Maine

[buckabucka]

NorthChicken, what a great crow story and excellent photos! I love the black and white photo of the crow on your head, and the expression on the crow's face in the photo below it. Very cool.

Those chicks are adorable, ashandvine! I can't wait to hear that my hatching eggs are in the mail.

Meanwhile, I took a basket and used some cardboard to create 3 compartments, one for each coop. Since I'm hardly ever home to collect eggs, I have DH put the eggs in compartment that corresponds to each coop. That way, I can tell if a tan egg is a Basque, or a NH, etc. depending on which pen it came from. As soon as I find out my hatching eggs are on the way, I'll start saving up some of my own, selecting from the basket each day.

 

[yankeehill]

Does anyone know of a good source for any of these:
Light Brahma
Wheaton Marans
Blue Laced Red Wyandotte

I know I can order from several hatcheries, but I have not been happy with large hatchery stock yet.

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

Does anyone know where I can get some assorted colored Orpington eggs? I'm in Gray and would be willing to drive a little to get some.

 

[Widget]

I am so tired of being cold every single day. The birds are tired of the cold. The horses are tired of the cold. The goats are tired of the cold. I am tired of the ice that is my driveway and the ice that is that is all the outside water buckets and tanks. I expect to see White Walkers roaming across the yard at any time. A house down the street built a snow angel instead of a snowman during the last big storm we had. It has started to melt but all I can think is that it is a Weeping Angel that will be at the front door soon. I think I saw a Tauntaun running through the woods last week too. And there is evidence of a Cylon pulse cannon being built behind my house. This never ending winter seems like a real life version of Groundhog Day. And yes I watch way too much televison. But I am at least getting an egg a day now from the chickens. I should be getting five or six but I am happy that one is laying.

 

[lazy gardener]

Every day it gets warm enough that some of the ice pack melts, I'm excited to be able to go out and squish my boots around in just a few more square inches of mud. This is truly a pathetic situation... to take pleasure in mud, because it is so very much better than what we've had!!! Anyone started peppers yet? Bucka? I really should... could start them on top of the incubator... a genuine twofer.

 

[lazy gardener]

Every day it gets warm enough that some of the ice pack melts, I'm excited to be able to go out and squish my boots around in just a few more square inches of mud. This is truly a pathetic situation... to take pleasure in mud, because it is so very much better than what we've had!!! Anyone started peppers yet? Bucka? I really should... could start them on top of the incubator... a genuine twofer.

 

[Branch Chickens]

Branch Chickens, Where on earth are you getting your chicks from?

They're coming from Meyer (MyPetChicken.com). When I originally was looking to order chicks, I wasn't very deep into the forums here, and I couldn't find any information on buying chicks locally. Then I went to the big hatcheries and couldn't find a neighbor to split a larger order with. I didn't think I had many options, so I ordered from there.
In the future, I know where else to look, but I'm happy to be able to try out a sampling of different breeds. We had planned on just 6 or 7 hens, but then...chicken math.
The Welsummer pair that I ordered today were due to someone else's cancellation. They've been out of stock for that date since early January, but I lucked out and did a random check this morning, and there were 2 available.

 

[dowgirl71]

Every day it gets warm enough that some of the ice pack melts, I'm excited to be able to go out and squish my boots around in just a few more square inches of mud. This is truly a pathetic situation... to take pleasure in mud, because it is so very much better than what we've had!!! Anyone started peppers yet? Bucka? I really should... could start them on top of the incubator... a genuine twofer.

I know what you are talking about! I'm really looking forward to the springtime SMELL of that mud!!

 

[buckabucka]

LG, I start hot peppers this weekend, and mild peppers at the end of the month. I've got onions, leeks, and assorted early greens in the windows, but I can't imagine when I will see the soil. I spread a little sand on some of the icy pathways last weekend, and the sun melted those little sections, but everywhere else has 4 feet of snow and ice!

Branch Chickens, I was pleased with Meyer hatchery overall. I did get a few duds from them, but 2 of my 3 Welsummers were great, laying very dark eggs. If I ever do a hatchery order again, I'd probably go back there.

 

[Branch Chickens]

Branch Chickens, I was pleased with Meyer hatchery overall. I did get a few duds from them, but 2 of my 3 Welsummers were great, laying very dark eggs. If I ever do a hatchery order again, I'd probably go back there.

That's good to hear. This is my first flock, so I'm being a little whimsical about the certain aspects, with a baseline of practicality
I didn't NEED more chicks or Welsummers, certainly, but I was excited to add them back to the mix. They had been my first choice, in the beginning.
My mother has always ordered from MMcM, and she didn't have any advice about Meyer.