Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Beekeeping start
This weekend the beekeeping apprentices to start our training- I am excited! It is just to cover intro stuff (gear), and we are doing a dissection of a hive that died over the winter. What an incredible learning experience! It is still undecided if our property has been chosen to be a 'hive host' this season. I'll post a follow up after the weekend!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Chicken Sounds
One of the things I enjoy the most is lounging outside with the girls while they free range. They are so funny to watch. I love the sounds they make when they are content and foraging (a soft clucking sound). One of the funnier sounds, is when I am in the house (especially the side the is close to the back yard), I can hear the trumpeting of a girl who just laid an egg. This is when they are at their loudest, they announce to the world that they laid an egg (who wouldn't be excited about that?!). It's a very distinctive noise. I'll try to capture it on video to share with everyone!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Buzz and Beds
Exciting week this week. I got official word that I have a beekeeping apprenticeship starting in the Spring! Yahoo! I'm excited that I get supervised for my foray into my beekeeping. More details on that as they occur. For now, I'm studying up to refresh myself, as well as getting my bee toolbox together for site visits (hive tool, frame lifter, bee brush, smoker & fuel, antihistamine tabs/topicals, epi-pen, etc). I'm not sure how many hives I'll be assigned to check on, I will be meeting with the owner of the company this week.
This weekend we built our raised garden beds. Next weekend we will be getting and mixing up a large batch of the substrate. We are using the "Square Foot Gardening" Method, so will be using "Mel's special mix" (a mix of compost, vermiculite, and peat). The weekend of the 17th is the Tilth's Spring plant sale, where we will be purchasing our plants. We didn't want to start with seeds for our first foray into gardening - started plants seems more assured.
This weekend we built our raised garden beds. Next weekend we will be getting and mixing up a large batch of the substrate. We are using the "Square Foot Gardening" Method, so will be using "Mel's special mix" (a mix of compost, vermiculite, and peat). The weekend of the 17th is the Tilth's Spring plant sale, where we will be purchasing our plants. We didn't want to start with seeds for our first foray into gardening - started plants seems more assured.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Vacations
With the weather getting warm, we are making plans for 3 trips this summer.
The one I am most excited about, is in August when we are renting a house (on 4 acres) in the San Juan Islands. The San Juans are an island group accessible via ferry, almost in Canada. There is an Orca Pod (the J pod) who reside there. The islands are very quiet and undeveloped. The house we are renting is reasonably priced, 10 minutes from town (access to grocery stores, shopping, restaurants) and has a Jacuzzi. And we can bring the dogs.
The soonest trip, is in April when we visit the Northern part of the Olympic Peninsula. It happens to be during their wine & cheese festival (yum!). The trip was a "groupon" type deal, includes 2 nights, and 2 activities (kayaking, biking, etc).
The trip mid-summer is to La Push, which is on the central part of the Olympic Peninsula, right on the Pacific Ocean. We got a cabin right on the beach! La Push also happens to be mentioned in the "Twilight" series, and is very close to Forks (the main setting of the books). The biggest attraction to this location is the ocean, and of course Olympic National Park.
For the 2 trips to the Olympic Peninsula, we are unable to bring the dogs. Which means hiring a pet sitter for them, for the cats, and for the chickens. I get a little panicky thinking about leaving everyone. What if something happens? Most pet sitters won't know how to dispatch a chicken if needed. Oi. Thankfully, I farm sat for a friend in the co-op a few months back, so she owes me a few days of pet sitting, that will cover one of the trips. I have to keep telling myself "they are just chickens", which a chicken mentor told me when I first started. Really, they will be fine.
The one I am most excited about, is in August when we are renting a house (on 4 acres) in the San Juan Islands. The San Juans are an island group accessible via ferry, almost in Canada. There is an Orca Pod (the J pod) who reside there. The islands are very quiet and undeveloped. The house we are renting is reasonably priced, 10 minutes from town (access to grocery stores, shopping, restaurants) and has a Jacuzzi. And we can bring the dogs.
The soonest trip, is in April when we visit the Northern part of the Olympic Peninsula. It happens to be during their wine & cheese festival (yum!). The trip was a "groupon" type deal, includes 2 nights, and 2 activities (kayaking, biking, etc).
The trip mid-summer is to La Push, which is on the central part of the Olympic Peninsula, right on the Pacific Ocean. We got a cabin right on the beach! La Push also happens to be mentioned in the "Twilight" series, and is very close to Forks (the main setting of the books). The biggest attraction to this location is the ocean, and of course Olympic National Park.
For the 2 trips to the Olympic Peninsula, we are unable to bring the dogs. Which means hiring a pet sitter for them, for the cats, and for the chickens. I get a little panicky thinking about leaving everyone. What if something happens? Most pet sitters won't know how to dispatch a chicken if needed. Oi. Thankfully, I farm sat for a friend in the co-op a few months back, so she owes me a few days of pet sitting, that will cover one of the trips. I have to keep telling myself "they are just chickens", which a chicken mentor told me when I first started. Really, they will be fine.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Egg Rainbow & Integration
The girls are in full production, we are getting plenty of eggs! Since adding the 2 new girls to the flock, we've been getting 4 or 5 eggs a day. One day last week, we got 6! The color range is beautiful, ranging from dark brown (Star's), cream (Wyandotte), light brown (RIR's), and green (Easter Egger's).
The Easter Egger (who my husband has named Chicken Little) has been getting along better, the pecking is much much less, and she doesn't get picked on nearly as much anymore. It still bothers us when it does happen, because she is such a sweet little girl, but it is much less (and I guess at a 'normal' level).
The 2 new girls haven't quite gotten used to roosting on the perches in the coop at night. I don't know if the other girls block their way, or what. But each night, after they've roosted for the night, I have to go out, pick those 2 up off the floor, and put them on the perch in proper roosting position. I was hoping that night after night of doing this, they'd get the idea and get up there on their own, but so far it hasn't happened.
The Easter Egger (who my husband has named Chicken Little) has been getting along better, the pecking is much much less, and she doesn't get picked on nearly as much anymore. It still bothers us when it does happen, because she is such a sweet little girl, but it is much less (and I guess at a 'normal' level).
The 2 new girls haven't quite gotten used to roosting on the perches in the coop at night. I don't know if the other girls block their way, or what. But each night, after they've roosted for the night, I have to go out, pick those 2 up off the floor, and put them on the perch in proper roosting position. I was hoping that night after night of doing this, they'd get the idea and get up there on their own, but so far it hasn't happened.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Recommended Reading & Integration Update
Recommended Reading
About 2 years ago was when we decided we wanted chickens. We lived in Suburbia at the time and couldn't have them. It was then we decided to move so we could live they way we wanted to. I started my chicken education by reading MANY MANY books. I wanted to be full prepared. By far, the best book that I cannot recommend enough, is Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens (3rd edition).
I started by borrowing and reading all the books my local library had, and eventually found Storey's to be the best. When it came time to purchase, it is the one book I purchased. I refer to it all the time for guidance. Recently, I refer to it almost daily. While introducing the new girls, I read up on that section. When I got the new girls, I re-read the section on wing clipping before doing it. Today, I found two random eggs in the yard and re-read the section about candling and float testing (to see if they are too old to eat). When my girls started laying, I referred to the size chart as I was curious if my eggs were Large, X-Large (by weight).
If you are thinking of getting chickens, or haven't had them in a long time, it is a recommended read. It is available on Amazon for $12. I've also read the Storey's Guide to goats, and some of their other titles.
Integration Update
Each day, the little Easter Egger seems to be more and more a part of the flock. Her first few days she underwent some pretty intense pecking from the Rhode Island Reds. Yesterday and today they free ranged all day together unsupervised, and the pecking has greatly diminished in intensity and frequency. Sometimes they tolerate her very close to them while foraging, as a part of their flock, with no pecking. Other times, they'll give her a quick peck, or start towards her, and she'll run off. The Silver Laced Wyandotte will try to protect her as best as she can. The Silver Laced Wyandotte is fully part of the flock, and puts the other girls under her in the pecking order, so they don't ever attempt to bully her.
Last night, after everyone had roosted, I took the 2 new girls from their dog crate(serving as a temporary coop) and put them on the perch's w/the other girls in the main coop. I plan on doing this for the next night or two. I'm curious to see where the new girls will go to roost on their own.
About 2 years ago was when we decided we wanted chickens. We lived in Suburbia at the time and couldn't have them. It was then we decided to move so we could live they way we wanted to. I started my chicken education by reading MANY MANY books. I wanted to be full prepared. By far, the best book that I cannot recommend enough, is Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens (3rd edition).
If you are thinking of getting chickens, or haven't had them in a long time, it is a recommended read. It is available on Amazon for $12. I've also read the Storey's Guide to goats, and some of their other titles.
Integration Update
Each day, the little Easter Egger seems to be more and more a part of the flock. Her first few days she underwent some pretty intense pecking from the Rhode Island Reds. Yesterday and today they free ranged all day together unsupervised, and the pecking has greatly diminished in intensity and frequency. Sometimes they tolerate her very close to them while foraging, as a part of their flock, with no pecking. Other times, they'll give her a quick peck, or start towards her, and she'll run off. The Silver Laced Wyandotte will try to protect her as best as she can. The Silver Laced Wyandotte is fully part of the flock, and puts the other girls under her in the pecking order, so they don't ever attempt to bully her.
Last night, after everyone had roosted, I took the 2 new girls from their dog crate(serving as a temporary coop) and put them on the perch's w/the other girls in the main coop. I plan on doing this for the next night or two. I'm curious to see where the new girls will go to roost on their own.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
2 new girls
Yesterday I picked up the 2 new girls; a Silver Laced Wyandotte (pictured at right) and an Easter Egger (pictures, left). Very sweet, and beautiful girls. The Wyandotte is now my prettiest girl.
Introductions didn't go as well as I'd hope. I set up a dog crate in the yard for the new girls, so they could all see each other w/o the ability to hurt each other. Eventually, I let them all free range together. The Wyandotte bosses all my girls around, and has no issues because she asserts herself well. The Easter Egger is much smaller, and the 1st day was picked on a lot by the Rhode Island. It was to the point that I had to break it up, and put them back in their crate. Because of this, I decided to keep the new girls in the dog crate for the night - so had to insulate it, make it rain proof, and give them a nest box (old cat crate).
Today they foraged one group at a time in the yard, then together (under supervision). There were a few minor spats, and the Easter Egger started standing up to the other girls.The spats they had today weren't nearly as intense as yesterdays. I feel like I'll continue this arrangement for the next few days, then eventually put the new girls in the coop w/the others at night. My biggest concern now is if the Easter Egger is in a confined space with the others (i.e. the coop or enclosed run), she'll have a harder time getting away from the others when they start pecking her.
In other news, I applied for a beekeeping apprenticeship for 2012, and feel pretty confident I'll get it.
Today they foraged one group at a time in the yard, then together (under supervision). There were a few minor spats, and the Easter Egger started standing up to the other girls.The spats they had today weren't nearly as intense as yesterdays. I feel like I'll continue this arrangement for the next few days, then eventually put the new girls in the coop w/the others at night. My biggest concern now is if the Easter Egger is in a confined space with the others (i.e. the coop or enclosed run), she'll have a harder time getting away from the others when they start pecking her.
In other news, I applied for a beekeeping apprenticeship for 2012, and feel pretty confident I'll get it.
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