Maine

[buckabucka]

We're hoping to move our hoop coop to it's winter resting place tomorrow. It isn't really insulated, but the ends have plastic to stop the draft. The top of the ends are open, and unfortunately, the entire flock has decided to roost way up in the ceiling, where it might be drafty (as opposed to on the much lower roost provided).

The weird thing about the hoop coop is the wide temperature swings. It can hit 50 on a cold, sunny day in the dead of winter, and drop to 20 below at night. I did notice though, when we had quarantine birds in our hoop house, that they were more active than the chickens in the insulated wooden coop that has a steadier temperature.

I need to buy a roof rake this year! Last year, there was not much snow and it wasn't an issue.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Is the roof rake for your place or for the coop? BF's house has a roof that isn't steep and we have to rake it every storm. Only problem is it melts and then freezes and you can't rake that off. We end up buying a plastic jug of what looks like hockey pucks made of salt. You throw (or place them) on the edge of the roof where the ice is and it melts and the water can then flow down instead of back in the house. The places that have them around these parts (Aubuchon in Waterville) almost always sell out halfway through the season and then have a hard time getting them back in. Just a thought that you might want to get some if it's for your house. If it's not... nothing to see here, move along.

 

[buckabucka]

It's for the hoop coop. Not only to keep weight off, but to clear off the south-facing side so it will get sun. I'm looking at this kind that has little wheels or rollers, because the roof is that clear corrugated stuff.
I'm not sure how well snow removal will work. In the vegetable hoop house, the top was just plastic sheeting, so you could go inside and attack the ceiling with a broom, pushing up on the plastic and dislodging chunks of snow. But this roof is solid, and I can't even get at it from the inside because of the hardware cloth.
Salt hockey pucks sound like an interesting invention to prevent ice dams!

 

[hoppy]

I wonder if you could make the salt blocks? I bet there is a way. and for the ice rake so not to damage the plastic roof, a pool noodle over the edge of it.

It's for the hoop coop. Not only to keep weight off, but to clear off the south-facing side so it will get sun. I'm looking at this kind that has little wheels or rollers, because the roof is that clear corrugated stuff.
I'm not sure how well snow removal will work. In the vegetable hoop house, the top was just plastic sheeting, so you could go inside and attack the ceiling with a broom, pushing up on the plastic and dislodging chunks of snow. But this roof is solid, and I can't even get at it from the inside because of the hardware cloth.
Salt hockey pucks sound like an interesting invention to prevent ice dams!

 

[ScienceTchr]

Just ordered a heated dog bowl - hopefully that solves the chipping and lugging water twice a day issue. Perhaps now I will just have to lug

Does anyone else have chickens that form different flocks but live together? The girls we had at first (4 Doms and a mutt mix of some kind) have no issues sharing the coop with the new this year EE girls and our new rooster. When we let them out of the coop to forage the first flock does their thing and the EE girls and now the EE Rooster all go to a totally separate part of our yard/field and forage.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I have a couple of groups, some are just friends and some groups are comprised of their fellow hatch mates. I also have one loner chicken who is a pack of one. My ducks do the same thing, too. The three that are left from my original hatching hang out, and their two children that my banty chicken hatched hang out. The ducks do this single file line thing (perhaps they like their ducks in a row?) and walk through the woods like that. There will be three really close, then a gap of a couple of feet, followed by the other two ducks. I think it's hilarious.

 

[BrendanP]

Hey all I'm new to the site and I live in Bowdoin. I'm looking for some chicks to add to my flock for the winter. Do any of you know of someone selling or giving away some hens??? I also have a polish (I think silver laced) rooster that I'm looking for a good home for. He is a beautiful bird that really needs more space than I can offer him (dealing with a fox) so they stay in the run. The hens don't mind but he just runs around and tries to escape...and I would like to give him away before he ends up as dinner...Thanks in advance I'm excited for responses!!!!

 

[Mainechick168]

Just ordered a heated dog bowl - hopefully that solves the chipping and lugging water twice a day issue. Perhaps now I will just have to lug

Does anyone else have chickens that form different flocks but live together? The girls we had at first (4 Doms and a mutt mix of some kind) have no issues sharing the coop with the new this year EE girls and our new rooster. When we let them out of the coop to forage the first flock does their thing and the EE girls and now the EE Rooster all go to a totally separate part of our yard/field and forage.

We have the OG ( original group, or original gangsters...) and the NG ( new group) the OG we got as day olds- there are 5- 3 EE's and 2 white rocks. The NG we got at 8 weeks old- 2 barred rocks, 2 buff orps and 1 EE. They stay in their groups most of the time, but sometimes they mix. The rooster kind of goes between the 2 groups- although a few of the NG chase him...

 

[buckabucka]

I wonder if you could make the salt blocks? I bet there is a way. and for the ice rake so not to damage the plastic roof, a pool noodle over the edge of it.

It's for the hoop coop. Not only to keep weight off, but to clear off the south-facing side so it will get sun. I'm looking at this kind that has little wheels or rollers, because the roof is that clear corrugated stuff.

I'm not sure how well snow removal will work. In the vegetable hoop house, the top was just plastic sheeting, so you could go inside and attack the ceiling with a broom, pushing up on the plastic and dislodging chunks of snow. But this roof is solid, and I can't even get at it from the inside because of the hardware cloth.

Salt hockey pucks sound like an interesting invention to prevent ice dams!

Ha! I am always trying to think of ways to "make my own" whatever, sometimes at greater expense than the original product! DH says the salt hockey pucks will void your warranty on the roof shingles and any metal fasteners holding them on. Although I imagine shingle damage may be cheaper than ice dam damage.

I am finding that pool noodles are very handy. Not appropriate in this situation (it is the curved side of the hoop coop, no lip involved), but they make great boat bumpers on a dock. DH's 92 year old father has trouble with rolling in his sleep, ending up on the far side of his double-bed and unable to get back to the other side in a hurry (where his walker and the bathroom are). Pool noodle under the fitted sheet, right down the middle of the bed put a stop to it.

Where did I see that pool noodle wreath? They taped the ends together to make a loop, covered it in seasonal decorations, and then disassemble to save for next year.

 

[buckabucka]

Hey all I'm new to the site and I live in Bowdoin.  I'm looking for some chicks to add to my flock for the winter.  Do any of you know of someone selling or giving away some hens???  I also have a polish (I think silver laced) rooster that I'm looking for a good home for.  He is a beautiful bird that really needs more space than I can offer him (dealing with a fox) so they stay in the run.  The hens don't mind but he just runs around and tries to escape...and I would like to give him away before he ends up as dinner...Thanks in advance I'm excited for responses!!!!

Welcome BrendanP!
Sorry, no chicks to get rid of here, and too many roosters already. Good luck with the fox.


I also find that despite slowly integrating new birds into the flock, the "OG" never truly accepts the new birds. And my cross-beak is a true loner, always flying out of the fenced-in area and doing her own thing.

If we succeed in moving the hoop coop today (hoop houses must move first), then I will be hooking up my dog dishes out there. DH just finished running electricity underground out to the garden.