Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[eatwhatyougrow]

Mead....... yum, one of my favorites and part of the reason we started trying with honey bees. Unfortunately, we haven't had much luck with them yet. We had a supplier open a bee store in Napoleon MI... Napoleon Bee Supply: http://napoleonbeesupply.com/.

We built our hive out of the kit material they sell in the store. Went through about 10 lbs of sugar to get them started. We aren't sure what happened but our bees absconded on us in the sumer before producing any honey.. you can imagine our disappointment. We are going to try again but move the hive to a different location, a bit more shaded.

These are the components that make a basic hive(click on image it should get bigger) You don't have to buy the supers right away, unless your hive is super active and fill up the larger hive bodies. We have yet to need to wear all the fancy gear to handle the bees.


There is no feeder shown in this set up. This is what we used.

have you ever looked into the Top Bar hives, I think that is the route I am going to go, from the research I have done seems easier to build, easier to keep, etc well if this weather ever lets up any way.

 

[SillyChicken]

@fuzzybutt love
I agree with you. I guess what I was trying to say was that I would hope it would not decend into that.
While have only been on here for a short time I have been raising chickens for many years and agree with you about the threds and forums here. If a specific question comes up I go find that thread.
I see this thread as the proverbial coffee shop/barber shop/ watering hole. If I am not interested in the conversation I skip it. Take goats for instance I could care less about goats. But some folks have and like them. So I skip over it.
Anyway last log I will throw on this fire.

ah you say that now... till I post baby goat picts .... you'll turn to jello fer shur! lol!

 

[Our Roost]

Okay, I too have been suffering from cabin fever and this darned cold and worst snowy winter I can ever remember! Except for in the 1960's perhaps. This spring (if it ever comes), I will be getting some barnevelder hatching eggs both from a private breeder and a hatchery. That is expected in early April. Then in May I expect to get some belgian malines along with some french black copper marans hatching eggs (I spelled marans right this time) for meat and eggs. The malines breed is rare and a really good meat bird to raise because of its lucious taste once desired in Europe as its main tablefare. The dark bronze eggs will nicely add some looks coming from our local egg purchasers . Hows that for chicken jibber jabber! e

 

[SillyChicken]

Okay, I too have been suffering from cabin fever and this darned cold and worst snowy winter I can ever remember! Except for in the 1960's perhaps. This spring (if it ever comes), I will be getting some barnevelder hatching eggs both from a private breeder and a hatchery. That is expected in early April. Then in May I expect to get some belgian malines along with some french black copper marans hatching eggs (I spelled marans right this time) for meat and eggs. The malines breed is rare and a really good meat bird to raise because of its lucious taste once desired in Europe as its main tablefare. The dark bronze eggs will nicely add some looks coming from our local egg purchasers . Hows that for chicken jibber jabber!

well done!


Poor Uggo chicken's feet that were frost bitten. This is the good foot and will lose the 3 toes tips it looks like. He can at least stand on this foot. the other isn't fairing as well. I don't know what I'm going to do. I have thought of culling, but he is such a good roo that I hate to do that unless i have no choice. The other foot, he may lose the whole thing.... IDK poor boy. Right now he's chilling with the garage hens.

 

[aart]

Buy and sell on FB..https://www.facebook.com/groups/Michiganpoultryandeggs/

Quote:
It's not my group...so I don't know. If my friends don't want to see it they can block it.

 

[RaZ]

I don't know squat about keeping bees but after buying honey for my mead I should get educated ASAP and start. I have the room. What do I need to get going? Where do I get it?

Check if there are any beekeeping classes in your area, maybe check with your extension office.
The biggest thing is the initial cost to start. Hive bodies, a bee suit and/or veil and a few tools can set you back a couple of hundred bucks. Then there is the cost of bees. Approximately $100 for 3 pounds with a queen.

Try www.dadant.com for everything you need and a lot that you don't. They have a store in Albion. I do want to try the Napolean outfit that Silly mentioned.

Quote:

I love how something isn't even in your thoughts and then shows up repeatedly.... I had never really heard about mead until a couple weeks back it was mentioned in a book, so I investigated a bit. Since then it has come up three times in different situations, way too weird!

The number 730 came up 3 different times for me today. I thought that was weird.

 

[RaZ]

Whitmore Lake TSC has Leghorn, Black Australorp and silver lace pullets. I'm assuming that by silver lace they meant Wyandottes.

They are still out of pine shavings and not sure when they will get more. Seems to be a statewide shortage of pine shavings.

 

[preciouskitty]

@RaZ
Hmmm. Maybe you should play the lottery...& go get the ticket right at 7:30.....

 

[annagarret]

well done!


Poor Uggo chicken's feet that were frost bitten. This is the good foot and will lose the 3 toes tips it looks like. He can at least stand on this foot. the other isn't fairing as well. I don't know what I'm going to do. I have thought of culling, but he is such a good roo that I hate to do that unless i have no choice. The other foot, he may lose the whole thing.... IDK poor boy. Right now he's chilling with the garage hens.

Awwwww poor baby!

 

[RaZ]

@RaZ
Hmmm. Maybe you should play the lottery...& go get the ticket right at 7:30.....

Funny. It is 7:30 right now