Colorado

[trsturself]

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.

Have you looked at the Warre hive? It's basically a top bar system that builds down instead of up. I've read that it is the best for the bees because they naturally build down instead of up and it is very low maintenance for the bee keeper just like the top bar system.

 

[trsturself]

Just ordered my bees. Thanks guys for the reminder to get that done. Now I'm looking at plans to build my hive.

 

[Latestarter]

Hey @Ashdoes : I've decided to go with the traditional Langstroth hive, 2 of them... I'm surrounded by farm fields that grow all kinds of stuff from pumpkins to squash to corn and even flowers. There's also a huge commercial green house less than a quarter mile from me, and several tree farms/nurseries about a mile away. since the bees forage in a 3 mile radius, they should have no issue finding sources of pollen and nectar. Barring anything unforeseen, I should be producing honey the first year. There is water nearby from irrigation for the greenhouses and farmland and I'll also provide them water in my old 2 gallon chicken waterers. I'm pretty excited and ready to go. Should have the bees ordered by the end of the week and the 2 hives as well. My concern right now is that I wish I could afford more hives, but all good things in time.

Props to @superchemicalgirl from the old folks home thread! Thanks so much for the links to the 2013 bee keeping training course she provided! That was sooooooo much better than the 2 sites I had found. Since it gets as cold here as it does there, although with a fraction of the snow she gets (Maine), I'm pretty sure I'll be following the same schedule they taught her. I don't know, but think I may have seen her in a couple of the videos... is it so?

With the mite problem and the diseases they bring as well as the climate changes, I think keeping hives active and healthy will be more work no matter what hive structure is chosen. I don't believe it's as "hands off" as it used to be. In any case, I'm sure looking forward to getting started!

 

[laceykins]

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.

That sounds like the right way to go for you. I totally understand wanting to be able to nest and have your home in a way that works for you permanently. It's so stressful to always know in the back of your head that you won't be staying in the house lond term, and having to factor that into every decision made. Love the idea of having bees to add to the overall honey bee population. What a great thing to do for the environment!!

 

[laceykins]

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 is so handsome! Please let me know when you might have chicks, and please post more pics of your flock!

 

[21hens-incharge]

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

I absolutely love my little bantam cochins. I want to hug this fellow. He is absolutely gorgeous. I am glad the silkies are keeping the eggs safe for you and bummed too that you lost the father of such a handsome little roo.

 

[laceykins]

Does anyone know what breeds of chicks Murdochs feed store usually has? They said that their chicks are going to arrive the first week of March and that there would be a "variety." Also, has anyone bought chicks at the stock show, or is anyone planning to?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have laying BAs and a trio of Delawares (cohabitating with 7 White Wyandotte pullets and a WW roo). The eggs I've cooked have all been fertile. If you wish to hatch your own, I can provide pure BA eggs and a mixed bag of WW over Delaware /pure Delaware (along w poss Del x WW). Let me know as I can meet you to hand deliver them... no shipping/altitude stress

I talked with DH about the option of getting some eggies from you to hatch. The only issue for me is I cannot have a rooster. I have a neighbor that calls the cops if a dog barks even during the day. I can only imagine how she would react to a young roo. DH has a friend with a small ranch that also is fully set up with hens. He is going to ask him if he would be interested in young roos if I end up with any.
I am also considering Norther Colorado Feeders Supply. They will take back any roos if pullets were what was purchased.
I will let you know for sure since I think hatching them out would be better on the babies and the mama than having shipping stress.
I have 4 bantam cochins that are always broody it seems as well as a very sweet and very broody BO hen.
I don't think getting a hen to sit will be much of an issue for me here.

Since I have the hens for eggs and entertainment I am not put off by mixed breed hens.
I work down that way so meeting up would be easy.

Do your wyandottes tend to be on the nice side? The ones I have now are not so sweet to the other hens. I have a blue splash and a gold laced. The blue is a very pretty hen but bottom of the pecking order just above the bantam black cochin. She was supposed to be a blue andalusian hen.

Thank you,

Babs

 

[COChix]

Got a broody?

Here is our most broody girl and she has been since the first cold snap. I remove her from the nest boxes almost everytime I collect eggs. She has plucked all the feathers off her belly, I read they will do that in order to keep the eggs warmer.

Something to keep in mind about having bee's and putting in any flowers and perennials, buy your plants/starts from a reputable nursery who carries plants that do not have the neonicotinoids and do not use insecticides containing them. Most big box stores all treat with these harmful products which has been linked to the decrease in honey bee's. Here is a good link to an blurb from a sustainable nursery right up the street from us. Also on the water source issue, our bee's would drink out of anything with standing water, such as concrete troughs in the chicken free range area. We did get some honey from our hives as well as some other honey he got from other hives. Pretty amazing the difference in flavor, it is raw and never heated above the temp of the hive, thus keeping all the medicinal aspects to the honey. Ours tasted amazingly sweeter than the other honey, it was definitely more floral tasting, must have to do with all the gardens and flowers we have around our place.

http://www.harlequinsgardens.com/2010/06/08/plant-for-the-bees-and-other-pollinators/

@21hens - we will have hatching eggs from our mixed flock this spring if you would like to get some. Of course there is no way to know what type of mixes we will get from our mixed flock. If you don't care about them being a mutt, just wanted to throw that out there.

Our pipes are still frozen....

 

[21hens-incharge]

COChix,

We are still months away from adding any babies. I am not certain but is that a Barnevelder hen? Very nice looking lady.
Mine are always picking their feathers out when broody. Silly chickens.

I have not completely made up my mind on hatching yet. I cannot have any roos so that can be problematic when hatching.

I hope your pipes thaw without bursting. That is such a mess to deal with.
Have you located and cleared the main shutoff valve just in case?