Colorado

[trsturself]

Denver Urban Homestead has classes on beekeeping and other stuff.

I think I'll get my bees from Apis Hive and Honey (http://denver.craigslist.org/grd/4798625453.html). I have taken a class at DUH and learned a lot. Bees are fascinating.

The lowest I saw the temp at home was -18, -33 with wind chill. The chickens all look fine but it looks like they are still locked in to the coop. It's up to 45 in the coop with the door shut and they look pretty restless. No idea what time my friend plans to go out there today. Hope the rest of the animals are all good.

 

[Latestarter]

Can we say "may be time for a new friend?"

 

[trsturself]

No kidding. This is about the 3rd or 4th annoyance since Thanksgiving. I told DH if any of our animals are worse off from the cold I'm going to tell her to find a new home for her chickens and storage for all her crap in my basement. I'm also not going to ask her to do anything for me or go out of my way for her. Unfortunately our daughters are inseparable so I can't cut her out completely. But I have definitely learned where to keep her in my circle of friends.

 

[uzisuzuki]

Yikes! I was always worried about that with my dogs when I'd travel. Luckily for me and them, I had my parents to take care of them. After my car accident, I'm not traveling much at all (luckily for my animals). Hopefully, they aren't worse for wear by the time you get back.

 

[trsturself]

Yikes! I was always worried about that with my dogs when I'd travel. Luckily for me and them, I had my parents to take care of them. After my car accident, I'm not traveling much at all (luckily for my animals). Hopefully, they aren't worse for wear by the time you get back.

I'm just glad it's supposed to be warmer for the rest of the time we're gone.

 

[Ashdoes]

Hey Latestarter, what type of hive have you decided on?
I'm super excited for bees, but I think we're trying to get the deck garden built first, otherwise there isn't much out here for them. I actually have two cherry trees I'm waiting to see if they survived transplant from the nursery, and a Linden that was a replacement for a Linden that died in 2013. From what I've read Linden honey is wonderful, so I was excited about the American Linden replacement, instead of the Silver Linden that died. From what I read, Silver Linden pollen is toxic to the bees, and they won't use/eat it.
The deck we decided on will be a one level platform deck, with two giant raised beds at the foot of it, and a trellis wall on the right and left for blackberry bushes. It's so dry out here I thought keeping everything as close as possible is the way to go. We're actually putting off fencing the back acre, to do the deck instead. If we're moving in three years, I'd rather the garden since I don't need another acre to use.

 

[trsturself]

Hey Latestarter, what type of hive have you decided on?
I'm super excited for bees, but I think we're trying to get the deck garden built first, otherwise there isn't much out here for them. I actually have two cherry trees I'm waiting to see if they survived transplant from the nursery, and a Linden that was a replacement for a Linden that died in 2013. From what I've read Linden honey is wonderful, so I was excited about the American Linden replacement, instead of the Silver Linden that died. From what I read, Silver Linden pollen is toxic to the bees, and they won't use/eat it.
The deck we decided on will be a one level platform deck, with two giant raised beds at the foot of it, and a trellis wall on the right and left for blackberry bushes. It's so dry out here I thought keeping everything as close as possible is the way to go. We're actually putting off fencing the back acre, to do the deck instead. If we're moving in three years, I'd rather the garden since I don't need another acre to use.

Garden was definitely my priority after chicken housing when we bought our last temporary house. I wish now I had actually gone smaller like you are doing in that house. We spent a lot of money that never really got utilized because we moved sooner than expected.

What type of hive are you thinking about Ash? I don't know if we'll have a lot of garden done but the bees will have plenty of wildflowers and plants around to find food at. You don't need to provide 100% or even the majority of their diet. They travel quite a ways to find food. In the class I took they said a water source is more important. There is an abundance of pollen but they said to make sure there was a source of water nearby. And for a bee they said 1/4 mile is "nearby" lol

 

[Ashdoes]

Garden was definitely my priority after chicken housing when we bought our last temporary house. I wish now I had actually gone smaller like you are doing in that house. We spent a lot of money that never really got utilized because we moved sooner than expected. 

What type of hive are you thinking about Ash? I don't know if we'll have a lot of garden done but the bees will have plenty of wildflowers and plants around to find food at. You don't need to provide 100% or even the majority of their diet. They travel quite a ways to find food. In the class I took they said a water source is more important. There is an abundance of pollen but they said to make sure there was a source of water nearby. And for a bee they said 1/4 mile is "nearby" lol

We just recently decided that we'll for sure buy a new house when my husband retires, not in a new state, just not this neighborhood. the house needs a deck, and close up veggie and fruit plants will really add to the area. I want to really enjoy what we spend money on, instead of planning around selling. The next people can fence the back, if they really want, which isn't necessary unless they're getting horses.
I've decided on a top bar hive after almost a year of research. I don't want them specifically for honey, more for pollination and the addition to the honey bee population in the area. The top bar is the least stressful of the bunch, and I don't need most of the special equipment. I've watched dozens of YouTube videos and the top bar looks like fun, and not too much work.

 

[ShysCreations]

Hi all! Havent been on here for some time, many new names! This cold is something all right!
Have a few eggs incubating that i could save from freezing. Helps that several silkies are trying to set so they cover the eggs till i gather. This friendly fellow is a bantam cochin who is half columbian and half silver laced. Recently lost his father (bummer!) but can continue trying to breed silver laced with him

 

[uzisuzuki]

Hi all! Havent been on here for some time, many new names! This cold is something all right!
Have a few eggs incubating that i could save from freezing. Helps that several silkies are trying to set so they cover the eggs till i gather. This friendly fellow is a bantam cochin who is half columbian and half silver laced. Recently lost his father (bummer!) but can continue trying to breed silver laced with him

He's gorgeous!