Stella's Social Club

[Hangtown Farms]

Here's what I am dealing with. My property is circled in pink. In the 1800's it was a huge ranch owning most of the land in the area. In the 1960's it was subdivided into 177 5-10 acre ranchos zoned AG and a 1.5 square mile parcel for the gated subdivision zoned RES.

My property has been zoned AG since Nevada County began zoning, sometime after 1851 and all that you can see on the map, was part of it. So all 1,567 people who bought homes in the subdivision knew that agricultural ranch properties were just across the main road. Now they want to say I can't have animals?????? The house with the guy screaming at us is the length of one and a half football fields from my chickens.

Click on the map to see it bigger.

do the same people swear at the Highschool kids because the school bell goes off 5 days a week?
over 3 acres anyways they can't say much. especially being ag.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'm sorry you are going through this Mary.

Will a little new cuteness help?

Just born this evening:

Cuties!

Thank you all for your kind thoughts.

Kelly, I have been considering getting bees this year, but using a Top Bar hive, have you seen any in action? We seem to have plenty of bees up here still - due to the heavy rocky soil and cedar swamps there is very little agriculture, and low density housing, so very little chemical spraying. Still, I would like to try a hive and the Top Bars look a little less intensive.

It is so strange when folks move to rural locations for the character, then try to change it to city living. My 3 neighbors across the road and next to me have, between them, about 15 acres that they mow down to where it looks like a billiard table. They must think I am pretty hillbilly with my dense woods, and small field by the road that I only mow every other year to keep the scrub down - it is a haven for wildflowers.

I'm not all that familiar with top bar hives. I know you get more honey out of a Langsroth hive.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Kelly what are the costs involved with raising bees and how much work?
once we get the orchard and garden going we may want to try it

 

[The Sheriff]

do the same people swear at the Highschool kids because the school bell goes off 5 days a week?
over 3 acres anyways they can't say much. especially being ag.

Actually I have never heard a school bell. To be honest, and I hope I am not putting a curse on us by saying this, but the high school is the best neighbor we have ever had! I think because it is a private Christian school they don't put up with a lot of stuff. We hardly ever hear a peep from them. Occasionally kids will wander down to look at the emus and I warn them to stay back or risk getting pecked over the fence. That is about it.

 

[Happy Chooks]

We went on a 20 mile hike yesterday with scouts. For those of you that know the area, we hiked from Auburn to Roseville. We're all a bit sore this morning.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Kelly what are the costs involved with raising bees and how much work?
once we get the orchard and garden going we may want to try it

We spent about $350 on equipment, but some of it was unnecessary. Don't buy the gloves, they are useless - you can't feel anything through them. (and you certainly don't want to drop a frame full of bees) I use the plastic dish gloves you get at the store. It was $80 for 10,000 bees (3 lbs of bees and a queen) - I bought them from a beekeeper in Meadow Vista, this year, and I'm much happier with the bees than the ones I had last year. I have yet to be stung by these bees. (I was stung once with my last set, but it was my fault)

The first year, you have to keep up with sugar syrup for them, they need a lot more food to draw comb. It's an extra chore in the morning and night that I just incorporated into my chicken chores. I find it's best to pull the feeder overnight, otherwise, the ants get in it. I've been feeding them on days it's over 45 degrees, and they have a bee patty in the hive.

You do a hive inspection every once in a while to be sure the queen is laying. I did quite a bit when they were first installed, but over this winter, I've only inspected inside the hive once. (don't want to do it when it's too cold) But I do go up and see that they are flying and everything looks okay from the outside. Then you have mite treatment late August.

Initially, it seemed like a bit of work, but now it's not as much. Until honey harvest. That I hear takes a bit of work, and cleaning of the equipment. Hopefully I find out this year. They are bringing in a lot of pollen right now.

When you get ready to do it, feel free to PM me.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

We went on a 20 mile hike yesterday with scouts. For those of you that know the area, we hiked from Auburn to Roseville. We're all a bit sore this morning.

my son is in cub scouts

 

[Hangtown Farms]

We spent about $350 on equipment, but some of it was unnecessary. Don't buy the gloves, they are useless - you can't feel anything through them. (and you certainly don't want to drop a frame full of bees) I use the plastic dish gloves you get at the store. It was $80 for 10,000 bees (3 lbs of bees and a queen) - I bought them from a beekeeper in Meadow Vista, this year, and I'm much happier with the bees than the ones I had last year. I have yet to be stung by these bees. (I was stung once with my last set, but it was my fault)

The first year, you have to keep up with sugar syrup for them, they need a lot more food to draw comb. It's an extra chore in the morning and night that I just incorporated into my chicken chores. I find it's best to pull the feeder overnight, otherwise, the ants get in it. I've been feeding them on days it's over 45 degrees, and they have a bee patty in the hive.

You do a hive inspection every once in a while to be sure the queen is laying. I did quite a bit when they were first installed, but over this winter, I've only inspected inside the hive once. (don't want to do it when it's too cold) But I do go up and see that they are flying and everything looks okay from the outside. Then you have mite treatment late August.

Initially, it seemed like a bit of work, but now it's not as much. Until honey harvest. That I hear takes a bit of work, and cleaning of the equipment. Hopefully I find out this year. They are bringing in a lot of pollen right now.

When you get ready to do it, feel free to PM me.

nice thanks

 

[Happy Chooks]

my son is in cub scouts

Both of mine did Cub Scouts. My youngest just bridged to Boy Scouts, so now they are both in the same place!

My youngest (11) did not go on the hike though. Just DH, me and my oldest (14).

 

[speckledhen]

Today's Chickie Chorus Line! The darker blue at the front is out of my avatar, Rex, and my splash Rock hen, Gloria Jean. The black and the very light blue are from Alice and Neela, my blue Rocks and the Dellie looking baby is from my Del x pullet, Raven, with my recently rehomed Del x cockerel, Gabriel. I think I may have a blue barred pullet in the front, considering how quickly that one got a tail and wings. These hatched out Feb. 28. Most are probably not staying, though. Not in the plans.