are a nice fluffy bedding. She throws used bedding into her run. It's like walking on a mattress.

 

[lazy gardener]

Egg question: The first 2 eggs that I cracked today ended up being fed to the chickens. The first one had a white deposit about the size of a nickel in the membrane over the yolk. The second one had inconsistent texture in the yolk. Portions of it were very thick and much darker orange, almost like it was partially cooked. Any one have response to these eggs??? The only thing I can think of is that perhaps they've had too much protein from eating gobs of Japanese beetles. I hate to deny them their pleasure with the beetles. They're on layer crumble with occasional addition of crushed egg shell or oyster shells. Plenty of green forage in their run, they occasionally get out for an hour of free range, and have been cleaning out ant nests loaded with larvae, queens, eggs and pupae. I'd rather throw out the occasional weird egg than stop them from their very productive (for me) bug patrol.

 

[quailtrail]

Looking for some chicks...anyone know of who might have some available? ??