Washingtonians

[pettec63]

Bears bust up Ballard Bee Company hives, eat 120 lbs. of honey

Submitted by Michael Harthorne, KOMO Communities Reporter
Thursday, October 11th, 2012, 9:27am

Topics: Urban Wildlife

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Courtesy of Ballard Bee Company
As Winnie the Pooh taught us all, bears love honey. That incontrovertible fact was proved once again Wednesday when a pair of bears busted up two of the Ballard Bee Company’s 36 hives at a farm in the Snoqualmie Valley.
“We had early trick-or-treaters at the farm today,” states a post on the company’s Facebook page. “Sneaky devils.”
Ballard resident Corky Luster, who started the Ballard Bee Company a few years ago, said the bears probably ate $1,200 worth of honey, and that's in addition to the damage they did to the hives themselves.
It's the first run in with bears for the Ballard Bee Company. Luster said it's part of the territory when you're out on a farm; the trick is to be prepared and discourage them as much as possible.
Since Wednesday's bear-related destruction, the Ballard Bee Company has reinforced the wire fence around the hives and added an energizer to shock any would-be honey thieves.
For his part, Luster said he doesn't fault the bears, who have to eat.
"I'd rather have bears around then not," he said. "Just knowing they're out there."
Ballard Bee Company honey can be found at local restaurants, such as Delancey and The Walrus and the Carpenter, as well as online.

Courtesy of Ballard Bee Company

That's sad!!

 

[pettec63]

OMG. I'm SO glad my kids don't have school tomorrow. They are in the worst moods I have seen in a long time. I'm about ready to pull my hair out. Those kids are sleeping in! So is their mom.

My Bear Den was out of control this evening, too. I had to line them all up on a bench and have a discussion about showing respect to their Akela (leader), keeping their hands to themselves, stop running around, keep their hands to themselves, stay with their buddy, oh, and did I mention - keep their hands to themselves? I have never had to do that before.

Why do 8-year-old boys have to pull on each other so much? Honestly, I think this evening was the worst behaved evenings I've ever seen out of my Bears. I even had to pull out the big threat... taking them out of the situation and talking to their parent. I wonder if they were just so hyper because they knew that they had tomorrow off school.

Maybe they didn't get enough "outside " time or something?? When kids get like that it's like they need to spend extra time outside burning off energy, either that or someone spiked their drink with sugar!! Hopefully they will behave better next time. And it wouldn't be a bad idea to speak to the parents!

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

This thread is really cool. Most of the questions I have posted here about Salma's injury and recovery, I also posted in the Diseases/Injuries/Emergencies thread and scarcely got any response over there. Salma may not have made it without the advice I've received here. Thanks, guys!

One of the responses I did get in the other thread suggested I could change the pecking order by "isolating a couple for a while". I asked for details about what that would entail, but have not yet received a response. But I would very much like to see Salma back at the top of the pecking order in our flock if possible. Not only for her own safety while she's recovering, but because she was really sweet to my two Exchequers before she lost her spot. She really eased their transition into the flock and protected them from Gertrude the mean blue mutt and Maggie the big dumb Wyandotte. Now that she's down a rung she's a bit more standoffish towards them and maybe this is just my crazy chicken lady talking, but it kind of breaks my heart. The Exchequers were only two months old when I brought them home and Salma was almost like their mama. Can anyone tell me who I need to isolate and for how long, to make that happen? Or should I just leave it alone?

When we got home at about 8pm, it was all poltergeist. There was a big shape moving from the house across the drive and over the fence. I swung around and shone the truck lights over the field on the other side. I counted 11 bodies and I think there were more.

Made me afraid to go check the chickens since they were about 20 feet at most from the silkie pen. Made DH come out with the gun and cover me. I'm paranoid after the buck came after me last year.

They were to far from the house for my camera to get body pictures. I got this one though. Just click to enlarge it and see those scary eyes watching, watching, watching...

Cool pic!

 

[mikeyb]

Quote:
Of course -- it was a light over dose

I can see your mind wasn't dimmed by the experience

If it had, we could just give him a battery of tests. That would shine light on on the problem.
Brilliant idea! Most illuminating.

Glowing responses by all.

 

[mikeyb]

Quote: MY Dog always listens when I call for him. Then Jake just takes his sweet ol' time responding.

 

[Shyla-C]

Salem bound! Woohoo!!

 

[elizmartin]

I know!! Dang it!!

Sorry to say, not all breeds are year around or winter layers....does anyone have a link to the chicken breed list that may comment in general, how many eggs?????eliz

 

[elizmartin]

This thread is really cool. Most of the questions I have posted here about Salma's injury and recovery, I also posted in the Diseases/Injuries/Emergencies thread and scarcely got any response over there. Salma may not have made it without the advice I've received here. Thanks, guys!

One of the responses I did get in the other thread suggested I could change the pecking order by "isolating a couple for a while". I asked for details about what that would entail, but have not yet received a response. But I would very much like to see Salma back at the top of the pecking order in our flock if possible. Not only for her own safety while she's recovering, but because she was really sweet to my two Exchequers before she lost her spot. She really eased their transition into the flock and protected them from Gertrude the mean blue mutt and Maggie the big dumb Wyandotte. Now that she's down a rung she's a bit more standoffish towards them and maybe this is just my crazy chicken lady talking, but it kind of breaks my heart. The Exchequers were only two months old when I brought them home and Salma was almost like their mama. Can anyone tell me who I need to isolate and for how long, to make that happen? Or should I just leave it alone?


Cool pic!

Not knowing how many and who hangs together and who not.....probably wouldn't hurt separating Selma and the 2 Exchequers and see how they do....no chicken likes to be alone....If you have someone that obviously intimidates or picks on others, then that would be the one(s) to time out somewhere else. Good luck, eliz

 

[Greg Richardson]

You still have time to grab some straw and cover your runs.
That not only gives them something to do when you throw bird seed or other food in it the straw greatly helps them from becoming mud pits.

Also don't forget the day after Thanksgiving is Monroe Farm & Feeds annual sale on food, bedding, etc.
If you can............ save up some $$$ because it will pay off big time.

I was told about it two years ago and both times saved some major $$$$

 

[Greg Richardson]

UE. Whom ever is the troublemaker stick them in a crate for a minimum of three days while your bird adapts to normal life again.
Yes, the one in the crate is going to get ticked off but that is to be expected.

If after letting it out it immediately goes back to harassing place it right back in the crate.

I have had some birds that took three crate times before either it got the message or another bird came to the aid of the one picking on it to stop it and then that bird realized the gig was up.

There is no such time table when it comes to behavior patterns.
Three days is minimum though imo because most birds who pick on others take at least that long.

You might go four or five days right at first to get the message across.

I have found it on average no matter the days in crate it takes two crate periods.