Michigan

[Water Pixie]

Quote:

 

[lighthawk]

Quote:

Agreed. I would much rather have 18 inches of snow over 1/4 inch of freezing rain. Nonetheless I filled all the gas cans and topped off the truck this morning. Just in case I need the generator. Spent $110.00 just on gasoline. sigh

 

[newchickky]

speaking of generators. What kind do you use? Is it a whole house generator. We have been needed to get one, but keep putting it off. Any recommendations.

The shopping trip went well! The meltdown happened at the end of check out. I thought it was pretty funny that the store was all out of milk. People are really bracing for the worse.

 

[Jared77]

Ready for the snow. I don't mind it at all. 2 inches or 222 inches Im good. Snow's never bothered me. I only start get concerned when they talk about ice storms. Ive responded in enough of those already. But then I like the 4 seasons we have. Id love a longer growing season but then again I hope to get my greenhouse this summer so that will take care of that.

As far as bees go I've been looking into it myself and they are on the list thought its a 2012 project. Done a ton of research on them and I keep coming back to top bar hives http://www.biobees.com/index.php There is less honey production but its also a lot less work. I'm not out for gallons of honey either and don't really want/need all the equipment laying around. So my intial investment is lower, but we'll still get a respectable return. I want a simple set up that works well and will keep the bees happy. Ive got enough chores/hobbies as it is. Goal is to get a couple of these built and stocked and hopefully get some sustainable hives going rather than requeening every season. That's the ultimate goal. There isn't as much info on top bar hives because not as many folks keep them, but from what Ive read though it should work out great for us.

We had good luck attracting them with Morning Glory. Its VERY aggressive and I swear you can watch it grow. My wife's a big fan of it because of all the color it has and the variety of colors it comes in. It was CONSTANTLY covered in buds and flowers from Mothers Day till frost. No joke. Super easy to keep and looked beautiful. We always had bees all over it. That and clover till the rabbits chewed all the blossoms off it.

Thanks for the info on 4H. My daughter will be 3 in Feb so I knew I had some time but wasn't sure when the Clover bud program started. When my wife did 4H she had to be 9 to ride but that was all she did. Though that may have been a fairgrounds rule, not sure. To her all the other animals took time away from her and her horse. I have a stong suspicion my daughters going to be the same way.

 

[lighthawk]

Mine is a Briggs and Stratton. 5550 watt. I believe peak startup is 8000 watts. It is enough to run my whole house if I pop the breaker on my electric water heater and refrain from using the electric dryer. I may be able to run the water heater but I don't. I have power run to my shed (about 60 feet from the house) and set up the generator so I can plug it in out there. Don't have to listen to it running next to the house and I can keep it out of the weather. This model is an extended run model that has a 7 gallon tank and will provide power for about 13 hours on a tankfull. I bought it about two years ago and I believe prices on these have actually gone down since then. I paid $750.00. Fortunately I haven't had to use it but about twice a year I start it and let it run a while to make sure it's ready to go if needed.
When I finally got everything wired and set to go it was like lifting a huge weight off my shoulders. Good luck, stay warm.

 

[SillyChicken]

Such good info on bees! Thanks! I've also been reading the bee thread on BYC. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=310974 if you're interested!

I also had a person on another forum say to contact the state cause they will provide everything, but will be out on occassion to study them.... I'm not sure #1 that I want anyone on my property, esp if I'm gone. #2, I'm sure it won't be that healthy for the bees to be overly disturbed either. So I'm going to xnay that idea aye!

I guess if I'm going to the trouble of getting bees, I want some honey out of it as well! There's alot of beneficial stuff in it, plus wax.. for me the polination will be a added perk!

I got the book you recommended Jared (for my nook $4.99!) So I have some reading material when we get snowmageddon (TM)!

Got gas for my generator lastnight! Not sure what mine is, except that I can pretty much run everything on it. Some day I'd like to get one that just starts on it's own... I have 2 huge diesel generators here at work I manage... they're as big as a semi trailer! I don't expect we'll lose power though. I will just be hugely disappointed

if we don't get ... snowmageddon!!

My poor DH's second flight got cancelled today so he was stuck down in TN.... he has to spend the rest of the trip driving 8 hours to get there now. Luckily for him, he's below the storm, so he's got sunny skys for driving.

Bee Safe!

 

[IndyBlu]

Hi chickflick, Yes we are going to the chickenstock this year. Thank you and hope to see you there.
Jim

 

[Olive Hill]

Well, it's 7:21 p.m. and that blizzard that was first supposed to arrive at noon and then at 5:00 has yet to peek its pretty little head out around here. It's windy, but not a flake of snow to be seen. I did herd the turkeys inside, just in case.

 

[newchickky]

The blizzard finally arrived in Detroit metro area.

 

[RIRJen]

Ok, snow is ok...but lack of power is not! I've got another 34 eggs in the incubator, and that takes power!

My chickies are getting big! 20 of them leave this weekend! Keeping 5 pullets and two cockrels for myself out of this hatch. Of course Sheldon is one of the cockrels we're keeping...he deserves a place here