New Member from Maine

[drumstick diva]

If your birds have a good solid run with some type of cover, that should be safe from Hawks.

 

[ChickyChickens]

Welcome to BYC!!! There are loads of members on here…so if you have ANY questions…just ASK!!!

Hope you have loads of fun and all your answers answered here on BYC the BEST CHICKEN KEEPING FORUM on EARTH!!

 

[Book Em Danno25]

 

[LadyCluck77]

Thank you for the links!! I was just reading our zone regulations and we are allowed to have 6 hens in the zone we are in.

Welcome to BYC!
The forums here are very helpful, and we have lots of Mainers keeping chickens!
It is good that you are allowed to keep six hens in your neighborhood.
If you purchase your chicks from a public entity, such as a feed store like Tractor Supply, in Maine the minimum number they can legally sell you is six.

My advice since you are only allowed hens, would be to go for the sexed pullets, which are female baby chicks, and usually are only a dollar more than the straight run chicks (which is a mix of males and females). That helps reduce the risk of getting a rooster.
Most feed stores sell pullets of egg layer breeds, like white leghorns, or the hybrids like the red star or black star, which are also fabulous egg layers.
Unless there is a specific breed you really love, in which case go for that breed. Many people love Easter Eggers for the blue-green eggs and cold hardiness.

With winter hardiness, my leghorns and reds have done just fine. I use a wooden coop to help insulate from the cold, and plenty of wood shavings for bedding. I was glad I invested in a heated water base. They go on sale every fall for about $35. That cut my winter workload by a lot.
I Keep the feeder and waterer outside in the run, to reduce humidity inside the coop. That helps prevent frostbite.
Also, if you can roof at least a section of your run, you'll be really glad you did. Chickens hate to walk in snow.
Definitely check out the coops page for ideas of what you might like, many members have full photo instructions on how they did it as well.

Good luck and have fun learning along with us!

 

[Wyld Dream Farm]

Our new girl!! Rhode Island Red/White Cross. We bought the girls yesterday