Okies in the BYC The Original

[al6517]

When you say Take over an area what size of an area are we talking about ??. What should I look for as far as behavior to help in spotting these Africanized bees ??.

AL

 

[mefordz]

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count toes, i think the houdans have 5 if i remember right.

 

[poultryand bees]

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Just looked at the two in the "Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds" and read that the Houdan started as a cross between a Polish and a Crevecoeur. Both have small V-shaped combs, but it the Polish tend to have more feathers in their top hat and some breeds of Polish also have beards and muffs. Polish have a "Phylis-Diller" look with their wild feathers on their heads. I am sure there are other differences (I think the Houdan has 5 toes)

 

[donnie]

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donnie - do you separate the eggs in the incubator some way so that you know which chicks go to the correct variety of hatched eggshell?
I just set all the eggs that have been laid in the past few days, under a hen that is determined to go broody. I have been pulling the eggs from beneath her this past week and she just moves to another nestbox where there are a couple of eggs. Since I put Wazine in the water on Thursday, all the eggs for the next few weeks will be fed back to the dog and the chickens anyway, so I decided to let her try and hatch some of them. Since there are EE roosters and NN roosters - and a wide variety of hens in the chicken yard - it will be interesting to see what we get. I bet any resulting hens will lay eggs, regardless of their heritage.

marybeth , actually if they are pures and i plan to keep them i just write on the shell as to what they are and let them hatch together , but if i have enough eggs to fill one incubator of a particular breed i just write it on a post it , and if they are mixes or chicks i dont plan to keep they go in a seperate incubator ... and then when time to go to the brooders i will leg band the ones im keeping with bread ties

 

[poultryand bees]

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Bees forage within a 2 mile area and it is reasonable to think that the queen's maiden breeding flight occurs within a mile or two of her originating hive.

European bees might be agravated by a 2-stroke motor and fly at you if you are on the lawnmower making the noise. A few might sting you. Africanized bees will cover you with bees if they are annoyed by your lawnmower. Seek cover if bees are trying to cover your body.

European bees might follow you a few hundred feet before losing interest in the chase - Africanized bees will follow you 1/2 mile before losing interest.

Africanized bees are so incredibly agressive, there isn't much doubt about their heritage if they swarm at you and just keep coming. European and native bees are just not as agressive - even when you are invading their hive without smoking them first. European bees don't try and cover you with bees.

Be cautious approaching a group of bees that are homed within a small area. If the comb is being built from the bottom up instead of from the top down, be especially careful. Be aware that soapy water will kill bees when sprayed on them.

 

[Sooner]

I want bee's but it will be alittl while before I can pull that off~

How is everyone tonight?? I'm sure most of you are gone now, watching the game.

Donnie good to see you back, starting to wonder about you.

 

[donnie]

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thanks carah , just been working alot of crazy hours at work

 

[poultryand bees]

"The Game" is on and I am using the laptop in the same room as the TV, where hubby is watching "The Game."

I think that while "The Game" is on, I will do something useful - like placing my order with EggCartons.com so I can take advantage of free shipping

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

Robin the Houdans are a little hardyer than the polish. They do have the extra toe and all have beards and ear muffs. They are good layers and are a nice breed to have. I really like the polish,especially the WC Black but they don't do well if their crest get wet so letting them outside is really not good. They lay fairly well but not record breakers. Thier beautiful crest hang down over their eyes making them have poor eyesite seem skittish. The houdans crest stands up better so they can see and aren't as flighty.

 

[donnie]

guys for those who just want some bantams to run around , ideal has their bantam special st. run for 0.99 for 25 chicks and up https://secuservices.com/ideal/newideal/selectproduct.aspx?qty=1&ID=BSPS&Product=1481 , if my new card gets here quick i plan to order some with hope to get a bunch of cochins and silkies so i will have some more broodies for this spring