Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

Seriously almost anything does well, here, provided you don't keep them in an open pen without a coop and have a spot for them to get out of the wind (coop).

We had a giant red tailed hawk on the property earlier this week. Before I could get outside to shoo it away the flock of crows I have took care of it for me. I've seen them do that once before - surround a hawk (in midair) and interfere with it until it flies away.

Crows are one of my favorite wild birds. They hang around my flock a lot - I'm sure bringing in all kinds of lice/mites/worms - but they're worth it for the hawk protection. The crows sit in the trees over my coop/run and when given an opportunity will fly down and eat out of the black rubber bucket I have filled with chicken food outside the coop. My flock mostly tolerates this, as well.

 

[lazy gardener]

SCG, I've considered even buying some cracked corn specifically to attract more crows. That hawk that harassed my birds last night made me MAD!

 

[combatfuzzball]

SCG, I've considered even buying some cracked corn specifically to attract more crows. That hawk that harassed my birds last night made me MAD!

Weekend after I got my Chicks in broad daylight had a red fox walking through my back yard. Chicks are safe and sound in house for now. Going to make very sure Coop is very secure though.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Hey Again,
So I am wondering what everyone has for chickens here in Maine. Not being a native Mainer but living here for past 11 years or so I've went with what turned out to be Easter Eggers. The 8 remaining are going on 3 weeks old and hopefully I can move them outdoors by the first of next month.
What's everyone's thoughts on chickens that do particularly well here during those long cold Maine Winters?
Breeds I'd like to have added to my flock are Maran, Welsummer, Buckeye's but especially TRUE Americauna's.

i would think all those breeds are fine in Maine, i love my EEs, but if you want pure ameracaunas look at the 24 hour auction thread and the chat thread for it many of the people on there have them

Good Luck!!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

SCG, I've considered even buying some cracked corn specifically to attract more crows. That hawk that harassed my birds last night made me MAD!

I don't know how I've managed to attract them except they really like the chicken food pellets that are out in the bin. I have regular bird feeders and they don't come to those.

 

[buckabucka]

We have crows around here, although I haven't done anything to encourage them. My friend who "keeps" crows feeds them hotdogs.

We made it 24 hours without a weasel appearance now. I don't know if we blocked up a hole he used, of if he is just busy with something else today. Interestingly, the rat tunnel we stomped down was not opened up overnight (very unusual). I'm hoping the weasel is doing them in.

 

[combatfuzzball]

We have crows around here, although I haven't done anything to encourage them. My friend who "keeps" crows feeds them hotdogs.

We made it 24 hours without a weasel appearance now. I don't know if we blocked up a hole he used, of if he is just busy with something else today. Interestingly, the rat tunnel we stomped down was not opened up overnight (very unusual). I'm hoping the weasel is doing them in.

You can go to Agway and they have smoke bombs for use in groundhog burrows. Or alternatively pick up some regular smoke bombs over in Winslow at the fireworks store. I used them to get a ground hog to move away. most animals don't like harsh smells and the gunpowder/Sulphur smell is particularly disagreeable. Not sure if it'll work but worth a shot. Another Option is to get Guinea's or a Goose to sound the alarm.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

We have crows around here, although I haven't done anything to encourage them. My friend who "keeps" crows feeds them hotdogs.

We made it 24 hours without a weasel appearance now. I don't know if we blocked up a hole he used, of if he is just busy with something else today. Interestingly, the rat tunnel we stomped down was not opened up overnight (very unusual). I'm hoping the weasel is doing them in.

Bucka - that is awful what happened! I'm so glad the weasel didn't get the whole flock and that they seem to be staying out.

Weekend after I got my Chicks in broad daylight had a red fox walking through my back yard. Chicks are safe and sound in house for now. Going to make very sure Coop is very secure though.

Don't underestimate the fox!! I see them all the time here and they are so fast at grabbing and running. I literally cannot do even supervised free ranging here, because they have taken a chicken with me in the yard!

Regarding your question of breeds - I have had golden comets, barred rocks, jersey giants, golden wyandotes, buff orpingtons, a rhode island rooster, and a backyard mutt. They have all done fine in the cold. Like what others have said... have a coop that keeps them out of draft and dry and you will be fine. An electric water heater is such a handy thing to have, so run electricity to your coop if you can. Also, I have found that I almost always have to deworm my flock just before winter and it really helps the survival rate. (This is certainly not the case for everyone, but mine unfortunately always get roundworms, probably because I can't free range. A vet will do a fecal for you if you suspect worms and they are pretty easy to treat.) Enjoy your chickens!!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

You can go to Agway and they have smoke bombs for use in groundhog burrows. Or alternatively pick up some regular smoke bombs over in Winslow at the fireworks store. I used them to get a ground hog to move away. most animals don't like harsh smells and the gunpowder/Sulphur smell is particularly disagreeable. Not sure if it'll work but worth a shot. Another Option is to get Guinea's or a Goose to sound the alarm.

The guineas sounded the alarm when we had the mink/weasel/brown thing attack - it only served to alert me that there was something out there. It didn't deter the predator. I'll have guinea eggs for hatching, soon. Mixed flock, if anyone wants. I have the purple, the light blue and the jumbo regular. This is their second winter, and I haven't lost one, yet.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'd love to have some guineas, but... hubby would not be amused. Nope. Not. Amused. At. All. The hawk is now making daily appearances to sit on the edge of the run and taunt me and the birds. I'm not amused... at all!