Maine

[Widget]

Right now I have thirteen chickens. There are two Black Australorp roos, one Golden Comet pullet, two Splash Cochins pullets, two Buff Orp pullets, two Black Australorp pullets, three Easter Egger pullets and one Salmon Faverolle pullet. The Golden Comet should start laying any day now. The others in about a month. So far the two roos are friendly and respectful. Hopefully they will stay that way.

I am going to thin out the duck flock since I have way too many males to justify keeping them through the winter. The Indian Runners are safe and the Call since neither really has much meat. All the other males are on borrowed time. Right now I have a friend who is going to butcher and process a few for me in exchange for some of the meat. I don't mind doing the butchering part but processing ducks is a real pain so finding someone who doesn't mind is a real plus.

And the one turkey is safe. It won't be big enough by Thanksgiving so he or she can stick around for a while.

Haven't seen the fox in a few days. Maybe it has gone elsewhere in search of an easy meal.

 

[Eggsitter]

Thanks. I'm not looking to show them. Just maybe find a home. Can I just bring them and carry them around the fair?

I know people don't like roosters, but these are from some showbirds and maybe someone wants them. I can't keep them much longer. I don't have the space. They will kill each other and turn mean. I would hate for them to have to be killed. Is that what happens to roosters who have no home? I have asked and asked for advice here, but I don't think many people pay attention to me. I will never go through this again. It is too hard to find homes for these sweet birds who we really love.

 

[Widget]

Unfortunately roosters can be hard to place no matter how friendly they are. Many towns don't allow them so that takes away potential homes. And where they are allowed most people already have roosters of their own. I have my two and can't take on any more. If it had been earlier in the year I was actually looking for a rooster since the one I had was evil. The local fox invited him to dinner one night and for once I was glad one of my birds accepted the offer.

I'm in a similar boat as you but with my ducks. I have too many drakes and with the price of feed potentially skyrocketing this winter I can't justify keeping so many males around. They too are from quality lines and I hate to cull them but if that is what I need to do then I will. I did originally get them with the intentions of sending them to freezer camp but I was hoping to end up with a couple breeding pairs so I could raise their offspring for the freezer. But I ended up with all males for the breed I wanted to keep. For some reason that makes it really difficult to get ducklings

Thanks. I'm not looking to show them. Just maybe find a home. Can I just bring them and carry them around the fair?

I know people don't like roosters, but these are from some showbirds and maybe someone wants them. I can't keep them much longer. I don't have the space. They will kill each other and turn mean. I would hate for them to have to be killed. Is that what happens to roosters who have no home? I have asked and asked for advice here, but I don't think many people pay attention to me. I will never go through this again. It is too hard to find homes for these sweet birds who we really love.

 

[hoppy]

your birds will probably need to be NPIP tested to even bring them to the show grounds.
maybe place a free craigslist ad.

Thanks. I'm not looking to show them. Just maybe find a home. Can I just bring them and carry them around the fair?

I know people don't like roosters, but these are from some showbirds and maybe someone wants them. I can't keep them much longer. I don't have the space. They will kill each other and turn mean. I would hate for them to have to be killed. Is that what happens to roosters who have no home? I have asked and asked for advice here, but I don't think many people pay attention to me. I will never go through this again. It is too hard to find homes for these sweet birds who we really love.

 

[ashandvine]

I am going to thin out the duck flock since I have way too many males to justify keeping them through the winter. The Indian Runners are safe and the Call since neither really has much meat. All the other males are on borrowed time. Right now I have a friend who is going to butcher and process a few for me in exchange for some of the meat. I don't mind doing the butchering part but processing ducks is a real pain so finding someone who doesn't mind is a real plus.

Does this mean I don't get the duck now?? What about the matchbox car!?


I lost two chicks to a Northern Harrier. Good news: I deterred it to the degree that it decided to take me neighbor's noisy bantam rooster.

 

[kinsey228]

Does anyone know where I can get my flock NPIP tested in the Farmington area ? My kids and I would really like to show some of our birds.

 

[gracejr]

Is it me, or did the price already go up? I could have sworn we were paying $15/bag for Layena crumbles, but it was $18 when we went to pick some up this weekend!! Blue Seal laying pellets are $15/bag, I'm thinking about switching. Has anyone had good results with these? Is it hard to switch from crumble to pellet?

Any other ideas on cutting back on feed costs? We'll have 15 birds here, which of course is more than we had planned on. Plus we have a new baby coming in March/April, and have NOTHING as far as the costly gear, so trying to find ways to cut back on all costs where we can!

 

[gracejr]

Does anyone know where I can get my flock NPIP tested in the Farmington area ?  My kids and I would really like to show some of our birds.

It's VERY possible I'm wrong, but I think I saw a post at one point saying they can be tested right there at the fair? Not positive though, as I've never shown.

 

[hoppy]

you did see a post that they could be tested at the "Basket show" which was held at the farmington fairgrounds, but they was ONLY for that show.
austin brann was testing that day and he is in vassalboro. usually we bring the birds to him.

It's VERY possible I'm wrong, but I think I saw a post at one point saying they can be tested right there at the fair? Not positive though, as I've never shown.

 

[hoppy]

yard sales for baby stuff, cheap or even craigslist- freecycle (being free even better)

Is it me, or did the price already go up? I could have sworn we were paying $15/bag for Layena crumbles, but it was $18 when we went to pick some up this weekend!! Blue Seal laying pellets are $15/bag, I'm thinking about switching. Has anyone had good results with these? Is it hard to switch from crumble to pellet?
Any other ideas on cutting back on feed costs? We'll have 15 birds here, which of course is more than we had planned on.

Plus we have a new baby coming in March/April, and have NOTHING as far as the costly gear, so trying to find ways to cut back on all costs where we can!