Maine

[IZZYBELLA]

Hey fellow Mainers, I need some advice on what breeds of layers you found to be cold hardy (and good layers). We are looking to start a backyard coop with a few chickens for fresh eggs, but I have ZERO idea what get for this area. The lady at Blue Seal told me a bunch yesterday, and naturally, I didn't write them down. I fail

. I was hoping someone on here might know. There are some chicks and young pullets for sale around, which is good, but the breeds I'm seeing are unfamiliar to me (and when I google them I am not getting much on their cold-hardiness). Any help is MUCH appreciated!

My girls are only 10 weeks old and I've never had chickens before, but I now have three barred rocks, three buff orpingtons and two golden comets. Although I can't say how they'll do in the winter, I'll tell you what I've noticed so far in case that helps! The golden comets are the sweetest little things. They took a couple of days to warm up, but now come whenever they see me and follow me around. They appear to be lowest on the totem pole so far and are always the slowest to get any treats, so I have to distract the others while I make sure they get some. I have one orpington who has been very friendly from the beginning, but the other two pretty much forage off by themselves. The barred rocks thus far have been the barnyard bullies! They are so fast and appear to be top in the pecking order so far. Although they will eat out of my hand now, they interact the least with me. Good luck deciding! I was totally overwhelmed at first but finally decided to just bite the bullet.

 

[guesswhokatysue]

My girls are only 10 weeks old and I've never had chickens before, but I now have three barred rocks, three buff orpingtons and two golden comets.  Although I can't say how they'll do in the winter, I'll tell you what I've noticed so far in case that helps!  The golden comets are the sweetest little things.  They took a couple of days to warm up, but now come whenever they see me and follow me around.  They appear to be lowest on the totem pole so far and are always the slowest to get any treats, so I have to distract the others while I make sure they get some.  I have one orpington who has been very friendly from the beginning, but the other two pretty much forage off by themselves.  The barred rocks thus far have been the barnyard bullies!  They are so fast and appear to be top in the pecking order so far.  Although they will eat out of my hand now, they interact the least with me.  Good luck deciding!  I was totally overwhelmed at first but finally decided to just bite the bullet. 

You have a flock very similar to what I want! I want a couple barred rocks and golden comets at least. Then I was thinking a couple Wyandottes might be nice. I think my biggest challenge will be picking a rooster that I feel confident in...haha

 

[lazy gardener]

Guesswhokatysue: I got the chicken bug last summer and spent MANY hours on BYC researching everything from chicken breeds to making incubators, coop design, feeding methods, predators, and everything else chicken related. Loved every minute of it. IMO, 75% of the thrill is the learning. Started with a home made incubator and hatched eggs at the end of Feb, followed by hatchery chicks early March. If you start with chicks or started birds this summer, that's fantastic. If you end up delaying, you'll be that much better prepared when you do start in the spring. Just do your homework, and remember that there are no wrong answers! (almost!) That's why there are so many breeds of chickens to choose from! Also, remember that what ever breeds you end up with, that doesn't have to be a once only decision. It depends on your goal: Chickens as life long pets to live out their entire life span with you vs. Chickens as working partners to improve your diet, control insects/weeds and produce improved soil, (destined for the crock-pot or to be rehomed when they are no longer productive.) Production type chickens lay abundantly for 2 - 3 years, then they quit. Heritage chickens start slower, but live a longer egg laying life span. You can choose birds strictly for laying (smaller, leaner body, egg laying machines with a good feed to egg conversion ratio... not much left for the crock pot) or Dual purpose birds that pack on a little meat and lay reasonably well. Or you can do a combination: Choose a few production birds, and add some heritage birds for some spice. That was the route I chose: RIR (she's the meanest bird in my flock) and BSL for productivity , and EE just for fun. I'll add Dominiques in the spring after ending up with 3 Dom roos this spring. (Bad sexing day at the hatchery!) My 5 girls are averaging 89 - 91% productivity so far. That'll definitely drop as the days get shorter! Enjoy the ride. You'll never be bored!

 

[ashandvine]

First chicken 'surgery' yesterday, it was just stitches but still a landmark moment for sure. The neighbor's rooster really really likes one of my hens. We have tried a lot of thing to keep him out of the yard-- even the dog taking a bite out of his tail feathers, but he just keeps crossing the road-- yes we now know why chickens cross the road now. I was stewarding at the Union Fair so I wasn't here to keep a watchful eye. "Fred" came by and his spurs sliced my hen's side open about 3.5-4". Out came the needle and thread. Poor thing. But she is likely to heal better this way. Antibiotic water for the next week I would guess and a private pen. She isn't too happy about that but until Fred gets another house with enough girls to keep him happy.... henny might stay in solitary :/

 

[superchemicalgirl]

The fox I disposed of last week I would guess (and I do mean guess) would have stood a couple inches taller from ground-to-shoulder, and even weighted 5-7lbs more. He was the biggest fox I've seen--it's probably worth mentioning that he was, in my non-expert opinion/observation, a gray fox. I'm no expert at all, but I have heard of increasing numbers of gray fox attacks and encounters in the Southern Maine area this year. He was extremely aggressive, and I wasn't letting him carry on in my area. I didn't put him down to protect my animals, I put him down to protect my family as well as the hundreds of campers/hikers in my area. He crossed the main road coming toward me growling last week. Needless to say, that's not typical fox behaviour. He had either become way too accustomed to being around humans, or had himself a fancy case of the rabies.

Either way. One problem solved. He wont be back. If he was infected, I can only hope he didn't have a chance to pass it along.

Nicely done. S/he/it sounds gigantic.

First chicken 'surgery' yesterday, it was just stitches but still a landmark moment for sure. The neighbor's rooster really really likes one of my hens. We have tried a lot of thing to keep him out of the yard-- even the dog taking a bite out of his tail feathers, but he just keeps crossing the road-- yes we now know why chickens cross the road now. I was stewarding at the Union Fair so I wasn't here to keep a watchful eye. "Fred" came by and his spurs sliced my hen's side open about 3.5-4". Out came the needle and thread. Poor thing. But she is likely to heal better this way. Antibiotic water for the next week I would guess and a private pen. She isn't too happy about that but until Fred gets another house with enough girls to keep him happy.... henny might stay in solitary :/

I would just do local topical triple antibiotic ointment at least 2 and up to 4 times a day.

 

[CoopChick719]

Widget, Congrats on all your new additions! They are awfully cute!
LazyGardener—Love your chicken tee-pee! That must have been a riot to watch.

wow, no doubt what those are!! wow!

Also, any thoughts on Golden Comets in Maine? I've seen a post on here about them being reliable layers, but those people are from the more southern states, so the level of cold their chickens experience vs up here is VERY different.

I like to echo other people's comments on the Golden Comets. I have a friend who has them. They are good layers & friendly. I recall them having any trouble with the cold. I have a mixed flock--RSLs, BRs, EE, BCMs, Faverolle, Leghorns, Cochins and Sizzles. My Red Sex Links aka Red Stars are very friendly and good layers. My 2 BR's are a little standoffish and 1 is a bully. Leghorns are flighty but curious. The Sizzles are sweet. The Cochins are broody & b*tchy-two traits that go hand in hand--think PMS-like. The BCMs & Fav are just chicks so they are still finding their way.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I would like to chime in that the golden comets/red sex links are good birds, and pretty hardy and friendly. However, I've had 3 of them (albeit not a large number) but two have already died of internal laying problems and the third is generally unwell, I think she's also laying internally and will more than likely succumb to that soon, or have to be put down. I have had a large percentage of the "production" birds get sick from that (almost all of my original leghorns are dead). For some reason my black sex links are not quite as sickly, but they are not well, either. The problems didn't start until about 2.5 years into their laying cycle, though.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

You have a flock very similar to what I want! I want a couple barred rocks and golden comets at least. Then I was thinking a couple Wyandottes might be nice. I think my biggest challenge will be picking a rooster that I feel confident in...haha

My town doesn't allow roosters, so I was spared that decision!

 

[Jazor]

How have I never seen these seemingly beloved Golden Comets? Could someone post a photo or two for me, please? I'd love to know where I could get a few of them. I'm going to make an effort to get to the Union fair to check things out--but it's looking like my schedule won't allow it until the weekend.

 

[Widget]

How have I never seen these seemingly beloved Golden Comets? Could someone post a photo or two for me, please? I'd love to know where I could get a few of them. I'm going to make an effort to get to the Union fair to check things out--but it's looking like my schedule won't allow it until the weekend.

Mine will not stay still long enough to get a decent picture. But if you Google Golden Comet there are plenty of pictures. Or here is the page Cackle Hatchery has for them. http://www.cacklehatchery.com/goldencometpage.html