Mainers, Speak Up!

[hoppy]

I'm in maine- near Unity/augusta.
we use a heated dog water bowl with a thermostat that turns on when it gets to freezing temps.
I have blue laced red wyandottes and looking more few quality birds. also have welsummers, no frozen eggs here, just collect twice daily.

 

[IloveTravis]

I'm from Maine

My chickies haven't gotten a taste of the Maine winters yet, but thier henhouse is a little log cabin that was, many years ago, rented out and is now a little musty but still holding strong. I'm sure they'll be fine and snug in thier warm little chicken "dream house".

 

[spook]

Norway, ME. We have 5 girls in a small coop, use the deep litter method to insulate and generate a bit of warmth on the floor. I placed cardboard on the ceiling for insulation (along with snow in winter) shingles on front, sits within a shed for added protection. We also have a "sun porch", chicken wire covered with heavy clear plastic that is banked up with snow to insulate. I change the water out 2 or 3 times a day, usually give them hot mash (1-2 cups feed with hot water) its kinda like us eating hot cereal in winter. No they don't need it, but it makes me feel better, food with liquid. They get a bit extra of corn, bread and left overs in the winter, I do not overfeed these fattening foods, but it gives them a tad bit more energy to keep warm.
None of them complained! lol. Oh, I also have a peice of plastic almost 1/2 way down to keep the heat from wafting out of the hen house when I open the door.
I do not heat their water or house, if electricity should go out...they would be in trouble with the cold. Also do not make houses to air tight, their droppings produce amonia and its not nice or healthy for any of us!

 

[NurseNettie]

I'm in Orient Maine. This is our first year with chickens, but I imagine they'll do fine. The folks before us had chickens who made it through this past winter just fine-- the were fed and watered daily without a problem, or so it seemed- since they left here alive!! They'll have shavings on the floor and their water will be changed twice a day.

 

[redkan]

I'm outside Augusta, in Winthrop, and our "coop" is a converted stall in our barn. Our bedding is hay from around the stacked bales. Once it's been on the ground the horses turn their noses up at it so we toss it in with the chickens. We don't clean it out in the winter on the theory that if it starts decomposing it'll generate heat. For water we use a heater under the 5gal tank to keep it from freezing, although in extreme cold weather that doesn't quite work. The barn is open on one end in all except bad storms and only if we're bringing the horses in for the night. During the day our chickens free range in the horse paddocks and come in at night to roost. I've never lost a chicken in the winter (it's been 6 years now) although there are occasionally days when they stay close to each other when they're not moving around.

 

[nhnanna]

Hi everyone, we are in Amish country here in southern Aroostook County. We have been here three winters so far and our coops are in our Amish garage. They aren't heated but, we have run lights when it gets real cold for the chickens. We just keep changing thier water and giving then snow. They love it!!! Last winter we even took them to NH to visit my daughter for two months.....lol.
This is the first time I hatched any eggs but I can tell you it won't be my last. I am addicted. Would love to swap eggs or babies in the spring. I have 6 barred rocks with a leghorn roo and 4 Ameraucana hens, 2 dark bramahas & 2 black Jersey Giant hens in with an Ameraucana roo. I would be interested in any color Cochins and bramahas, gold & silver wyandottes & any color orpingtons. Let me know if you are interested.

 

[denahli]

Waterboro in the Hizzhouse!

oh yeah oh yeah gettin down with my chicks in southern maine!

 

[asher]

Anyone in the Kittery/York area (or surrounding that would travel) that need free bread, etc. for their flock and/or farm? It's good, just not fresh enough for people.


Please pm me if so and I'll give you the details. It'll be a regular thing, can be 5 days a week if you want it to be.

 

[MissBHaven]

Charleston, ME

Semi-insulated coop, layer of pine shavings on the floor, a few bales of hay around outside to stop wind from blowing under coop. I have a 3 gallon heated waterer, and I put an infrared heat light in coop for sub-zero temps.

I have 16 Bantam silkies only 5 weeks old, will need to ween out a few roos probably, once they are big enough to tell apart. I chose to start with silkies due to their mild manner and well, they are so darn cute.

I've researched and found the hens were excellent sitters for any egg, and the roos are mild tempered, for those who don't want to deal with the "cocky" attitude of a roo, but want to keep good moral in their coop, these are the boys to have around!

I have 2 older ladies on their way from a neighbors farm, just waiting for mine to get a bit bigger before mixing them together. Not sure what the 2 that are coming are, they are standard sized, brown egg, and all black feathers??