Our first real snow of the Winter and it happens to be the first one for 2016 as well. I'm gonna guess maybe 3 to 4 inches tops. It was really slick this morning as I mentioned and I saw a number of cars off in the ditch but now the road outside the house is pretty clear.
If that road is clear it's a pretty good bet they all are as I think the one out front is the last road in the state they clear.
This is just a quick post with a few pictures tonight. I have a more serious Sunday Reading post I am working on for tomorrow but I couldn't let our first real snow of the Winter go without a few pictures and a mentioning post.
Now you can see why I insist on putting top entrances on the hives in Winter. All the garden hives, and I am sure the others as well although I didn't go check, have completely covered bottom entrances now. As long as the top is open I know the girls won't suffer from loss of oxygen flow nor should the condensation build up inside.
It also saves me a trip around to all the hives to remove the snow from the entrances. My bet is the covered bottom entrances also helps the bees when it gets extremely cold as now there will be a little less cross flow. The girls should warm and snug in their hives surrounded by the foam insulation to break the wind.
It's getting cold enough to begin freezing the custom designed outside honey bee sugar syrup feeders, otherwise known as a cheap hummingbird feeder :)
I can see the bees have been hitting it on good days as the level is low and there are a couple of bees suspended inside. Guess it's going to be a while before they get back to the feeders now as it's suppose to be pretty cold all week. Next warm break and it will be time to put dry sugar inside any of the light hives.
When we went down to feed I noticed that none of the sheep or chickens had come out of the barn at least since it had stopped snowing. There were no tracks outside at all that I could see even though I left the West pasture gate open for them.
Every one was snugged in the barn and enjoying some dry hay for the night now. Winds are picking up and by tomorrow morning it's suppose to be Carhart weather with temps in the single digits.
I noticed here lately we are getting an almost white egg occasionally now. It's gotta be coming from one of the Red Sex Links as we have never seen an egg so white before. The little Hamburg hen lays an almost white egg but it has some brownish/black speckles in it.
Oh well they are all good on the inside :)
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!!!
I went into the new farm supply store that opened last month for the first time and the prices were 10-15% less than the old one. I feel guilty about giving my money to the walmart of supply stores but the prices and selection blow the old one out of the water.
ReplyDeleteExile1981
Exile - I used to feel bad about that kind of thing until I realized the so called American stores were selling the exact same stuff as the china-marts for 15% more. They claim because the can't make as much but I have known smaller stores to match china-mart prices and still make money they just don't make as much. I refuse to pay more for an ideology that is encouraged by those who won't sacrifice as well.
DeletePretty! It always amazes me when it either rains or snows that people think they can just drive the way they do when the roads are clear.
ReplyDeleteThe white egg is more likely from your little Hamburg. They lay white eggs - no spots or speckles. At least Feathers has always laid white eggs. If you have light colored eggs with speckles they may be from your Rocks or one of the Sex Links (but they tend to be on the brown side since they are usually Rhode Island Red based). Always a fun time trying to figure out who laid what egg!
hobo - Just like I told my son when we were going into town for breakfast. It's the other drivers you got to watch out for in the snow and ice.
DeleteThe guy we got the Hamburg from said she would lay the white with speckled eggs. We been seeing a white with speckles for a while now so I just assumed they were hers. Of course I never seen her actually laying anything so for all I know she may not be laying at all yet.
5" of wet snow yesterday, everything froze last last and tonight -15 with wind chill of -30. I love staying indoors all wrapped up.
ReplyDeleteRob - We got about 3 inches I think then it got cold and all the fluffy white stuff as turned hard and dry with a lot of ice. Got down to 6 over night but it appears to be warming up now for a bit until Tuesday.
DeleteOur cold front is blowing in today. No snow but cold winds ("Low to 31 F, with winds feels like stupid cold..."). Supposedly rain later this week. I am thankful we got the insulated garage door - makes an actual difference in temperature for the quail and the citrus trees.
ReplyDeleteTB - This is our first real cold snap of the season so far. Got down to 6 with a bitter North wind. We weathered it well although I had to resort to just taking the chickens water three times a day as I don't feel comfortable plugging a heated tank inside the barn if I can help it.
DeleteWe are in for very high winds coming down from the Pyrenees tonight. No snow though, and temperatures around 10C, so not too cold yet.
ReplyDeleteAnd oh how envious I am of your bee hives! We are going to try keeping bees again but not this year. But we are going to put out some traps to catch the Asian hornet queens who will be waking up soon in preparation for making the new hornet nests. The hornets killed off our hives a couple of years ago, so at least we shall think we are making some positive contributions towards the local bee population even if the bees do not actually live here yet!
Vera - I have seen a couple of the hornets around here flying but never had one attack a hive yet. I often wonder if putting a mouse trap entrance over the hive entrance would keep the hornets out. It would certainly slow down forage and honey production but I doubt a hornet could get through those little holes.
DeleteOh gosh, being sick is no fun any time of year, but with cold and snow, yuk!
ReplyDeleteMy chickens and goats are all anti-snowites. :) At least you'll have a smaller area in which to hunt for eggs.
Leigh - I saw one chicken go out in the barn lot and she was moving very slowly and I could tell was not happy with the rough frozen ground at all. The rest stayed in the barn all day. The sheep finally ventured out this afternoon into the pasture to eat hay but I gave em another bale inside this evening as well.
DeleteMost of the chickens that I have had seem to hate snow and I saw some fly across the yard one day rather than walk. They typically will walk rather than fly. Now I just take a scoop and make some paths for them.
ReplyDeleteSf - Well I figure the barn should be enough room for em and there is plenty for them to eat that they normally just ignore too. Maybe they will catch some more mice :)
DeleteWe haven't had a snow yet here, but I'm not complaining. Sounds like your bees should fare well.
ReplyDeletePP,
ReplyDeleteI so can understand and feel for your sheep and chickens, they want to stay where it's nice and dry and warm. 4 inches of snow can wait a while before heading out :-)
Setting up your beehives in this manner makes it easier on you and your bee's when it snows.
Fresh eggs, I can already smell them cooking for breakfast :-)
Hugs to you and your sweet wife.
Sandy