Maine

So sad, Betty the EE didn't make it through the night. When my neighbor came over to bring her in for me, it was after 8. I set her up in my (former) double rabbit cage in the corner of my bedroom where I could look after her (and she was away from the flock) with the small waterer and feeder. I did a bunch of research on net that didn't tell me much. Planned to go in town in the AM to get some medicine at TSC but she had pased. 

Buckabucka, is it UM at Orono or in southern Maine that does the necropsy? Who does one contact?  I'm worried about the others, tho none seem ill, but Betty didn't yesterday AM either.  She definately had rales, but no sneezing or discharge. It was such a sudden onset.  Almost seemed like aspiration pneumonia, but I'm not sure in a chicken.


The UMaine Animal Health Lab in Orono did the necropsy. If you are thinking of doing this, put the bird in a plastic bag and put it on ice or in the refrigerator ASAP. Not sure if this is the right number (I just looked it up online):1-800-287-0274.
 
So sad, Betty the EE didn't make it through the night. When my neighbor came over to bring her in for me, it was after 8. I set her up in my (former) double rabbit cage in the corner of my bedroom where I could look after her (and she was away from the flock) with the small waterer and feeder. I did a bunch of research on net that didn't tell me much. Planned to go in town in the AM to get some medicine at TSC but she had pased.

Buckabucka, is it UM at Orono or in southern Maine that does the necropsy? Who does one contact? I'm worried about the others, tho none seem ill, but Betty didn't yesterday AM either. She definately had rales, but no sneezing or discharge. It was such a sudden onset. Almost seemed like aspiration pneumonia, but I'm not sure in a chicken.

I'm sorry you lost her but it sounds like she had a comfortable last few hours.
hugs.gif
 
I am looking for donated items for the raffle table at the central maine bird fanciers show on oct 7th. held at the windsor fairgrounds.
does anyone have anything they would like to offer?
generally we have new items on the raffle table and used/vintage items in our auction (these benefit the club and help pay for show)
raffle items can be listed on the table of who donated them. we are also taking advertising for the premium book if anyone wants to run an ad ($10 for business card size) or donate a cash prize in any category of the show- jrs or open show
please pm me if interested and I can give you details.
 
 I so want a breeding pair of Cream Legbars.  I am talking to a breeder in ohio.  Is someone local doing them?

I have a trio and only hatched 2 pullets this summer to add to their pen, hatched 9 cockerals....go figure :/

I won't be doing any more hatching until spring but may have eggs available to sell....
 
My Plums didn't take any prizes (or get shown) but I wanted to share anyway. I love the color in the syrup from the skins and lavender.




Longgrove that WAS quick. I am rather glad for you that it was. I know that sounds odd but lingering over an animal is just hard.

Hoppy, how does a person find or get involved in a Fanciers club.... just look on line??
 
My Plums didn't take any prizes (or get shown) but I wanted to share anyway. I love the color in the syrup from the skins and lavender.




Longgrove that WAS quick. I am rather glad for you that it was. I know that sounds odd but lingering over an animal is just hard.

Hoppy, how does a person find or get involved in a Fanciers club.... just look on line??
those plums look good! They should be especially good about mid january....!
 
beautiful plums, did you grow these? I have a tree with fruit for the first time this yr. we are having a debate here of whether they are plums or almonds since they look exactly like the almonds from our other tree and this is a grafted tree so it could be almonds. (they are green and 2" fuzzy fruits, the stake says gracious plum and it was grafted locally. from what I understand, peaches/plums can be grafted onto almond parent stock.

any way, the fanicer question. for the breed club, you can look online, some have a local chapter but as far as general poultry clubs, there are 3? in maine. 2 I am familiar with (anyone else feel free to join in if you know others)
the central maine bird fanicers which have their shows at the windsor fairgrounds as well as doing (or having to do with) union and windsor fairs. they meet the 3rd sunday of the month at the eastern star grange hall in washington most months with a potluck lunch at noon and meeting at 1:00 followed by an auction of donated items to benefit the club (pays for the hall rental) and that's this sunday for those wanting to attend. And then there is the northern new england poultry club that meets in farmington, I don't know that much about them but they put on the "basket show" and have their show at the farmington fair. (joanie feel free jump in). there is a 3rd club near skowhegan and they are called something with pigeon in the name but I don't know any more then that. i found it was a great source for chicken info not just the showing aspect and lots of great poultry people. I have shown alot of animals over the yrs and showing poultry is not as cut throat, more people helping people once they know you are serious. personally, I don't show to win, I show so I can do something with my son that we both enjoy.

My Plums didn't take any prizes (or get shown) but I wanted to share anyway. I love the color in the syrup from the skins and lavender.


Hoppy, how does a person find or get involved in a Fanciers club.... just look on line??
 
Such a busy weekend here! Easy to tell that the school year has started and the activities are all starting up...kind of a bummer in some ways.But it also means we are closer to hockey season!!! WOOT!


Anyway, I wanted to thank Clover Run for taking my mom and aunts chickens. They were relieved to find them a good home and can now relax at the thoght of winter...well, as mch as anyone relaxes while thinking about winter!
 
For anyone suspecting I was crazy here is all the evidence you needed; I am a crazy recycler/upcycler.

This coop used to be the tool shed from the neighboring cemetery. The original owner built four nest boxes. Dh built the rest. I converted one large box into a rooster/cockerel pen so I could transition or keep more than one rooster through winter without a lot of craziness or having to build yet another structure here. (keep in mind I rent and have only been here since mid April.) I built the bachelor pen out of wood from pallets broken down for wood and building a coop here. (pics of that later if I finish it) The sliding 'bolt action' lock and handle were made from same bits of wood and an old wooden thread spool that was nearly empty. Very cute and no one notices. The waterer is held on with zip ties and, I nailed a milk gallon bottom in one corner to help keep food clean and reduce waste. It works so far. (see new Orp who is temporarily housed in here until the new coop comes next week. Always next week with DH.) Under this shelf was a lot of space that just wasn't being used much. Old aluminum window screens fit nearly perfectly in there. Using them and some pieces of plywood that were also laying around here I created grow out/brooding pens with screen no chicks would get out of or stuck in. Even the hings came from old kitchen cabinets which were torn out of a house during a remodel and I collected them last summer knowing they had a use. (doors on pens open or removed for pics) On the walls is today's idea manifested. In an effort to cut down on wind sheer, blown in water or snow, and to hold some heat in the coop through the winter I have been stapling up tar paper to cover the openings between boards that created the siding of this shed. I ran out of paper (it was left over and here when we moved in) and got the idea to use the feed bags from TCS. They are a lot like tarps when you think about it. I have tote bags from these as well. I cut them open and stapled and cut them custom to the north and east side of the coop as much as I had supplies. I will of course be using them as they empty to finish this project. There are still a lot of openings near the rafters and single pane windows so there will be circulation a plenty. The bags are breathable but not overly porous. It looks a bit patchwork to me right now but I think come winter I will like the colors and appreciate the reduction in drafts/cold. (see here again Orp comb)






Next, and most embarrassing, is the second feeder I have ever made, the first being from a short rain gutter to create a trough feeder for the littles. Again, it works. I used old metal shower curtain rings, bale rope, a bucket lid and the barrel you see. It hangs from the ceiling and the little grooves in the edge of the bucket catch the feed as the chickens peck it off the lid, again, helping to keep it out of the dirt. We pour feed in from the top and it falls through holes I cut in the bottom.




Note: yes, I ate these but they have no MSG or High fructose and no I did not share with chickens.

Next, I have a plan for a watering system in the barn basement. Details, possibly, to come.
 
'Tis a great idea to utiliize the feed bags, they should work fine if just to keep out wind and precip. We are going to do that as well for the ducks, thanks for the idea. Amazing what we can come up with when we have to! Will be working on winter quarters for the Pekins this week using what we have laying around, will let you know if we come up with any genius ideas (doubtful ;).
 

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