Broody Hen Trouble

So I noticed my "bonnie girl" was not getting out of the nest. Next day, same situation. Broody hens sit on the nest and refuse to get up. They got it in there head that they are sitting on eggs to hatch them. They will not eat or drink. I have read up and there is a few things to do to "break" them.
When I tried to pick her up off the nest and she puffed up, pecked and even growled some. Real mean for sure. I read one cure is to dunk them in cold water which is supposed to shock them and cool them off. I am not to keen on that method. Another method is to put them in a cage with food, water and no bedding material. The idea is to "cool" them off. Some folks even put a fan on them to cool them off. I guess their body temperature is higher during this time. Some people say that after a couple of days they snap out of the trance they go into.

Here she is all settled down and not moving.

Look how she puffs up and is giving me the mean eye.

I had to wear gloves because she was pecking me so hard. I took her out and put her in the outside pen. Gave her food and water. She had not eaten I bet for a few days. It is a cooler day and there is a light mist of rain. That should help to cool her down and hopefully break this broody attitude.

Bringing in the Bee's....

So it was time to remove the Mason Bee tubes today. I collected them from the two houses. I was very cool to see about 43 full tubes and about 14 half or partly filled tubes. I put them in a nice burlap bag I saved from an event. I will take the tubes apart in the fall and then store them in the fridge like last time until spring. My family thinks I am nuts for storing bee's in the fridge. But they are very clean and just need to be stored in a constant temperature of about 40 degrees.

About less then half of the 100+ tubes I had out were empty. I will use them next season.

 Here are some of  the full and part full tubes. The full ones are the ones that have mud all the way to the ends. The rest are part full. Each full tube could have between 5-8 cocoons in it. So over all I could have from 200 to 280 bees for next year.

In process - all houses are not cleared out. I ordered some new bees (Leaf Cutter) for the summer. I bought some smaller tubes for them too. I will post on them once they arrive.

A sad note - while cleaning out the house and tubes I found this female. She is perfect but alas thier life cycle is very short. Sorry to see her go. I will care for her off spring next season.

Waiting our turn in the nest

Everyone thinks chickens are stupid and have no feelings. Well I found this scene this weekend. Joan is sitting in the nest and Bonnie is waiting her turn. In comes Annie and she talks to them for a bit - it  is a sort of cooing sound. All three interact and just softly cluck during the egg laying is in session. It was a site to see. All being quiet, patient with each other and in total cooperation. The coop does have a rhythm.

 Joan in the nest, Bonnie on the right waiting her turn.

Annie arrives to see what is going on in the coop.

Annie has come to lend some encouragement.

Dirt Bath's for all!

I have a gravel area around the shed. The girls like to scratch around in it. Today it was sunny and the girls decided that it was bath time. I crept around the shed and found them. They had torn up the weed block so they can get to the dirt. How did they did so deep so fast?

It is just us here having a dirt bath in the cool soil!

We are working on the tunnel under the fence soon!

Summers evening view

I managed to capture a double rainbow the other evening. Not too much else I can say.....

The gardens are growing.....

Hi everyone! Wow what a month. We have been working very hard to get the gardens in shape and it is all paying off. Have a look at our hill side plants and our new chairs that my father made and my wife painted. Too cool. This is one of our "garden spots" to sit in an afternoon or evening. We have a bite of lunch or some wine and chill out. It is funny, but it seems every time we are here nature comes to us.... a humming bird comes along to feed, or a woodpecker climbs around the tree we are sitting under. My bees are everywhere, it is peaceful. We will pull out the fire pit soon and sit in the evening with friends after some BBQ and roast smores...that is the best. Simple life, simple pleasures that is as good as it gets.

Our neighbor rebuild the fence...great job Jeff!