Okies in the BYC The Original

[poultryand bees]

Quote:
Noooooooo!

Prayers are going your way and please feel free, at any time, to say "April Fools" and come back full time.

 

[Poco Pollo]

Finally got a chance to catch up on today's posts. We did some work outside; what a beautiful day, and then we drove into town to buy a replacement dishwasher. The old one finally gave up the ghost.

The dog found a snake in the basement after dinner. I generally detest snakes, especially after my altercation with a grouchy bull snake last fall, but this one would have been okay to catch and move outside. I'm pretty sure it's a Florida Ring Neck. Anyone know for sure? Conner gave it a good chomp and shake, so it wasn't moving any more when he finally released it. I guess it goes into the compost pile in the morning.

 

[Stimpy]

Quote:
It's a rattlesnake. They're ALL rattlesnakes. That's one of the two rules that I live by.

-Stimp-

 

[poultryand bees]

Quote:
It's a rattlesnake. They're ALL rattlesnakes. That's one of the two rules that I live by.

-Stimp-

 

[Stimpy]

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Sooner,

I have shut down all my breeding pens for now. I don't know when I'll be re-starting them. Is there something that you're looking for?

-Stimp-

 

[poultryand bees]

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Doing fine. Attended a beekeeper meeting tonight and now I am inspired to open my beehives tomorrow - at least long enough to give them some pollen patties so the queen will start laying lots of eggs once we get past this "winter storm advisory". Need lots of bees to make honey.

 

[poultryand bees]

The bees have been flying on nice days (over 45 degrees with the sun shining) since January. They are primarily still in their clusters around the queen to keep her warm, but I suspect the if the queen hasn't already started laying eggs, she will next week. The bees gather the cedar pollen and the elm and pine pollen that has been making us all miserable and store it in their hive until it is needed later for food. With the trees and plants starting to bud and blossom, the bees will be out gathering nectar as well. Their numbers are not built up well yet after the cold weather, but last year when we had much warmer weather throughout February, we were catching swarms in March and April - and those usually occur when the bees outgrow their space for raising brood and/or storing honey.

 

[Stimpy]

We're going to have to sit down and talk about this in more detail. I want to ask how you go about catching a swarm of bees, but that is probably too much typing for this late hour. I'll remember to ask you about it come May 1.

Sleep well,

-Stimp-

 

[poultryand bees]

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Good night - I will look forward to visiting more about bees on May 1.

 

[muesky]

Quote:
Good night - I will look forward to visiting more about bees on May 1.

I'm with you Stimp, learning about bee keeping sounds really interesting. Are you going to give a presentation at POOPS Maribeth? Hope so because the more I think about it the more interested I am about beekeeping.

Well it has been a long day. Got to see some wonderful things today and will be posting pictures soon. Have a good night.