Maine

[The100AcreWood]

Hello! New to BYC and a fellow Mainer! Just wanted to say hello!

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

Hello! New to BYC and a fellow Mainer! Just wanted to say hello!

Hello and welcome! What kinds of chickens do you have and where in Maine are you located? You'll find all sorts of good info on this site.

 

[lazy gardener]

Hello 100 Acre wood! Love the name! Is Pooh a member of your family?

Tamma, I'd suggest that you look at the breeds that include Rose and Pea combs. You might want to try some of the options representing those breeds, then, based on the breed personalities, make your choices. I have pretty much decided that if it has a straight comb, it will not live in my flock... except for the short termers who are destined for the crock pot. The breeds I'm leaning towards, and have now, include Dominique, EE, and Rose Comb Brown Leghorn. I'd like to try Buckeye in the future as well. Depending on how these breeds work out for me, it's a long term goal to work with several of these breeds to produce an auto-sexing pea, rose, or walnut combed bird. There is a fellow who is working on a Rose Comb LegBar project and he's using a LegBar and Rose Comb Brown Leghorn for his gene pool. He's talking about offering some of his eggs to spread his gene pool out a bit, so if he gets wiped out, he won't loose the genetic work done thus far.

An other breed that is of interest that might be fun to introduce to Maine is Sweedish Flower Hen. Ash is working with Russian Orloffs. There's also the Icelandic. Then, there's the possibility of the Kakhi Campell duck which is a prolific layer... producing more than even the sex linked hens. There are a lot of nice color variations in the Wyandottes. It would be exciting to see a nice line of Legbars in the state. So many chickens... such limited space and time!!!

It's so exciting to see folks going beyond just keeping the back yard flock, and looking towards the future by keeping a nice varied base of breeding flocks in the state of Maine.

 

[The100AcreWood]

Thanks for the warm welcome! We are in Parkman. We have 3 white leghorn and 3 red stars. This is our first adventure with chickens. We were told these were both hardy good breeds for first timers. I,of course, want a lot more. I've got my eye on a few breeds. We are also currently looking for guinea Keats or adolescents to add. If anyone knows of any. We'd drive up to 50 miles. I've checked uncle Henry's and Craigs list. Thanks!

 

[ashandvine]

I have a quick question, what types of rare breed chickens would do well here in Maine? I'm thinking of starting a breeding program for one or two different kinds but I want to make sure I get some that will do well in our cold winters.

Think of their combs first. Proper ventilation really goes a long way with any breed but small combs fair better for sure. That's really the only issue although hard feathered birds don't have the down they need to make it and the long tailed birds don't fair well in the snow.
Orloffs
Chantecler
Buckeye
Dominque
Sumatra
Ancona
Buttercups
Faverolles
Any of the crested birds [Sultans, Crevoceur, Houdan, Polish]
Brahma
Breda
Hamburgs
Cornish

Of all of these the Chantecler and maybe the Buckeye are top knotch for meat and eggs and hardiness. Faverolles are the best for kids although Brahma are also pretty laid back and my Orloffs do well also but can be intimidating for a child because of how upright they are. My toddler likes them just fine but sometimes they peck her feet for food and she doesn't like that. Any chicken might do this though. I have heard good things about the Doms and Buckeye but can't speak to them. Some Sumatra are 'gamey' so not a good choice for kids or beginners. Their longs tails can also be a little work but they are gorgeous. Crested birds take a little different care in winter as well and Hamburgs are flighty. From what I hear so are the Ancona. I have no experience or references for Buttercups, Nankins or Campines.

edited to add that Breda are a small bird that lay a large whit egg, much like a Leghorn, but they have a unique comb well suited to the cold and they are friendly and easy going.

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

Hello 100 Acre wood!  Love the name!  Is Pooh a member of your family? 

Tamma, I'd suggest that you look at the breeds that include Rose and Pea combs.  You might want to try some of the options representing those breeds, then, based on the breed personalities, make your choices.  I have pretty much decided that if it has a straight comb, it will not live in my flock... except for the short termers who are destined for the crock pot.  The breeds I'm leaning towards, and have now, include Dominique, EE, and Rose Comb Brown Leghorn.  I'd like to try Buckeye in the future as well.  Depending on how these breeds work out for me, it's a long term goal to work with several of these breeds to produce an auto-sexing pea, rose, or walnut combed bird.  There is a fellow who is working on a Rose Comb LegBar project and he's using a LegBar and Rose Comb Brown Leghorn for his gene pool.  He's talking about offering some of his eggs to spread his gene pool out a bit, so if he gets wiped out, he won't loose the genetic work done thus far.

An other breed that is of interest that might be fun to introduce to Maine is Sweedish Flower Hen.  Ash is working with Russian Orloffs.  There's also the Icelandic.  Then, there's the possibility of the Kakhi Campell duck which is a prolific layer... producing more than even the sex linked hens.  There are a lot of nice color variations in the Wyandottes.  It would be exciting to see a nice line of Legbars in the state.  So many chickens... such limited space and time!!!

It's so exciting to see folks going beyond just keeping the back yard flock, and looking towards the future by keeping a nice varied base of breeding flocks in the state of Maine.

Thank you for your help! I actually have some of these on my list.

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

Think of their combs first.  Proper ventilation really goes a long way with any breed but small combs fair better for sure.  That's really the only issue although hard feathered birds don't have the down they need to make it and the long tailed birds don't fair well in the snow. 
Orloffs
Chantecler
Buckeye
Dominque
Sumatra
Ancona
Buttercups
Faverolles
Any of the crested birds [Sultans, Crevoceur, Houdan, Polish]
Brahma
Breda
Hamburgs
Cornish

Of all of these the Chantecler and maybe the Buckeye are top knotch for meat and eggs and hardiness.  Faverolles are the best for kids although Brahma are also pretty laid back and my Orloffs do well also but can be intimidating for a child because of how upright they are.  My toddler likes them just fine but sometimes they peck her feet for food and she doesn't like that.  Any chicken might do this though.  I have heard good things about the Doms and Buckeye but can't speak to them.  Some Sumatra are 'gamey' so not a good choice for kids or beginners.  Their longs tails can also be a little work but they are gorgeous.  Crested birds take a little different care in winter as well and Hamburgs are flighty.  From what I hear so are the Ancona.  I have no experience or references for Buttercups, Nankins or Campines.

edited to add that Breda are a small bird that lay a large whit egg, much like a Leghorn, but they have a unique comb well suited to the cold and they are friendly and easy going.

Thanks for your help! I actually have a few of here on my list. I love the chickens I have and I'm not afraid to try and breed some in order to get better combs and colored eggs,but I feel bad about the ones that have been forgotten about.

 

[ashandvine]

Feeling bad for a bird might not be as helpful. as loving the ones you have. You are more likely to stick with what you love and thereby keep one or two breeds well.

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

Feeling bad for a bird might not be as helpful. as loving the ones you have.  You are more likely to stick with what you love and thereby keep one or two breeds well. 

That's true. I guess it's more that I feel sad that some breeds could potently disappear. Kind of like other animals. I plan on doing more research to look into the birds I really want to do. I have a mixed flock and some are hatchery birds and some are not. I love them all but I do have a couple favorite breeds that I'm looking into expanding on. It's also frustrating when you're looking for eggs or chicks and there aren't any in Maine, or in New England. I know our weather is not the best sometimes but it would be nice not to have to order eggs from Washington state or something.

 

[quailtrail]

We had a double header in Salem NH today. Left the house at 10:30 & got home 7:30...usually I nap in the car during the ride but the kids were playing pictionary on the way back and they laughed for the 2 hr ride! It was quite funny listening to them. We had a bunch of family come up from MA to watch DS play so great to visit everyone too!!! And I got to share some chick pics too! DH's uncle can't wait to come up and pick from what we hatch. So fun!!!

Funny thing-DD just said are you on BYC?? When I smiled back she said "Its like Facebook for chicken lovers" lol!!!!!