➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[CrazyCrttr75]

Oh and our bees are in! We will probably never go with the company that we ordered them from ever again but I'm glad they are in. Now hopefully we will see that they are ok when we pick them up. Originally we thought they were going to be delivered to our home via UPS (as per their website) but.... I guess a different company bought out the company we ordered through and that company ships to the P.O. and you then pick them up yourself. That's fine except it would've been nice to know that ahead of time so we could plan for that. It would've also been nice to have a tracking number or even a status update/email to know when the bees were shipped. We had to call twice to find anything out. We ordered through the original company because they were close to us location wise. But the company that bought them out that has multiple locations but the one specifically we got an email from (that only said that they are receiving the "note", no tracking # or other status update whatsoever) is out of MN. We would've went with a different company that was closer than all the way up in MN. We're so not happy. As long as they are ok then I guess that's all that matters. We will see.

 

[debid]

Bowie is pecking some of the girls head/neck so bad that there are bald spots. He is being such a butt head! I would say it's because he is trying to hang on and is a little rough because he is young, lack of technique, etc. but I can't say that is the only reason. I've seen him mount one of the girls and she is flat on the ground, not moving for him and after he is done he continues to stand on her and pecks at her head. He is otherwise good to the girls. He is forever foraging and looking for goodies for the girls and tidbits constantly. Always lets them go first for treats. But when it comes to sex he's a bully! Cute and fluffy but still a bully. I don't know if he will outgrow that and it is just part of their flock dynamic or if I need to separate him and Elvis somehow. Or get rid of both and get an older more mature and nicer rooster. I like my boys but this makes me frustrated and sad.

I had an "Ike" and he didn't grow out of it. I got the impression that the hens didn't like or respect him so when he scalped a young pullet that was running from him, that was the last straw. It was a bummer because he had the idea of watching for danger down and he wasn't at all aggressive toward people but that wasn't enough if he was OK with beating up on the females. The first time I found a dead hen in the enclosure, I thought she'd had some internal problem that had gone unnoticed. But after the scalping, he was the one covered in blood so I suspect he was responsible for both.

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

I had an "Ike" and he didn't grow out of it. I got the impression that the hens didn't like or respect him so when he scalped a young pullet that was running from him, that was the last straw. It was a bummer because he had the idea of watching for danger down and he wasn't at all aggressive toward people but that wasn't enough if he was OK with beating up on the females. The first time I found a dead hen in the enclosure, I thought she'd had some internal problem that had gone unnoticed. But after the scalping, he was the one covered in blood so I suspect he was responsible for both.

Yeah, that is what I am worried about.

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

Well, we got the bees, er.. ok, most of the bees in to their new home. Theoretically those flying around should find their way back inside with the others because the queen is in there. It's a little cooler today than I wish it was. Suppose to be warmer tomorrow. We mixed up some sugar water for them so they can feed on it until they get the combs started. We will check on them here in a little bit to see if they've settled down. I was pretty calm for the most part while I videoed my hubby putting them in. He's all talking to them and wanting to check every little thing out and I am thinking, OMGosh! Put them in already before I get stung! But it's all good. Worked out well. I know it's going to take them quite a while to get established and for the honey to really start flowing but who knows, maybe we'll have a smidge of honey by the end of the season. I'm excited!

 

[Kiki]

Well, we got the bees, er.. ok, most of the bees in to their new home. Theoretically those flying around should find their way back inside with the others because the queen is in there. It's a little cooler today than I wish it was. Suppose to be warmer tomorrow. We mixed up some sugar water for them so they can feed on it until they get the combs started. We will check on them here in a little bit to see if they've settled down. I was pretty calm for the most part while I videoed my hubby putting them in. He's all talking to them and wanting to check every little thing out and I am thinking, OMGosh! Put them in already before I get stung! But it's all good. Worked out well. I know it's going to take them quite a while to get established and for the honey to really start flowing but who knows, maybe we'll have a smidge of honey by the end of the season. I'm excited!

I need to see the video.
I have no clue how one moves bees.

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

I need to see the video.
I have no clue how one moves bees.

I will try to get him to send me the video so I can upload it. He's working on our tractor right now tho.

 

[R2elk]

I have no clue how one moves bees.

Very carefully.

 

[R2elk]

Well, we got the bees, er.. ok, most of the bees in to their new home. Theoretically those flying around should find their way back inside with the others because the queen is in there. It's a little cooler today than I wish it was. Suppose to be warmer tomorrow. We mixed up some sugar water for them so they can feed on it until they get the combs started. We will check on them here in a little bit to see if they've settled down. I was pretty calm for the most part while I videoed my hubby putting them in. He's all talking to them and wanting to check every little thing out and I am thinking, OMGosh! Put them in already before I get stung! But it's all good. Worked out well. I know it's going to take them quite a while to get established and for the honey to really start flowing but who knows, maybe we'll have a smidge of honey by the end of the season. I'm excited!

If you got good Italian bees, you should get a harvest this fall.

The safest time to be around bees is when dealing with a swarm which is essentially the same as when you are hiving a package of bees. They are really docile at that time and are much more concerned about the queen.

The information that normally comes with a package of bees recommends to put them in the hive during the evening to diminish the huge amount of flying around as they all try to settle in for the night.

 

[debid]

Well, we got the bees, er.. ok, most of the bees in to their new home. Theoretically those flying around should find their way back inside with the others because the queen is in there. It's a little cooler today than I wish it was. Suppose to be warmer tomorrow. We mixed up some sugar water for them so they can feed on it until they get the combs started. We will check on them here in a little bit to see if they've settled down. I was pretty calm for the most part while I videoed my hubby putting them in. He's all talking to them and wanting to check every little thing out and I am thinking, OMGosh! Put them in already before I get stung! But it's all good. Worked out well. I know it's going to take them quite a while to get established and for the honey to really start flowing but who knows, maybe we'll have a smidge of honey by the end of the season. I'm excited!

So jealous! I want a hive or three. We had backyard bees when I was a kid and I have fond memories of sitting by the hives with sugar water in my hand. I remember going with my dad to collect a swarm from the side of a school gym. It was at the roofline so he was up a tall ladder with a cardboard box. Very exciting! I get a smaller reaction from a bee sting than a mosquito bite so it's never been a worry for me that I might get stung.

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

If you got good Italian bees, you should get a harvest this fall.

The safest time to be around bees is when dealing with a swarm which is essentially the same as when you are hiving a package of bees. They are really docile at that time and are much more concerned about the queen.

The information that normally comes with a package of bees recommends to put them in the hive during the evening to diminish the huge amount of flying around as they all try to settle in for the night.

We purchased Russian hybrid. I didn't know about the night time thing. We've just been watching videos and reading and watching more videos lol. A bunch were flying around but staying close to the hive since that's where the queen is. Everything I've read is that they'll find their way to her and will settle in and tend to her to get her out of the cage. It would be awesome if we can get some honey before the yrs up. We want to leave enough in stores for them to winter but that's a long time from now.

Edited this post because I was wrong in what kind we purchased. We just purchased Russian Hybrid. This is what the website says about them:

• 
  Strengths of Russian honey bees:
• Excellent at wintering (small cluster needs less food)
• Resistant to varroa and tracheal mites
• High honey yield (same or better than Italian bees)
• Can rear massive amounts of brood in short times to closely follow times of nectar and pollen flow
• Constantly maintain several supersedure queen cells for immediate queen replacement if the hive loses its current queen

So this is what we went with.