Maine

[Coldweatherbirds]

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Lucky! All my EEs came from my incubator. Sigh. Maybe one will get broody someday. I have never had a broody hen.

 

[card5640]

COngrats Polly, having a broody is the way to go, even in the dead of winter we have success!

 

[buckabucka]

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So, does broodiness continue all winter???

Last winter was my first year with chickens, and my first broodies didn't start until this spring. Since then, I've had 2 - 4 broodies at all times. Even one of my leghorns has been sitting for what seems like forever. Somehow, I thought the cold weather would put an end to this behavior. Between broodies and molting, egg production is way down (not to mention decreasing daylight). I guess I might as well get used to it. Perhaps I need more chickens!

 

[bwockbwock]

Are there any swaps/ events going on on Sunday this week or next week?

 

[hoppy]

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I'm working on setting up a swap for sept 25th (sunday) at TSC in augusta. (tentative date). I am also going to have someone come by that wants the free roos that we all seem to have too many this time of year. they will be coming later in the morning so those that want a chance to place roos in breeding situations will have a chance before the truck shows up.

I think sanford has a swap every weekend now until the finish.

did everyone get their show entries for the windsor show?

 

[hoppy]

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They are beautiful. Where do you get your eggs? I had an emu egg that I kept on a display stand until one of the cats decided it was a fun toy to knock onto the floor. Fortunately she didn't knock the ostrich egg off the shelf. That egg has been in the family for over 40 years.

I had one that I was packing up for the poultry show's raffle table, took my son to the bus and when I returned, one very shattered egg. my dog munched it in his crate! so had to make a new egg. it has a different chicken design on the back but a hummingbird on the front. oh naughty dog@!!!

 

[spook]

Quote:
They are beautiful. Where do you get your eggs? I had an emu egg that I kept on a display stand until one of the cats decided it was a fun toy to knock onto the floor. Fortunately she didn't knock the ostrich egg off the shelf. That egg has been in the family for over 40 years.

I had one that I was packing up for the poultry show's raffle table, took my son to the bus and when I returned, one very shattered egg. my dog munched it in his crate! so had to make a new egg. it has a different chicken design on the back but a hummingbird on the front. oh naughty dog@!!!

Sounding ignorant here, but can you use plaster of paris to fill the eggs to give them stability and then varnish or seal the outside? I know that my dad had a egg that was one of his hens first egg and its in plaster with 2 screws on each end of the egg and its still around! It's dated 1943! Granted it lives in my jewelry box now... its not varnished either.

Its been a full moon, be easy on that dog

 

[superchemicalgirl]

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Oh it does but with much less gusto. Only the true crazies brood in winter. My determined GLW started sitting at the end of December last year and hatched the first week in January. It was so difficult dealing with it because the water would freeze quickly when I'd put it out and anything they'd spill would freeze. Their cage I moved them to actually froze to the floor in the coop because of it. All the chicks survived though and were quickly sold at the first swap - it's a great time to hatch so you'll have POL in early spring

 

[hoppy]

it is not set up for sure, there will be a swap at the augusta tractor supply on sept 25th and oct 8th. Oct will be the last one of the season. 8:30-1:00pm
bring your birds, home crafts, equipment, small animals etc. there will be a rooster pickup on sept 25th at 11:00am. for any roosters no one wants to bring home. these must be free. You are welcome to offer them to breeding situations only and the truck will only be there if you want your rooster to go for sure.
I need to give the person a definate heads up of how many to expect, so if you are bringing spare roos, please pm and let me know

 

[hudsonnascarfan]

does anyone know how long after pullets start to lay before the eggs get up to normal sized eggs my pullets started to lay on the 10th of this month im kinda hopeing that they will be up to the bigger sized eggs by december id like to hatch out a bunch over the winter so that i can build up my flock and maybe even have some to sell at a swap next spring besides my grand kids want some chicks of their own my 6 year old grand son has been staying here and helping with our chickens and sence they started to lay eggs hes been picking up eggs every day from the coop and asking when we can hatch out some i keep telling him they are to small so when he brings them in the house now hes been cooking scrambled eggs in the microwave almost every day i didnt know that trick but they come out good and it only takes like 2 mins to cook them