MARYLAND THREAD!

[TheOvoOffice]

I have my first six chickens and live in an urban area (Washington, DC). Although I bought all six chicks sexed from My Pet Chicken, I am anxious that 2 of my six might turn out to be roos. They are about to turn 7 weeks old so it's a little early, and from what I am reading on this very helpful forum, one of the two breeds are kind of notoriously difficult to tell until later (it's a Light Brahma, and her comb is coming in quite red, she has developed no back feathers yet, and her tail feathers are just beginning to grow). The other is a Speckled Sussex who has very pointy tail feathers.

So, what do I do if one (or both!) turn out to be a roo?! I started reaching out to some area farms but so far no one is interested. If I have a roo, I need to remove it RIGHT AWAY (as in, the moment I hear a crow, that animal has to be taken away or I kind of put my whole chicken situation in jeopardy). Does anyone have suggestions on how to rehome a roo? I wouldn't be able to kill them because I love them too much, but I also understand that if it goes to a farm for meat, that will have to be ok. (Bonus points if you have any suggestions for the PG County/DC area region!!!)

 

[TheOvoOffice]

Hi! How did you get rid of the roos? I'm worried about one or two of my chicks (7 weeks old) turning out to be roos even though they were sexed, and am trying to prepare for that just in case (I cannot have a rooster!!!) Know anyone I can ask if they'd like to take it off my hands?

Hello,

We are just outside of Annapolis, in Arnold. We recently started our backyard flock and ended up with two boys. Now we are down to 2 barred rocks (3 month old) and 2 silkies (2 month old). We’d like to get two more girls to add to the flock. Don’t want to do the whole brooder thing again. The birds will be in a coop, with supervised free ranging as well. My three kids are learning how to care for poultry and are doing great. Let me know if you’re in the area and have something. Thanks!

 

[Rafters]

Hello! I put them on Craigslist and luckily found a guy who lives ten minutes from me and has a large free range flock.

 

[Macchickenman]

I am in Bethesda, Md just outside the beltway... We have four girls, black austrolorp, buff orpington, ameraucana, and a cream legbar.. 4.5 months old.... Loving it!!! Just finishing up my coop and run...

 

[Macchickenman]

Hi! I am new to this, and to chickens. I live in Laurel and I just bought 5 chicks to put in my backyard. I went to the farm store to get bean seeds and my 3 year old thought the chickens were cute so we started up our little backyard farm.

Right now they are in a dog kennel until we build them a coop.

I think I have 2 buff orpingtons, a blue andulasian, a silver laced wyandotte, a black sex linked and black australorp.

I have no idea if there is a county zoning issue, but I think free FRESH eggs will keep my neighbors happy.

Any suggestions on building a coop and saving money while having ubber cool egg layers would be greatly appreciated.

I have some suggestions...
1 Don't use chicken wire... too weak and openings too large..
2 Use 1/2 x 1/2 inch hardware cloth and use screws w washers, not staples.
3 Put either a skirt of 2 foot wide hardware cloth around the perimeter and pin to ground... Let grass grow thru it or do what I did which is to put the hardware cloth under the coop and run so nothing can dig under...
I have mine completely surrounded on all sides and unless we get a bear coming by my girls are safe....

 

[Macchickenman]

One additional photo.... box that screws came in from HD

 

[lukkyseven]

New to the forum and brand new to chickens. Figured I'd stop into my home state thread and say hi. I live in Carroll County on 4 acres. Never having chickens before I decided to dive right in. I think the hardest part for me is going to be the actual build of the coop and run.

We shall see, I look forward to trying this at least

 

[MROO]

New to the forum and brand new to chickens. Figured I'd stop into my home state thread and say hi. I live in Carroll County on 4 acres. Never having chickens before I decided to dive right in. I think the hardest part for me is going to be the actual build of the coop and run.

We shall see, I look forward to trying this at least

Hi - and welcome! I'm in Cecil County. I have mostly Nankin Bantams and a few oddball pets - a Red Pyle OEGB who walks on a leash, a very spoiled Silkie (Herman the House Rooster) and a pair of Porcelain D'Uccles that are determined to give me heart failure.

And you're right, the build is definitely the hard part, especially if you've already got a brooder full of chicks! There are lots of really great ideas on the coop pages. Many even include plans, so go ahead and dive in. I'm sure you'll find something you can build ... and if not, you'll find bits and pieces of lots of other plans to incorporate into one of your own. Either way, don't forget to document your build so you can add yours to the gallery. And remember that we LOVE pictures!

 

[Firefoot]

Hey all, saw this at the top and thought I'd jump in! I am in Baltimore County just near the Carroll County line. My husband and I live on 2.5 acres and have 10 chickens -- built a tractor and started with 4 last year (we've gone through two roos and they've both left us, one to a fox and one to a 4H'er!), then bought a coop from the Amish this summer and got 7 more. We wanted to build our own coop and had plans drawn up and everything, but realistically we just did not have the time. Our flock is now halfway integrated: the 3 original birds and the 7 babies are now free ranging together. In a few more weeks we'll start cooping them together.

Anyway, hi fellow Marylanders!

 

[MROO]

I wish I could free range, but we have too many hawks ... and they're brazen. I was outside with my youngsters and ran inside to grab the ringing portable phone. I came straight back out, phone in hand (what, maybe 90 seconds?) and that quick, I lost a young pullet to a redtail. It must have been watching us from the Mulberry tree, the nasty bugger!
So mine all live in a converted wooden playhouse. The cabin is the coop and the sandbox is fenced in as a run. It's rather unique, but it works!