Bees on a Winter Day

We have good and bad news to report from the bee yard. The good news is our hive we've dubbed the "mean girls" are alive and well, as well as mean as ever! This hive is strong and thriving.

I added some more pollen patties and vondant left over. 

Sadly the other hive did not do so well. I found bees throughout the hive in clusters that appear to have starved to death. This cluster was interesting as it had the queen and some workers in the center but tons of food on this frame and throughout the whole hive.

Here is a closer view...

And even a closer one here. She still has her dot on her back. So very sad...

Fair thee well Willie

Today was a sad day as we lost our "One Eyed Willie". The "Rico Suave" of the chicken coop. While the other roosters spent their time squabbling,  Willie used his time wisely courting the ladies. We will miss his kind demeanor and the ease to sneak up on him and grab him for a hug. RIP Willie

Chicken down!!!!

We have been under very cold conditions here in Connecticut with record breaking temperatures which is putting a lot of stress on our animals. Yesterday I went up to feed our chickens in the morning and found this old girl in great distress. With eyes closed and hiding in the coop, she was in big trouble.

I brought her down to the house, did an examination and quickly found out what was the matter. Her crop was huge and hard. She has been eating but my guess was she wasn't getting much water.  I quickly gave her water and began to massage, breaking up the solid clump that was her crop. I began giving her mineral oil along with water every half hour and off to work she came with me for the day. At this point she could barely stand and was quite weak.

This is her about 4 hours later!!! Standing, more energy and feeling much better. 

With negative temperatures she could not go back to the coop so she has spent the last two nights in our bathtub!!!

The sign is in the poop...on the right was her earlier droppings and on the left a much more formed and normal stool telling me she is on the mend!!!