Arizona Chickens

[Sill]

Has anyone seen this before? I was pruning a badly frost damaged bougainvillea and kept hearing loud buzzing. I thought it was just a carpenter bee but saw these going in and out of the holes in the bougie's trunk.



There were at least four of these and I was at a loss to determine what type of bee it was. I never saw these large amber colored bees before!

Then I saw a typical black carpenter bee, yep, same size and shape as the amber bees, just shiny black. Then it landed on the end of one of the bougie branches where one of the amber bees was and they began feeding each other! So here are the two bees, a black and an amber colored carpenter bee, swapping spit!



They are obviously the same species of bee, but just different colors. Upon further research it turns out the amber colored bees are males (which can't sting) and the black ones we typically see are females (which can sting). So it looks like I have a colony of carpenter bees in this bougie stump that I was going to remove to make room for other plants. Now what?

 

[DesertChic]

Has anyone seen this before? I was pruning a badly frost damaged bougainvillea and kept hearing loud buzzing. I thought it was just a carpenter bee but saw these going in and out of the holes in the bougie's trunk.



There were at least four of these and I was at a loss to determine what type of bee it was. I never saw these large amber colored bees before!

Then I saw a typical black carpenter bee, yep, same size and shape as the amber bees, just shiny black. Then it landed on the end of one of the bougie branches where one of the amber bees was and they began feeding each other! So here are the two bees, a black and an amber colored carpenter bee, swapping spit!



They are obviously the same species of bee, but just different colors. Upon further research it turns out the amber colored bees are males (which can't sting) and the black ones we typically see are females (which can sting). So it looks like I have a colony of carpenter bees in this bougie stump that I was going to remove to make room for other plants. Now what?

Haven't seen it before....but it would be enough to scare me silly. Bees are my one real fear. Please keep us posted on what you find.

 

[Bobby Basham]

Icdred,

I'm loving your design and it looks like you have alot of property to build such a nice setup. I think we're kindred spirits, starting off on the same page but going our different paths. Living in an HOA, I had to build on a smaller scale (16 x 16) and it's only five feet high. I have lower panels around the lower half secured by deck brackets and the upper section secured with vertical pieces and it will be screened in totally (including top) with 1/4" hardware cloth...no access for wild birds. The floor has 2x6x8 wood branching out from the center post creating the illusion of four separate sections, but those are only for structural support to keep it from being rickety. Deep litter will cover those boards and it's actually pretty solid. Theoretically, you could throw up a few more pieces of wood and screening to divide those sections if you were raising some smaller critters. You can see the four sections in the last pic with the closest being split in half to allow room for my Chicken TV and the other half being included in the run. I went around the whole perimeter and pushed in very hard. Like a tree planted by the water, I shall not be moved. It's strong enough to deter coyotes, foxes, havalinas and stray dogs. Bears may be a different story..LOL. Coop design is forever changing.

Can you folks tell me how do you keep rain from getting into those outside nest boxes? A strip of flexible molding/roofing etc? Could it be the overhang from the roof partially shielding it? I am going the outside route for sure since my coup will only be 6 x 6 with a pitched roof. It's only for six hens max, and they'll have enough room if they want to stay inside during the occasional inclement weather we have in Tucson.

Oh, one last question...Do you prefer to have your coops right on the bare ground with no flooring? I'm leaning in that direction with one less piece of lumber to buy. I can go either route in my coop design which I'll reveal later.

Here I go again, another essay and don't mean to overshadow the original posting. I originally had two questions in mind, but gotta pat myself on the back for my unconventional construction. Hand me a pile of wood and this is what I come up with. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

 

[City farm]

I am currently away from home but DH thinks that one of the chicks that hatched a couple weeks ago may be blind. That would explain why it always seems lost and is last to eat. Anyone had experience with a blind chick?

No.. is it eating & drinking?

 

[City farm]

Has anyone seen this before? I was pruning a badly frost damaged bougainvillea and kept hearing loud buzzing. I thought it was just a carpenter bee but saw these going in and out of the holes in the bougie's trunk. There were at least four of these and I was at a loss to determine what type of bee it was. I never saw these large amber colored bees before! Then I saw a typical black carpenter bee, yep, same size and shape as the amber bees, just shiny black. Then it landed on the end of one of the bougie branches where one of the amber bees was and they began feeding each other! So here are the two bees, a black and an amber colored carpenter bee, swapping spit! They are obviously the same species of bee, but just different colors. Upon further research it turns out the amber colored bees are males (which can't sting) and the black ones we typically see are females (which can sting). So it looks like I have a colony of carpenter bees in this bougie stump that I was going to remove to make room for other plants. Now what?

we have a home made one for them. Like you, they decide to use our firewood. I would put the piece of wood on the plant if you can. Or somewhere close by.. keep us posted

 

[City farm]

Has anyone seen this before? I was pruning a badly frost damaged bougainvillea and kept hearing loud buzzing. I thought it was just a carpenter bee but saw these going in and out of the holes in the bougie's trunk. There were at least four of these and I was at a loss to determine what type of bee it was. I never saw these large amber colored bees before! Then I saw a typical black carpenter bee, yep, same size and shape as the amber bees, just shiny black. Then it landed on the end of one of the bougie branches where one of the amber bees was and they began feeding each other! So here are the two bees, a black and an amber colored carpenter bee, swapping spit! They are obviously the same species of bee, but just different colors. Upon further research it turns out the amber colored bees are males (which can't sting) and the black ones we typically see are females (which can sting). So it looks like I have a colony of carpenter bees in this bougie stump that I was going to remove to make room for other plants. Now what?

Haven't seen it before....but it would be enough to scare me silly. Bees are my one real fear. Please keep us posted on what you find.

I could see you acting silly, because you were so scared! They don't sting you if you j u st let the say HI!!. If it be starts to crawl around on you, Their smelling you and then they fly off. It's once you start hitting them and trying to kill them they come & attack.

 

[Annalog]

No.. is it eating & drinking?

The blind chick was eating and drinking fairly well until Tapioca started taking the chicks outside a couple days ago. Then the chick kept trying to get outside with the others and getting confused. DH is trying to make sure that the chick finds the food and water and moving it in and out to be with the others. It will be two weeks old tomorrow.

 

[City farm]

Beautiful day here in Tempe..

 

[City farm]

Icdred, I'm loving your design and it looks like you have alot of property to build such a nice setup. I think we're kindred spirits, starting off on the same page but going our different paths. Living in an HOA, I had to build on a smaller scale (16 x 16) and it's only five feet high. I have lower panels around the lower half secured by deck brackets and the upper section secured with vertical pieces and it will be screened in totally (including top) with 1/4" hardware cloth...no access for wild birds. The floor has 2x6x8 wood branching out from the center post creating the illusion of four separate sections, but those are only for structural support to keep it from being rickety. Deep litter will cover those boards and it's actually pretty solid. Theoretically, you could throw up a few more pieces of wood and screening to divide those sections if you were raising some smaller critters. You can see the four sections in the last pic with the closest being split in half to allow room for my Chicken TV and the other half being included in the run. I went around the whole perimeter and pushed in very hard. Like a tree planted by the water, I shall not be moved. It's strong enough to deter coyotes, foxes, havalinas and stray dogs. Bears may be a different story..LOL. Coop design is forever changing. Can you folks tell me how do you keep rain from getting into those outside nest boxes? A strip of flexible molding/roofing etc? Could it be the overhang from the roof partially shielding it? I am going the outside route for sure since my coup will only be 6 x 6 with a pitched roof. It's only for six hens max, and they'll have enough room if they want to stay inside during the occasional inclement weather we have in Tucson. Oh, one last question...Do you prefer to have your coops right on the bare ground with no flooring? I'm leaning in that direction with one less piece of lumber to buy. I can go either route in my coop design which I'll reveal later. Here I go again, another essay and don't mean to overshadow the original posting. I originally had two questions in mind, but gotta pat myself on the back for my unconventional construction. Hand me a pile of wood and this is what I come up with. --BB Bobby Basham Tucson, Arizona

Since it rarely rains we use a tarp.. However, I would like to extend our roof..

 

[City farm]

No.. is it eating & drinking?

The blind chick was eating and drinking fairly well until Tapioca started taking the chicks outside a couple days ago. Then the chick kept trying to get outside with the others and getting confused. DH is trying to make sure that the chick finds the food and water and moving it in and out to be with the others. It will be two weeks old tomorrow.

I would keep the chick separated untill you know for sure.. Poor thing.. What breed?