Maine

[Coldweatherbirds]

There is an ice shack sitting in a field less than 1/2 mile from here. I eye it longingly every day, but have no idea who to ask. I do have a sickly thin hen, crop trouble maybe. It seems very full every time I check her. We've had intermittent diarrhea in the coop too, but no weight loss or dead birds. Just weird. I suspect it's related to table scraps.

I'm hoping for a clean start this summer. Get a clean coop and dose them for parasites before moving them in. I don't remember it being this hard before, but I think I got a bad start by accepting 3 sets of miscellaneous leftovers that weren't in the best health when they were given to me. Though, they are obviously hardy!!! Thank you for the tips. Good to know about the potatoes burning, I've never tried it, and now I won't ever.

How far away are you? How bad is your old hen house? I'm not above scrap if it is parasite free! Here is a pic of the pigeon coop that was here when we bought the house last summer, roof leaks, bottom wood is rotting, and it is not elevated and floods:

 

[jenni22776rn]

Hello from Oakland Maine

New to the chicken world..loving it so far! I have 3 adult ladies and 17 rescued baby chicks..well 5 now..rehomed 11 of them last week! This is my first spring with the ladies..they are not loving it today..spent the day looking out of their coop at the snow...not happy!

 

[londonbridges]

Hi
From the county,aroostook,i have lady amherst, peach golden pheasants, also african harliquin quail and mountain quail

 

[spook]

First off, welcome to the Maine thread and to chickens and other feathered friends.

Coldweather I'm over here in Oxford County, nearer to Bethel. I could never guess what type of shape anything is, such a disaster and will need to wait until there is less snow and before the frost lets out of the ground. And there is a skunk living under something around here! lol!!!

I let my handsome Black Cochin go, he, one of the barred rocks & Carole my hopeful for a prize hen and a bunch of chicks left the Cackle Shack Micro~Farm Sunday. Grateful I am to have re-homed 7 birds- Thank you my chicken pal.

Its been one of those days

...seems like it has gone down hill in a short time, from my cat eating cassette tape...vet bill and on potty watch. Geesh. Then today, invasion of the carpenter ants. Holy cow, anyone else seeing this? I have borax everywhere possible. Thought about teaching one of our "house chickens" to stand on the stove and eat away, but I was warming the trail by baking.

But, its now bed time- meaning tomorrow will be a new day and we will be up to something else...(like pyretherin)

Murder in my eyes...coldweather you still wanting to come for a visit...?

I must share with you fellow Mainers, our newest addition to the family, Ruthie and peanut.

 

[jenni22776rn]

Hello Fellow Mainers!! Mabye you can help me..I am looking to get a couple of Cochin chicks...I was going to order them but would rather buy them local..any ideas or places in Maine that have them? Also..this was my first winter with chickens...how to you do the Maine winters with your chickens? Do you provide a heat source? The DH said that they were cold hearty and did not need any heat..but on some of the really cold nights..I bought my ladies into our garage in the dog kennel with heat..is that wrong? the DH said yes that was wrong! lol!

 

[spook]

Well, Jen, personally and that is how to answer your question, I do not heat my birds. That way they will grow down and enough feathers to take care of their cold weather needs. There was a couple days that I did leave a 75 watt bulb on in one of the coops this past winter when it was so extremely bitter cold. Not something I want to do year round as you may force your birds into a false moult, changing out their feathers. I have allowed the doors to be open every day, they are sheltered from the wind, that is what can remove heat from their bodies, like you opening your down jacket.
Its the humidity in the coop that will do the most harm.
We have adult cochins, I do have a pair that with a bit of twisting, I could be tempted to sell them, that is if your looking for Standard Cochins, rooster is a white/blue splash and the hen is black. Also we have 1 Bantam Cochin rooster that is free.
There should plenty of cochin breeders throughout the state of Maine, show and non-show quality.

 

[Speed]

I'm in Berwick, Maine. For anyone who doesn't know, it's the southern most part of Maine before entering New Hampshire. I haven't given much thought of insulating my hen house, but I probably will towards then d of the summer. I just got my chicks Sunday, I got 4 Bramha straight runs (ended up being 2 hens and 2 roosters) 4 Black Sex Links hens and 4 Golden Comets hens. Glad to see there a few peeps from Maine in the BYC.

 

[ejcimd]

Well I've been down to our local Tractor Supply twice now and all the chicks are plum sold out.

Today I stopped in at my lunch break figuring surely they would have a few chicks left in the middle of the week. Nope all 200 chicks gone, they did have 6 ducks left.

What is the liklihood of finding a few chicks locally or even some birds that are several weeks old at this point? I'm in the Augusta area.

 

[Coldweatherbirds]

TSC in Augusta sold out??? Yikes. I also go to Cambell's True Value in Farmingdale. They will order chicks for you. See if they are still taking orders? (207) 582-4604
I'll wait on the road trip Spook, thanks.
I'm looking for a Favorelle rooster and am DESPERATE to be rid of my Easter Egger Roo. I will even deliver him within 30 miles of West Gardiner.

Why desperate? He attacks children and I live next to a daycare.

BUT, he also kills mice, moles, and frogs. All but 1 of the 34 eggs I set were fertile (he does his job). He is beautiful, or he was before winter hit. Please, anyone want him? I don't care if you're going to eat him, just don't tell me, LoL.

 

[jenni22776rn]

Quote:
Oh no...TSC all out? I went there saturday and they were going to be getting another shipment today and they are already sold out..bummer! Try Agway..I know they were taking orders up to the end of april..did TSC say they were going to be getting more in?
I have 3 RIR baby chicks looking for a new home..the only problem is not knowing if they are little roos or pullets...they are 5 weeks old. Good luck!