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Hey Gotpoodle, I'm on Outer Cape Cod. I got only Buff Orps because I didn't want to worry about them in winter. They are fantastic. I have just four in a reasonable space, and they have no "issues" that cause pecking and health problems.
Thanks, guys! Deanne, I'll let you know if I'm ordering anytime soon...still doing a massive yard clean-up after the December ice storm. ..we lost SO many trees! ( If I ask hubby to build the coop right now, I think he'd have me sleeping out there! LOL!
Buff, BEAUTIFUL pics of your coop! Maybe I could just borrow your husband to build me one, too?! ;o)
Sue
I'm in the same boat Sue. I have almost an acre that borders Coggshall, so LOTS of trees. I'm trying to rent a chipper instead of buying mulch, hopefully I can kill two birds with one stone. Hmm, bad etiquette to use that saying on a chicken forum?
Definately sorry to hear of anyone having an ice storm. I hated it while we had one in '98 (I think) and we still have trees that show the damage that occured.
Welcome you new folks! Its great here and welcome!
My Ameracauna's were hatched right here and were from a man that we know. These girls are very winter hearty, I believe all are if you raise them without heating a coop and that stuff. This past winter we allowed them to come and go in the snow, never had a problem with them. The bantam Cochin's were from a private collection, amazingly friendly and social. Now I have 3 Lite Brahma chicks from NY.
And my DH is working on a larger coop. Right now we have a 4x8 coop for 5 girls, rarely any squabbles, never any feather picking. I feel that feather picking is a protein thing...I'll be curious to what others feel that feather picking is caused from.
How did we all get involved in birds? What was the first breed you had? Do you incubate or have a broody hen?
Just curious about you New Englanders have for answers?! (add more if you like)
Did anyone go on the second annual chicken coop tour? I wanted to go badly, but instead stayed home all weekend and started work on our new coop!
Spook wrote:
How did we all get involved in birds?
I always loved birds, and had cockatiels, and a Senegal parrot. I grew allergic to birds in my 20's and could no longer get more. I still have Musetta, the Senegal as she is very low dust. She lives in a huge cage since I can't hold her. We feed the wild birds, and have tons of wild turkeys that have a huge dust bath we gave them in the corner of our field - they are so much fun to watch! So since indoor birds were out, I suggested chickens thinking hubby would never agree....and he bought me 6!
What was the first breed you had?
see above!
Do you incubate or have a broody hen?
Not yet! Two weeks old today!
Just curious about you New Englanders have for answers?! (add more if you like)
How about you? Curious here too!
CONNECTICUT OXFORD first year chicken owners four reds two bantams one new young rooster in the coop but seperated cause girls were gonna kill him. enough about him. also 4 three week old chicks either black sex links or plymouth rocks, got them from holbrook farm in bethel thank you!
I'm in Central NH, Sanbornton to be exact. Years ago I had 14 or so chickens. They must have been what ever the local variety was, not sure but maybe NH Reds. They all died of old age an I just never replaced them. UNTIL....
I was reading on line about the Java chickens because I wanted to add chickens to the barn yard again. A year and a half later of looked almost every day... I have hatched 2 chicks, they are supposed to be Black Java. The eggs came from Superior Farms. I also have 12 chicks ordered from there. They are 1 week old now.
I'm still looking at plans for a coop that will be built this spring. And I haven't decided about a run for them either. I know I should have done this the other way around and in fact usually do. But I WANTED those Black Java...Last year I waited to long and never found any....
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I'm up off West Street, almost into Ashburnham, also on +/- an acre bordering lots of woods. My neighborhood used to be an apple orchard, and we lost tons of old apple trees in the storm.
I just ordered new apple and pear trees to replace them, along with some blueberry bushes. Now I just want a supply of fresh eggs!
We have a small chipper and I'd love to mulch the downed trees, but it can't handle the big trees that fell unless we spend hours cutting them down to size. We're basically trying to drag everything to the curb for city pick-up.
How did your chickens survive the storm?
I got involved in parrots many years ago and also did some parrot foster care. My last bird, a little parrotlet named Jem, died last fall.
I promised hubby no more cages in the house once I lost my last parrot, so I think chickens are a good compromise...I neglected to tell him that I would want to raise day old peeps, which need to be in the house to start...shhhh!
I also own a pet sitting business, so I have some parrot, chicken and duck clients.