Maine

[bwockbwock]

Hello Fellow Maniacs

We are approaching butchering time for our meaties and are looking for a place to take them. I know there are a couple in the Augusta area, but I cant remember the names. I would really love to find someone a bit closer, in the Windham/Gray are. Any ideas?

I use Weston's in West Gardiner, they are state inspected so you can legally sell some if you want. 724-2027

 

[MrsSerfesME]

Westbrook, ME here! We just moved into our own home so we can raise chickens now and I have been reading through all the posts from fellow Mainahs here, very helpful info as I would like to make sure our chickens (when we get them) are save, warm, healthy and happy even in the harsh winters we get up here, though this past winter was more like spring.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Westbrook, ME here! We just moved into our own home so we can raise chickens now and I have been reading through all the posts from fellow Mainahs here, very helpful info as I would like to make sure our chickens (when we get them) are save, warm, healthy and happy even in the harsh winters we get up here, though this past winter was more like spring.

Welcome and congrats on being a new homeowner!

Make sure to read the thread "Think it's too cold for your chickens, think again" it'll give you a good perspective on "cold" - they do surprisingly well in cold. They do need some additional things to keep warm (like a good wide roost, a place to get out of the wind, more calories and unfrozen water) but I've never lost any to the cold and they certainly DON'T need supplemental heat.

What kinds are you getting?

 

[hoppy]

welcome to byc, you will have to stop by one of the many swaps going on around the state and visit us fellow byc'ers

Westbrook, ME here! We just moved into our own home so we can raise chickens now and I have been reading through all the posts from fellow Mainahs here, very helpful info as I would like to make sure our chickens (when we get them) are save, warm, healthy and happy even in the harsh winters we get up here, though this past winter was more like spring.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I am absolutely shocked. BF built me a cold frame, and I mostly thought it was great to keep seedlings protected from wind and chickens...

But I put the brooder temperature gauge out there today and it's over 90 degrees in the box!





Does anyone know if it stays warm most of the night? Do I leave my plants out there in it?

 

[MrsSerfesME]

Thank you for the welcome! I honestly have not decided on what kind of chickens we are going to get yet, I have been doing research mostly right now so I can make the best informed decision, but any suggestions you have for breeds that do well in Maine is very helpful. I have been exploring the sections of BYC that talk about keeping chickens warm, I would prefer not to use any electrical heat source if I don't have to and I am happy to find a lot of people in cold weather climates that have chickens who do fine without any electrical heat source. I'm learning a lot on here!

 

[Widget]

. I grew up in Westbrook.

I wouldn't worry about using supplemental heat in the winter. A coop that prevents drafts is about all you need. Chickens do need plenty of fresh air so the air in the coop does have to move and not be stagnant. If it is the humidity builds up the birds are actually colder in a highly insulated coop than one that isn't as well insulated. I use an old metal storage shed. It is under the back deck so it doesn't heat up too much in the summer and in the winter there is a nice snow free area outside the coop for the chickens to wander around. Of course last winter they rarely spent any time in the coop. They just free ranged at will.

As for breeds get what you like. Heat is more of an enemy to birds than cold. And our summers are rarely super hot for extended periods of time. There are plenty of breeds to choose from and you will probably want all of them at some point. Cochins, Orpingtons, Wyandottes and Silkiies all seem to be favorite breeds. If you are interested in other breeds just ask. I'm sure someone on here has them or knows someone who does.

By all means try and get to some of the Chickenstocks. We are trying to get one going at the Windham Tractor Supply. The one that is held in Sanford is great and not too far of a drive. Same goes for Lewiston. Best of all you get to meet some of us from here.

 

[Widget]

Here are my bees that I got yesterday. They were really active today buzzing in and out of the hive. I'm glad the warm weather showed up again so they could get out and investigate their new surroundings.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Here are my bees that I got yesterday. They were really active today buzzing in and out of the hive. I'm glad the warm weather showed up again so they could get out and investigate their new surroundings.

I really want to get bees (mostly because I am scared of the decline in bee population) - are they a lot of work?

 

[Widget]

That's why I have them. I really don't like honey, except in baklava, so I have bees to help with pollination of the plants in the neighborhood.

They really aren't that difficult to keep. As I was told in bee school (yes there is such a thing), bees survive in our hives in spite of our attempts to keep them. They are really self sufficient. This time of year they may need supplemental feeding to get through the time when their winter honey stores have run out and the flowers aren't yet in full bloom or the weather is yucky. Summer time they are busy making honey and populating the hive. Autumn you just have to make sure they have enough honey stored for the winter. Winter there is nothing you really need to do.

There are some things you have to watch out for. Mites and certain diseases that can wipe out a colony but for the most part they really aren't that time consuming. At least one or two hives isn't.