Ribh's D'Coopage

[drstratton]

We got Asian Hornets here a couple of years ago. We went from 5 hives to 1 in a year.
The good news is apparently the bees, or some of them at least, have learned how to combat the hornets and the hives are surviving.

That's awesome to hear! It will not be good if we lose our honey bee's.

 

[BY Bob]

I love maples but they don't do well in our climate. We tried. We had 1/2 a dozen miniatures in the bush house where they were surviving quite well but we lost them when we planted them out. So many things have a shortish lifespan too. I had a Yesterday, today & forever which needs replacing & a night jasmine. The scent was wonderful! I am determined to try for a lilac if I can find a spot it might just survive...I love scented plants!

I just planted lavender this year. I have high hopes for it.

 

[Shadrach]

When we bought our property the first thing we did was put in our well & we planted treelines all the way around the area where our house would be! That was back in 1991! We needed a wind break & we wanted to provide food and shelter for birds and other small animals! It has also made our yard more private! Our property was sand and sagebrush, we have planted over 300 trees & shrubs!
This is our largest treeline it is 5 rows deep, 1 row of shrubs, 2 rows of deciduous & 2 rows of evergreens! It slows down the wind & definitely keeps our place cooler! Beyond the tree's it is still sand and sagebrush!
View attachment 2357288

How deep did you have to dig the well?

 

[Shadrach]

Grey, but still reasonably warm. Some of Tribe 2 scratching around in the veg garden.

 

[drstratton]

How deep did you have to dig the well?

We hit water @ 50', but took it on down to 80'! We live just a couple of miles from the Columbia river, so the water table is not to far down!

 

[drstratton]

Grey, but still reasonably warm. Some of Tribe 2 scratching around in the veg garden.
View attachment 2357442

Absolutely beautiful! I love tree's and your flock makes this scene perfect!

 

[Grammy60]

Good morning everyone

 

[BY Bob]

We got Asian Hornets here a couple of years ago. We went from 5 hives to 1 in a year.
The good news is apparently the bees, or some of them at least, have learned how to combat the hornets and the hives are surviving.

Supposedly they "dance" the Hornets to death. At least that's what I've heard.

 

[featherhead007]

We hit water @ 50', but took it on down to 80'! We live just a couple of miles from the Columbia river, so the water table is not to far down!

And the salmon are not too far away!!!

 

[Ribh]

When they shall say, “There is peace and quiet”, then suddenly destruction shall arise upon them...
I am starting to think there is no such thing as a settled flock.
Just as I think everything is pottering along nicely something happens & my insides plummet like a hooked fish & my mind immediately starts calculating when's the earliest I can get to a vet.

Suyin has not been right for a long time ~ more than a year. The vet says otherwise but I'm pretty sure the vet is wrong in this case. It's just neither of us knows exactly what's wrong.
She is super light. Her keelbone feels like a knife. She's a great forager but hardly touches the commercial feed. She's always @ the water station. She's mean & ornery but she's my hen & I do the best I can by her. So when she suddenly keeled over & flapped wildly on the ground, unable to regain her balance I freaked out. She finally scrambled to her feet & it was as if the tumble had never happened. She looked & acted fine but fine she is not. There is some funny neck twisting & she is losing her balance still.

I had her in the carrier inside last night but this morning she is in the little pen, feisty as ever. She is a fighter, this one. Another hen would've been dead ages ago but not Suyin. She just doesn't give in.

So she's not a young hen. She's over 2 so although my frantic reading suggested even an immunised older bird can get Mereks if their immune system is low I really don't think it is that. I suspect some sort of infection that is affecting her middle ear but there's nothing I can do until I can get her to the vet & that's a week away ~ by which time she's likely to be fine again.

She's getting extra nutrients in her water, extra protein in her feed & will stay isolated to prevent her being trampled by my big busty ladies. She doesn't appear to be in pain. Her head & tail are up. Her eyes are bright & alert so I am hopeful.