Cooperative Extension: New Farmers

Answer: The UMaine Extension Maine Farm and Seafood Products Directory includes farms that sell eggs. You need to open the spreadsheet and check out the column for eggs. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has a site Real Maine consumers can type in “eggs” that lists over 240 farms that offer eggs. You […]

Question: I am hoping to get into chicken production on a commercial basis in Maine. I have some poultry now and am looking to expand to commercial production. I’m wondering what rules and regulations are involved in the poultry business. Who should I talk to? Answer: I see you are looking to expand your poultry […]

Question: I want to plant annuals for grazing on 10 acres of established pastureland. We are looking at sorghum-susan grass, and maybe grazing corn. We have tried to do this a couple of times in the past using a no-till drill in existing pastures. Even when we mowed the pastures quite low, the annuals did […]

Question: We are supposed to be moving to Maine from out of state in about 9 weeks and we were bringing our animals with us. I know what to do for cows, horses, and such but what about chickens? Am I going to need some kind of vet check on every chicken to bring them […]

Question: A town code enforcement officer would like to know what the “Right to Food Laws” would be or where to find them. Specifically how many animals a dwelling can have on a half-acre lot and the placement of manure piles with regard to a dwelling. Also, how many animals can be kept in a […]

Answer: You will need a couple of tools to measure vital signs (a thermometer – with a tether, a stethoscope, and a watch with a second hand). First, observe the animal from outside their pen. Are they moving easily, are they breathing quietly, do they lie down and rise without problems? Restrain the animal. Quietly […]

Answer: When poultry are fed something other than a formulated grain their productivity will decrease. They can survive, but not thrive when fed other products. Other products dilute the nutrients in the commercial feed. Treats can include limited garden vegetables, grass, kitchen scraps, and whole grains.

Answer: Some feeds like beans and potatoes need to be cooked to be able to be utilized by pigs. Pigs can also be fed table, vegetable or meat scraps but the farmer needs a special permit and the products need to be cooked before feeding to the pigs. Pigs can get some nutrients from forages […]

Answer: For ruminants (cattle, goats & sheep) pasture is the least expensive feed. Rotational grazing can improve the quality of the forage. They can also be fed grain by-products like cull beans, beer or distillers grains, cull potatoes, etc. It is important to slowly introduce these feeds into their diets so they don’t cause digestive […]

Answer: Start with vaccinated chicks if possible. Keep their water clean, feed appropriate amounts for the age and use of the birds, make sure their enclosure has good ventilation, protection from predators, and practice bio-security when bringing in new birds or when you have visitors or visit other farms.