Daydream fund challenge part 4

Ted_Head

Everyone seems busy. It's rained none stop today & the front garden is a bog - poor kale lying on it's side & things not growing. I put a sprinkle of blood & bone meal on but it's just been washed off probably.
It went really cold tonight so lit the stove which has the added bonus of burning all the paperwork that needs burning. Even the cat is not venturing far.  Got two eggs today so maybe they will all come on the lay soon - not before time. 1/2 light sort of day which makes you want to sleep ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

RAS

Know what you mean, although got dragged out to do a task with a mate between showers. And then it started chucking down.

We're combining various hives at the moment to make sure they each have enough strength to get through winter. Seems to be working and they all fly well as soon as it's above 12 degrees and stops raining. Very kittle stores though, so they'll need feeding well this autumn.

Ted_Head

Will you make honey RAS?
Funny blight weather - just non stop rain. It seemed really cool this morning - like Autumn but just shut  the hens up and it's gone all balmy & thundery feel to it. 

There's a fisheries protection vessel up the Loch been there a couple of days - all lit up - wonder what it's up to.
Bought a new coal hod today - my, they are rubbish - as thin as tin foil. The other one is about two years old and has almost rotted through on the base - whinge, moan, mutter..........tight wad, mutterings..............

RAS

It was like that here but the rain stopped by 11am. The projected late afternoon and evening sunshine did not appear; grey and hot. We're due a scorcher today.

We'll get a little honey if the drones in that hive don't eat it down. Then feed all 4 with sugar syrup for the winter. Feeding only one is disasterous as the others rob, along with the wasps.

Davesnave

Now, about that cockerel.....

The girls are just over 8 weeks old now.  

RAS

Dave, I came here to ask about them and...
Really glad you've just got a big girl. 

You mentioned you might be hatching more breeds, is that on hold until next year now?

Are you managing to reduce your nursery stock? 

We're down to 4 hives now and all new queens, which isn't good for honey production this year but bodes well for next year.

Davesnave

I am really glad too! I don't like 'resolving' unwanted cockerels that are almost full grown, but we may well get some, as it's Rhodies next, hatching on Wednesday, and they aren't auto-sexing. Looks like another 5 viable out of 7. They will be all for this year.

Our nursery stock is reducing, one way or another. The appalling compost is killing some and customers are still buying, though not as strongly as in June. Spider mite is also problematic and my 18 year old remedy is beginning to fail. Altogether I'm happy to be giving up. Spotted a local place is selling Melcourt compost, which I know should be good....but the price!!

Had an old friend who's never seen the place look around last week and she could see why we need to reduce our work load now. At this time of year it's almost impossible to make any headway with projects due to maintaining the results of old ones. Yesterday I spent the whole day in the front garden, just clearing and replanting to keep interest going. Today we're out at the back. I'd love to get on with the new herb garden, but it's been static for 2 months....

Sorry, don't know about bees. Did them as a kid at school, but one went up my short trouser leg and did something I didn't forget in a hurry. Kinda put me off!

RAS

So you have a visceral understanding of one of the basic facts about bees; they climb upwards?

It really handy when you want to box a swarm, just bang the branch to drop them in and turn it over gently but quickly and they climb into the top corner. Or cover them with a box and they'll usually oblige.

Not so good when you've pulled a bee jacket right down and there's a gap at your crotch between your trousers and the hem.  

One of my bee mates seems to make a habit of getting bees inside her hood. As long as it's removed carefully, and inverted, the offender will climb upwards and fly away safely.

I don't let people in short trousers, skirts or sandals help out, though.

Davesnave

OK.... we have 3 healthy Rhode Island Reds and one weakling who will need assessment come lunchtime. It's making progress and a lot of noise, but that doesn't mean it will make it. Pics to follow.

Ted_Head

Hi Dave - sounds ominous. Is it a new hatch? I found that ones that take an age to get out of the shell were not up to the mark and usually struggled. Hope that it's resolved one way or t'other. Clinging on for a few days is often depressing and delays the inevitable.

Yesterday was all low cloud and murk today was hot as hell  - and a day for chips:

This evening it's so midgied you turn black on exposed flesh - they are swarming. I had to go up the hill to check the water as we just seem to have a trickle. I came down it pretty sharpish.`The pipe was fine.  The driver from the quarry hadn't been down here for a while and said he didn't remember there being any trees - there wasn't any down the track. Quite shocking how they've grown - my babies are all growed up

He reversed down. Well, good not to see the road especially as it's as busy as Hell again. I miss the quiet of lock down but I shouldn't really say so as I fear it will be back.