Maine

[islandgirl82]

Well, I found an unexpected home today for my cockerel today even with full disclosure of my reasons for culling him. The guy taking him has about 25 hens and 2 roosters (all of which are a couple of years old). He said one of his own roosters is mean to people and bullies his hens and he may use mine to replace him with hopes that the older, well mannered and currently dominant rooster he'll be keeping will put my boy in his place. If not, he'll eat him. I'm okay with that.

I was given two red sex link pullets (3-4 weeks old) today as well though I wasn't in the market for chicks this year. Not what I would normally have picked either as I love my heritage breeds but I know I can always return them to the keeper they came from if they're not to my liking and they'll be loved. It was so hard to resist when one of them pretty much put herself in my hand and of course she needed a friend.

 

[CoopChick719]

islandgirl my last RSL was sweet like that too. Always came to talk to me in the pen or coop.

 

[lazy gardener]

I find that this batch of chicks is very friendly. When I put my hand in, they crawl into my hand! I'm wondering if the big difference is the Mama broody cave. So far, I'm liking it!

 

[MEMama3]

My hatch is almost done. The first three appeared Saturday morning, 12 more this morning, and at the rate they're going, the last three will arrive by tomorrow morning. I'm not sure why they are spaced out. Usually I have everyone out within 24 hours.

On a separate note, I'm still looking for a couple for female ducks in the fryeburg area if anyone knows someone. 6 months or older.

 

[chickenneighbor]

Pictures! We need pictures! (Pleeeease?)

 

[Widget]

It's been a very long time since I've been on here. I ended up having to give away all my chcikens and ducks last year

Now I would like to get some more chickens and maybe ducks. Where should I order the chicks from? I don't really want to wait until June to get some, through Paris Farmers Union. But I do want sexed chicks. I'm also only looking at getting around 12. I way too many last time and don't want to do that again. So where does everyone get their chicks from?? They don't need to be the best of the best but I would like decent birds.

I know Longhorn in Buxton has some chicks available. He got a double order from Cackle by mistake with the last shipment so there were plenty of extras. Plus they generally get extras above what people order and they breed some of their own. Last week they had Easter Eggers, Golden Comets (and they do get point of lay GC a few times a year too) and something else available. Most are pullets. So they might have something you would like.

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

I know Longhorn in Buxton has some chicks available. He got a double order from Cackle by mistake with the last shipment so there were plenty of extras. Plus they generally get extras above what people order and they breed some of their own. Last week they had Easter Eggers, Golden Comets (and they do get point of lay GC a few times a year too) and something else available. Most are pullets. So they might have something you would like.

I stopped in there once and decided that I was not going to buy any chicks from them. When I went into the trailer to look at them, I was appalled. There were chickens in short little cages that were too tall for the cage. Not to mention they were panting since they were basically fully feathered. The cages were super dirty and there was a pile of cages in the corner that had moldy poop in them. So I'm all set with buying chicks from them.

 

[islandgirl82]

islandgirl my last RSL was sweet like that too. Always came to talk to me in the pen or coop.

I am liking them. The second one who was really squirmy for her previous keeper has mellowed out since I brought the pair home (maybe it's the quiet house a classical music - total opposite of what they were previously exposed to). She does hide behind the one who seems to like being held but she no longer moves away when my children and I pick her up. She even climbed into my hand on her own this morning. I set up a pen outside for them yesterday - it was their first time out and a perfect day for it. They had so much fun playing in the dirt. They were even racing around with a little clump of pine needles...oddly enough it was right after they watched my newfie run around with a stick in his mouth.

I have read about a lot of health problems with them...egg binding, prolapsing and other reproductive issues which makes sense considering what they've been bred for which is one of the main reasons I've avoided them.

I find that this batch of chicks is very friendly.  When I put my hand in, they crawl into my hand!  I'm wondering if the big difference is the Mama broody cave.  So far, I'm liking it!

What breed(s) of chicks in this batch?

 

[islandgirl82]

I stopped in there once and decided that I was not going to buy any chicks from them. When I went into the trailer to look at them, I was appalled. There were chickens in short little cages that were too tall for the cage. Not to mention they were panting since they were basically fully feathered. The cages were super dirty and there was a pile of cages in the corner that had moldy poop in them. So I'm all set with buying chicks from them.

Yikes! Wise choice!

 

[lazy gardener]

I am liking them. The second one who was really squirmy for her previous keeper has mellowed out since I brought the pair home (maybe it's the quiet house a classical music - total opposite of what they were previously exposed to). She does hide behind the one who seems to like being held but she no longer moves away when my children and I pick her up. She even climbed into my hand on her own this morning. I set up a pen outside for them yesterday - it was their first time out and a perfect day for it. They had so much fun playing in the dirt. They were even racing around with a little clump of pine needles...oddly enough it was right after they watched my newfie run around with a stick in his mouth.

I have read about a lot of health problems with them...egg binding, prolapsing and other reproductive issues which makes sense considering what they've been bred for which is one of the main reasons I've avoided them.

What breed(s) of chicks in this batch?

They are all sired by my EE roo. The hens are: Dominique, SLW, RIR, BSL (both straight comb brown egg layer, and pea comb aqua egg layer), Pioneer, Rose Comb Brown Leghorn, and EE. So, all will be green or blue egg layers (Unless Jack has a surprise lurking in his gene pool), and have either pea or walnut combs