Maine

[CoopChick719]

My non chicken story is still farm and Maine related: Kunekune pigs are the most awesome! Their area was a bit muddy today after the rain but otherwise they and their area were really clean, they are smallish, grow quickly, are totally forage/free range fed [ie no grain at all] and they were SO freaking friendly! The kids and I were all over them. Pics below are of Big Mama and Albert, who I have decided is charming. They were sitting or laying because as soon as the kids scratched their sides they rolled over to give them their bellies!!

Love that they were rolling over to have the kids scratch their bellies! Too cute!!

Question for you Ash--is my Fav I got from you a bantam? She is so little compared to the BCM. I'm afraid she is at the bottom of the pecking order

Found her settled outside in the pen tonight when I went to lock the coop. I left the light on by accident so the big girls were still wandering around in the coop. She usually runs in as they are preparing to roost then hides in a nesting box either with the BCM or with her Momma.

We might be getting a pig soon. My son wanted to sign up for the drawing at his school to be part of the pig scramble at the fryeburg fair this year. I said "sure" since what are the odds his name would be drawn. Apparently he's the only one to enter and it closes in 1 week. The only kids allowed to participate are third graders from each of the three schools in the district (one per school).

Isn't that always the way?! This sounds like something that would happen to me! "Sure, sign up for the pig scramble, Son!" My daughter almost had 1 one year to the point where I looked at my husband and said "we're gonna need to build a pen" but the little oinker wriggled out of her hands.


So I raked and used the leaf blower to collect 7 feed bags & 1 wheelbarrow full of leaves to use in the coop & run this winter. I did dump wheelbarrow full in the run. The girls had fun scratching through it.

 

[MustardTiger]

Wow, a few days away and there are 100s of posts to check out. I love it!

Well I am in a state of egglessness! It is so strange to have to contemplate buying eggs. My older girls have dwindled to 4. I lost another buff orp to something. Found her in the run with her head pulled through the fence. :/ The older girls are molting and the younger ones are not laying yet.

Two of my amerucanas have decided they do not want into the coop at night. four nights in a row now I have found them roosting way up in a tree where I cannot get them. For now it is fine..but soon it will be too cold for that so I hope they change their minds.

I still have all 4 of my cockerels. If anyone is interested let me know. They are BCM but would be best suited for an olive egger project.


Lastly, anyone going to be at the cumberland fair 4h poultry show?

 

[Jazor]

... It is funny, four of the girls just love being held (2 buffs and 2 golden comets) and four of them scream bloody murder each time (one buff and the three barred rocks).

Of my chicks, the barred rocks seem more skittish and flighty than the red stars. My red stars were fearless from day one. The moment I opened the shipping box they came in, they were hopping around. They let me handle them easily, and were the first to start trying to fly (hilariously to no avail) out of their temporary brooder.

They are just over a week old (eight days) now, and starting to really come to life. Eating much more, running around so fast. Jumping a bit, trying to "fly" if you want to call it that. Needless to say, watching Chicken TV has become more and more hilarious.





@MustardTiger I went to the Cumberland fair. It was really busy, which was great! Saw some of the professional bull riding, some of the "lumberjack games", visited the critters in the barns, including the poultry show. My fiancee is now 100% convinced that I need to find her a pair of silkies. I guess that's a project for me to consider!

Lots of ducks in the show, almost entirely call ducks. Small and noisy. The usual. A few great looking Roos, a couple nice buff orps, and some excellent laced wyandottes. Very pretty birds.

Cheers!

 

[ashandvine]

Those pigs are sooo cute! Ahh, I want one.

It doesn't seem like the other birds are picking on her, she has all her feathers but she runs away when they get too close. She is very sweet and lets me handle her, the only one out of the bunch. My husband wants to bring her in the house and put her in a big bird cage.. We'll tell people she is some sort of fancy cockatoo. LOL

Anyone else have a bird like this? Is she just extremely maternal and waiting for eggs?

I have a WCB Polish pair as well and ours has also always been just as you describe: great with people but a bit stand offish with everything else. Ours is not broody so I am guessing yours isn't either. Ours does roost longer than the others but I think she can't see daylight till later either lol I love the idea of telling them she is a cockatoo! That is so funny. They really are great arm decorations.

About the Kunekune pigs: they are 100% non grain eaters right now, as in they haven't been fed any. That's one of the things that's so darn cool about them. A lot like a goose they are sufficient on freerange most of the year. Obviously that changes for both breeds in winter. They are also incredibly friendly! And one might be staying here over winter. I have a lot of hurdles to clear first but have been asked by the breeder if I would house his new little boar piglet. My kids will be thrilled, initially. There might be more of this breed up here in Maine as soon as next year so you could have one

RE the Cumberland Fair--- its got a bad rep in the bird show department. We went last year but won't this year. Holding out to show at the Oct 6 show on the Windsor grounds.

 

[Widget]

About the Kunekune pigs: they are 100% non grain eaters right now, as in they haven't been fed any. That's one of the things that's so darn cool about them. A lot like a goose they are sufficient on freerange most of the year. Obviously that changes for both breeds in winter. They are also incredibly friendly! And one might be staying here over winter. I have a lot of hurdles to clear first but have been asked by the breeder if I would house his new little boar piglet. My kids will be thrilled, initially. There might be more of this breed up here in Maine as soon as next year so you could have one

After you mentioned them when I was up your way I looked up the Kunekune online. They do look like a great pig to have around. Not too big. Easy keepers. And darn cute. Of course being a rare breed around these parts means they are out of my price range. Not that they seem too bad price wise but there is no way I could have just one. I guess I just really need to win the lottery.

 

[CoopChick719]

Some of you may have already seen this but I thought it was hilarious!!

 

[quailtrail]

Some of you may have already seen this but I thought it was hilarious!!

I just saw this too!!!

 

[lazy gardener]

WHAT A HOOT!!!

 

[anyasmifya]

Ha ha I had to share with others.

Thanks ash, I'm glad to know my polish doesn't have some serious mental defect!

 

[Chambertin]

Some of you may have already seen this but I thought it was hilarious!!

Fantastic! Good laugh today: achieved~