Illinois...

[BReeder!]

I've been debating on doing bees or rabbits this Spring... Any suggestions which way I should go? Seems to be about the same amount to purchase both. I should be able to find 1 buck and 2 does for $100-$150 and 3lbs of bees costs about $150. I would build the hives or cages so not much cost there. Rabbits certainly cost more to feed, but bee keeping equipment would quickly add up as well.

 

[cavemanrich]

I've been debating on doing bees or rabbits this Spring... Any suggestions which way I should go? Seems to be about the same amount to purchase both. I should be able to find 1 buck and 2 does for $100-$150 and 3lbs of bees costs about $150. I would build the hives or cages so not much cost there. Rabbits certainly cost more to feed, but bee keeping equipment would quickly add up as well.

With your lil Angel in your family, (and neighbors) I suggest staying away from bees on the size of property you have.

 

[BReeder!]

With your lil Angel in your family, (and neighbors) I suggest staying away from bees on the size of property you have.

There are a lot of people who keep them on suburban lots like ours. We were going to place 1 hive in the garden. Would it really be that crazy?

 

[Molpet]

There are a lot of people who keep them on suburban lots like ours. We were going to place 1 hive in the garden. Would it really be that crazy?

I thought about it
too many rules and I don't particularly want an inspector coming around https://beesource.com/resources/ele...ng/illinois-bees-and-apiaries-act-with-rules/

 

[BReeder!]

With your lil Angel in your family, (and neighbors) I suggest staying away from bees on the size of property you have.

I thought about it
too many rules and I don't particularly want an inspector coming around https://beesource.com/resources/ele...ng/illinois-bees-and-apiaries-act-with-rules/

Well, rabbits it is then. harder to source though around here because you cannot just mail order them.

 

[Molpet]

Well, rabbits it is then. harder to source though around here because you cannot just mail order them.

if you are on FB there are a couple of groups that might interest you
https://www.facebook.com/groups/514329775281695/?ref=group_header
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GrundyCountySwap/?ref=group_header
https://www.facebook.com/groups/125562410875636/?ref=group_header

 

[Faraday40]

I went out at 2am to check on the outside bantams & caved. The silkie seemed fine but the other 2 were puffed out & looked miserable. I brought the remaining bantams inside. They weren't happy being crammed into one cage (like battery hens) but they were at least warm. I kept them inside until 11am when the temp got up to 2'F. (Today's high will be 5) They'll be coming inside again tonight because the temps will be about the same. No signs of frostbite but as I recall it may take a couple days to look white or gray. They're in the run now eating & scratching around. I really wish they'd go up inside the heated coop area to warm up.

In the main coop all seems well. My lav roo probably ate some snow over the weekend or at least dipped his wattles into moisture of some sort. Everyone's combs are fine, but he has a touch of frostbite along the bottom of his wattles. A turkey laid another egg - which must have fallen, cracked, & been eaten. I keep finding mostly turkey shell & membrane.

@BReeder!
Congrats on making it through your 1st arctic blast with chickens. Watch out for frozen eggs today.

Oh & I vote for rabbits. Flemish giants are my fav. The hardest part would be actually eating them. Start out with a small number just in case they end up becoming pets.

My neighbor had bees & it wasn't an issue for the neighborhood. Just have to make sure their flight path is out of the way from human activity. Today there's a lot more hazards for bee colonies & you may end up sinking a lot of money and end up getting a lot of headache.

If you're looking for ways to expand your backyard food, some easy things are raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, & of course expanding a garden. Very affordable to add a few things each year.

 

[BReeder!]

I went out at 2am to check on the outside bantams & caved. The silkie seemed fine but the other 2 were puffed out & looked miserable. I brought the remaining bantams inside. They weren't happy being crammed into one cage (like battery hens) but they were at least warm. I kept them inside until 11am when the temp got up to 2'F. (Today's high will be 5) They'll be coming inside again tonight because the temps will be about the same. No signs of frostbite but as I recall it may take a couple days to look white or gray. They're in the run now eating & scratching around. I really wish they'd go up inside the heated coop area to warm up.

In the main coop all seems well. My lav roo probably ate some snow over the weekend or at least dipped his wattles into moisture of some sort. Everyone's combs are fine, but he has a touch of frostbite along the bottom of his wattles. A turkey laid another egg - which must have fallen, cracked, & been eaten. I keep finding mostly turkey shell & membrane.

@BReeder!
Congrats on making it through your 1st arctic blast with chickens. Watch out for frozen eggs today.

Oh & I vote for rabbits. Flemish giants are my fav. The hardest part would be actually eating them. Start out with a small number just in case they end up becoming pets.

My neighbor had bees & it wasn't an issue for the neighborhood. Just have to make sure their flight path is out of the way from human activity. Today there's a lot more hazards for bee colonies & you may end up sinking a lot of money and end up getting a lot of headache.

If you're looking for ways to expand your backyard food, some easy things are raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, & of course expanding a garden. Very affordable to add a few things each year.

We continue to work on the garden... I want to try potatoes this year. We have a lot of wild rabbits and squirrels here so strawberries do not seem to do so well as far as harvest goes. I would like to try raspberries or blackberries. Squash did OK last year and so did tomatoes. The compost should help our soil this year. We will have to see.

I think I'm leaning towards rabbits. I did find a source in Dekalb, which is about an hour drive from me. Rabbits are $15 each. They are white New Zealand x Florida. We just might decide to get 3 or 4 of them. 1 buck and a set of does.

 

[Faraday40]

We continue to work on the garden... I want to try potatoes this year. We have a lot of wild rabbits and squirrels here so strawberries do not seem to do so well as far as harvest goes. I would like to try raspberries or blackberries. Squash did OK last year and so did tomatoes. The compost should help our soil this year. We will have to see.

I think I'm leaning towards rabbits. I did find a source in Dekalb, which is about an hour drive from me. Rabbits are $15 each. They are white New Zealand x Florida. We just might decide to get 3 or 4 of them. 1 buck and a set of does.

Definitely research breeds and decide your goals before buying. If you're thinking of breeding them, then pick the breed you really love. (Like I mentioned you may end up getting pets instead.) If you raise purebreds, you can sell the kits for more than a mixed breed. I learned with chicks that the purebreds also sell faster. ($5-8 for a mix & she stays for 2-5 weeks. $15 for a purebred orp & I sell out as soon as I post them for sale. If they're rare or difficult to breed, you'll have to invest more, but will also sell for more.)

I like going to the Sandwich Fair in Sept & seeing all the diff breeds of rabbits for sale after the showing. That's not until Sept, but I'm sure there are plenty of rabbit shows. It's always fun to meet new people, make contacts with breeders, and talk rabbits. Many of the rabbit breeders also have chickens.

 

[Faraday40]

@BReeder!
We also have a ton of squirrels, rabbits, & other wildlife. For years we have waited for our 1 pear & 2 apple trees to bear fruit. Now that time has finally come. In 2016, 2017 & 2018 our trees were loaded with fruit. I even removed some early so the branches would not break as the fruit grew. However, we have yet to eat a single fruit from those trees. Often critters come & take a single bite when the fruit is still bitter - then they rot away starting with the bite. The rest vanishes overnight in late July. Literally, I took a pic of my trees loaded with fruit & the next day, all 3 trees were missing every piece of fruit. The time to pick is September, so I have no idea how to protect it. If anyone has a suggestion let me know.

The raspberries are cheap (just find someone who has them & offer to help thin). I'll even let you "weed" my patch if you're up for the drive. They grow like crazy, so make sure to plant in an area where that's not a problem. Chickens eat some but they can only reach the bottom half, so the fruit on the top is for us. Blueberries are also very easy but I found my chickens like them, so chicken protection around the plants is a must. My fav backyard fruit is the cherry bush. In fact I ordered a 2nd one b/c we love them so much. It's out front away from the chickens. The neighborhood kids snack on them, but there's plenty for everyone.