HomesteadHens

A beekeeping, chicken keeping, and homesteading podcast

[homesteadhens]

Episode 60 is live! I didn't have time to get my tortoise episode done so I dug into my folder of bee papers and news articles, and chose a few to share! Learn about the new honeybee vaccine for American Foulbrood, how early learning impacts the accuracy of honeybee waggle dances, how hive position in relation to the sun effects foraging distance; and finally, learn about how bumblebees play! 🐝 I wasn't sure what photos to put up with this post so enjoy the brood frame on slide one, and then have some Chappie cuteness! ❤️ He's so snuggly in his jammies. 🥰 No episodes for the next two weeks while I do some traveling. Then I shall return to regale you with tortoise stories! 🐢 #homesteadhensandhoneypod #honeybeeresearch #beekeepingpodcast #homesteadingpodcast https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp5U5ALOK5l/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

I just discovered the @toothandclawpodcast (I'm always late to these things!) and I am OBSESSED. 😍 This pod covers animal 'attacks' but doesn't sensationalize them like we often see in various media. The hosts clearly love animals of all shapes and sizes, and one of them is a wildlife biologist so there's a focus on education! As someone who loves to learn about critters, I have been bingeing this podcast since I discovered it. Highly recommend you give it a listen, especially if you like true crime but want something animal focused. 🤗 #podcastersofinstagram #toothandclawpodcast #podcastrecommendation #animalpodcast https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvoQqRucaD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

New episode going live at 9am EST!! This week, I continue my farm story series by sharing how my neighbours and I worked together to help trap, neuter, and return our local stray/feral cats. Over the course of this adventure, I made a sweet kitty friend! 🤗 At the beginning of the episode, I share some sad news about my hen, Boo. She passed away last week due to egg peritonitis. We made sure her passing was peaceful. ❤️ The last photo in the roll shows what I removed from her body cavity during her necropsy. There's no organs or viscera on display but it might still be upsetting to some, so please view with caution. Next episode will be about frostbite in chickens! What causes it, how can we prevent it, and how should we treat it? I hope you'll join me again then! ❤️ #homesteadhensandhoneypod #homesteadingpodcast #farmstories #tnr #straycats #kittyfriends #chickenhealth #chickenkeeping (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpVCjr3OLNK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

New episode is live! This week, I give a quick update on how my tiny hen, Boo, is doing. Then I talk about obesity in chickens: what to look for, how to prevent it, and what kind of foods are healthiest for our flocks. Due to all their feathers and fluff, an overweight hen can be hard to spot, so I hope this episode will be helpful! Next week, I'll be sharing another of my farm stories, focusing on cats! A few of my neighbors and I worked together to handle our stray cat population with the help of a local clinic. Learn about TNR, general kitty shenanigans, and how I now have a feral kitty friend of my own. Thanks for listening! 🐣 #homesteadhensandhoneypod #homesteadingpodcast #chickenhealth #chickenkeeping #chickenpodcast https://www.instagram.com/p/CpDRXOcufqE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

New episode today! This is the first in my 'farm stories' series: mini episodes that focus on the animals of my homestead. This week, I tell you all about my little hen, Boo, and her surprising interaction with our rooster, Red. 🐓 Link to my website and podcast in my profile! Next week, I will be talking about obesity in chickens: how to prevent it and how to recognize it. #homesteadhensandhoneypod #homesteadingpodcast #chickenkeeping #chickenpodcast #chickenhealth (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoxlylcuRkH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

Episode 55 of the podcast will be going live today at 9am! Apologies in advance for some odd noises at the beginning: my dogs were banging the mic stand! I think I've fixed the issue moving forward. This episode gives a full coverage of my apiary from Spring 2022 until January 2023. It's a long one so grab a cup of coffee and settle in! ❤️ Next week, I'll be starting a series of mini-episodes called Farm Stories. These will be dotted in-between my longer, more educational episodes, and will focus on critters and random happenings around the homestead. First one will be about my tiny hen, Boo, and her surprising interaction with my rooster! 🐓 #homesteadhensandhoneypod #beekeepingpodcast #homesteadingpodcast #beekeeping #ilovebees🐝 (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/Coe-_8WOyOr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

I'm finally back!! Episode 54 is going live at 9am EST today. ❤️ Listen in for a rundown of my achievements and failures on the homestead last year, and a list of goals I've set for this year. Also, learn about 'chicken math' and how it finally got me. 🐣 Next episode will be all about what happened in my apiary in 2022. Going live next week! 🐝 Thank you for your patience with me while I have been away! I'm hoping to provide lots of new content this year. #homesteadhensandhoneypod #beekeepingpodcast #homesteadingpodcast #newepisode🐝 #chickenmathstrikesagain #chickenpodcast (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoM-GxmO5yY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

Happy holidays from my wee homestead! ❤️ We got through a wicked winter storm with wind chill as low as -35F before Xmas, and the temps have been creeping up slooowly ever since. Cracker is the only chicken that had to come in due to severe frostbite. I'm medicating her for pain and making sure she eats. Nothing to do now but keep her eating and comfortable until the swelling goes down. She hates people so is furious with me but I'm glad I brought her inside. She definitely would have died if I had left her in the coop. No pics of her because she's so stressed out and I'm trying to keep her calm. I have so many updates to share on the podcast but haven't had a minute to myself in so long! I'm hoping to get a few episodes out in the new year. Wishing everyone out there a lovely and relaxing holiday break. I hope you're taking care of yourselves! 🥰 #homesteading #chickenhealth #chickenhospital #winter2022 #beekeeping #snow2022 (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmsB5tzuxx8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

I cannot believe our beekeeping season is almost over. I had to race to wrap the hives on Thursday, and I'm making gallons of heavy (2:1) syrup to feed. Will be making sugar blocks for winter feeding this coming week. This year has just raced by!! 🐝 I've been hermiting HARD. I'm actually in a really good place, mentally and physically, at the moment but have no desire to use social media. A lot has happened this year, including surgery for me, ER vet stays for my beloved pups (all okay now!), whippet surrenders, neighbourhood dog attacking my flock, visiting my bestie in Canada, getting COVID, and what feels like a million other things. I started the year with a cancer scare, and I'm going into winter now with a huge sense of lightness and gratitude. ❤️ I'm ready to snuggle in with the pups and hibernate!! Hoping everyone other there is thriving and living their best lives. 🤗 #homesteading #selfcare #mentalhealthawareness #lifeupdate #beekeeping #neohio (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjgj6KNO6i8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

Dahlia and Petal both went broody recently but only one of the 6 eggs I gave them hatched (I think my rooster is not hitting his mark!). First pic is that bb. Second pic shows the 3 chicks I picked up today from @meyer_hatchery No clue what they are! It will be a pleasant surprise. Petal took them in immediately but I will keep checking on them over the next few hours and days. ❤️🐣❤️ Dahlia is showing the first chick the ropes; leading her to food and water. Her previous chick, who is now HUGE, sticks close to her and is helping with chick duty. They're a very sweet little family! #backyardchickens #chickdays #chickenbehaviour #chickenkeeping https://www.instagram.com/p/ChacxeopkIS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

A few pics of the gardens. ❤️ Bees are doing well, cucumbers have been a success, chickens are happy and fat, but a number of plants seem to be very behind this year. Will likely be my first year in a while without sunflowers but at least I have enjoyed some tomatoes, basil, cucumbers, and a whole lot of mint and vibrant gladiolas. I also am so close to finalizing the professional landscaping of the side garden, which has been dragging on for months and threatening to get way out of control. We've finally come up with a plan that works and gives me room to expand in future without blowing my budget now. Lesson learned: landscaping is WAY more expensive than I assumed! 😱 I might be in denial about summer coming to an end but the bees are planning ahead already; all the colonies have ramped up their propolis production, filling in all the tiny cracks and irregularities in preparation for winter. I just took a second harvest from the top bar hive so they could have more room; this might be my largest colony! I've been more conservative with the others, taking just a frame or two of honey when I can. Fingers crossed we have a strong Fall flow. 🤞 #inthegarden #summer2022 #growfoodnotlawns #beekeeping #ilovebees🐝 #topbarhives #backyardchickens (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChOEnIsukZ9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

4 frames from the top bar came to about 9lbs of honey. 🐝🤗🐝 It's the darkest honey I've ever seen from my hives. Hoping to get more from the Langstroths this week! 🤞 #topbarhives #honeybees #honeyharvest #beekeeping (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgZ8QVSudAG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

Newfoundland was AMAZING. it's like stepping into a fairy world! Unreal views and the people are so warm and welcoming. ❤️ Sadly, I returned with COVID, and then my sweet Chappie was at the emergency vet due to pneumonia so it's been a very stressful homecoming. I'm still coughing a lot but have a bit more energy everyday. My wonderful husbeast has been doing EVERYTHING on the homestead for me while I recover, though I'm taking things over a little at a time. My wee baby chick is now huge! 😱 And I was in the hives this afternoon to see how things were going. My top bar colony is STUFFED with honey so I took 4 frames to give them more space. It wasn't all capped so will need to be eaten right away. I'll strain it this evening and then we will dig in. 🐝 The colony that had a virgin queen when I left is now queen right and she is laying BEAUTIFULLY. I also caught a swarm in a spare nuc! So that was a nice surprise. Fingers crossed my other colonies are also doing well. I had to rush inside due to a storm. 🤞 #homesteading #chickdays #topbarhives #honeyharvest #beesofinstagram #beekeeping #newfoundland #covidsucks (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf99dCDu3-v/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

The other eggs weren't viable so this tiny bb is being raised alone! Dahlia is a phenomenal mum, and Petal is very gentle and happy to leave the little family to it. Two of my Orpingtons went broody and I moved them to the quarantine coop (I won't allow any more chicks around Cracker since I'm convinced she killed the last one), which actually broke them of the broodiness. Can't say I'm disappointed since I'd rather they join the flock now that they're roaming the homestead. Love me my chickens! 🤗❤️🤗 #chickenbehaviour #chickens #backyardchickens #chickenkeeping (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfQBn7SuCjf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

Big day on the homestead!! One of the 4 eggs I gave Dahlia hatched this morning. 🤗 So far just this one baby but I am hoping for at least one more. I gave her 3 English Orpington eggs, and one of Ginger's (barnyard mix). I also let the main flock out to roam! I was able to smoothly introduce the new pullets to them, gave everyone a week to acclimate, and now they're out and about. Still worried about that hawk but I've let a lot of the grass and weeds grow long out back for extra cover. So much news to report but I don't know when I'll next have time to record anything! The podcast is on an unofficial hiatus for a bit until I can eek out some time. I'm off on a vacay at the end of the month (to visit my bestie in Canada!!) so unlikely to have an episode up until mid to late July. Hope all is thriving in your apiaries and on your farms! 🐝🤗 #backyardchickens #chickenkeeping #englishorpington #chickdays #dahlia #homesteadhensandhoneypod #homesteading (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce87AUJu5zY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

Hive inspections today! Pleased to say that the nuc with swarm cells has NOT rebuilt them. 🤗 Queen still laying and they're rapidly expanding! I'll still keep a close eye on them. Pics from colony #2 (VSH nuc). This queen is my favourite. ❤️ Her laying pattern is amazing. Frames are either absolutely FULL of brood or like this one; eggs in the middle surrounded by so much pollen. 😍 I don't think I captured quite how stunning it is. I'm considering taking a frame or two of eggs/brood from this colony and giving it to #3 (my single winter survivor colony) as they're still a little behind (showing improvement, tho!). #ilovebees🐝 #beekeeping #spring2022 #homesteadhensandhoneypod #honeybees #hiveinspection https://www.instagram.com/p/CeMgaHUu_Zw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[homesteadhens]

Picked up 4 nucleus colonies yesterday so my apiary is full once again. 😍 The pink lids house overwintered VSH queens, and the single green lid has an overwintered Saskatraz queen. Each nuc was STUFFED with bees, and the queens are bootalicious!! The Sask nuc had swarm cells with eggs in them but, since the queen is still laying, I'm hoping the move to a full size hive will change their minds about swarming. I'll be watching them especially closely! Seeing such healthy nucs really highlights how weak my single surviving/overwintered colony is. I've been babying them and feeding heavily but, if they don't pick up soon, I am considering requeening. We shall see! The TBH colony continues to expand. They have 10 full frames of brood now, and have had a noticeable increase in drone production. Love! ❤️🐝❤️ I'm a happy beekeeper! #ilovebees🐝 #beesofinstagram #beekeeping #homesteadhensandhoneypod #homesteading #honeybees #saskatrazbees #vshbees (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd87KYTuDwc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=