speckled hen I totally agree I would love temps to stay between 50-70, even 40's(and sun) to 60's could be great. To save on the heat bill I set it for 63-65 degrees. That would be shorts weather outdoors BUT , in the house I wear a fleece neck gaiter and ear warmer - if it's yummy from damp weather I even though on a hoodies.
lonnyandrinda both your boys are looking real handsome - are they okay with chickens?
The black one, Izzy, is a 9 1/2 year old female Terrier/Aussie mix, she totally ignores the chickens, always.
Merlin shows interest when they flap and squawk so he is not trusted with them alone. He goes around with me twice a day to check all the pens and we haven't had any problems yet. He stays on his side of the welded wire fence the rest of the time and does not chase them or try to dig under, so I'm hopeful he can be trained. We will be moving him, the chickens, and the beehives down to the new house within the week I hope, and his permanent home is in the electric pasture with the chickens to (hopefully) protect them from the wildlife out here in the country! He's a little lovey boy though, so he will get to spend his days in the yard/by the house and nights in the chicken yard if all goes well. The chickens will all be in either permanent coops or covered tractors.
The electric netting is working pretty well I think, although I don't know that anything has tried to broach it yet- except the cat, who jump up on the top, looked surprised that it folded under his weight, and then look surprised again as it zapped him... he jumped on through to the inside though.
Haven't seen him try it again though? It is charging today so it's off. I was a little surprised at how short it lasted, the website said for up to 5 fences the battery should last 28 days. We only have 3 fences on it and it only lasted 2 weeks. The grass is fairly short still, I'd say 2" most places and up to 4" in spots. I will probably get in the habit of charging it weekly just so I don't forget and let it run out.
Got my newest breed yesterday- Croad Langshans, from Ohio. They are young yet but I think they will be gorgeous!
I did pick up this cute stoneware chicken mug at the consignment store yesterday. IT is small and doesn't hold my usual big cup of coffee but I had to have it! I changed the Keurig setting from 12 oz to 10 oz so now it fits but is just really strong!
Rinda - what do you feed your bees during winter when it's too cold for sugar syrup? I will have to feed my bees through winter, as they do not have enough stores on their own.
Rinda - what do you feed your bees during winter when it's too cold for sugar syrup? I will have to feed my bees through winter, as they do not have enough stores on their own.
We put on bee patties, we've tried several brands and haven't found one to be any better than another. You open the top of the hive, lay the patty on top of the bars, and close the hive back up. And on days when it will be above 40 degrees we will put hot sugar water on the front- but only about 1/4 to 1/2 jar so they can drink it all in a day or two.
We put on bee patties, we've tried several brands and haven't found one to be any better than another. You open the top of the hive, lay the patty on top of the bars, and close the hive back up. And on days when it will be above 40 degrees we will put hot sugar water on the front- but only about 1/4 to 1/2 jar so they can drink it all in a day or two.
Quote: Thank you. I have both the regular patty and the brood builder from Dadant. They have the regular patty now and I'm still feeding sugar syrup. I will give them the brood builder more towards spring. Good to know that I can feed it above 40 degrees. I was worried about chilling my bees. Thanks so much for the help, I'm hoping this year to have my hive make it through winter.
