Beer, Bees and Such
Beer Making #2: The Really Slow Way: I planted hops in a spring over two years ago thinking that by that September, we’d have enough hops for at least one batch of beer. Between chickens tearing the rhizomes out and poor placement, we never saw those vines. However, last October I found a source of healthy rhizomes grown in California. The Cascade variety is growing vigorously and producing. So much so, our resident beer maker, Dipak, recently harvested our first hops!
I think this may be the first time Dipak harvested anything on his own.
He explained the development of aromatic crystals in the buds with great enthusiasm. Its nice to see him excited about the farm…well, ok, about beer but also about hops we grew!
Bees: Marcel, Dipak and I harvested honey! We got freakin 50lbs. Lessons learned- 1) do not rest your hive tool on top of the exposed frames. It can fall in and end up on the very bottom of your hive. It really can. 2) If you, like me, leave your emptied frames out for a couple of days so my bees can clan up the remaining honey, before storing them in the freezer, they can attract robbers.
For a second I thought my colony was going to swarm but at closer inspection I thought I saw bees that weren’t the same species as mine. I also thought I saw them fighting. After a chat with Stefani, Queen Beekeeper, I realized the frames had attracted robbing bees. This is no good as it can encourage robbing of the hive.
Rabbits: Well hell, Marcel and I thought we had the special nurturing touch with the rabbits as we kept seven of seven orphaned kits alive and growing. Yesterday morning brought a sickly seeming little one. By night fall, it had fallen asleep for an eternal nap. It was a classic example of gastrointestinal failure for the little guy. Could have been overfeeding. Could have been blockage for a number of reasons. Either way, bottle feeding baby rabbits is high risk.
Birds: Rachel at Dog Island Farm traded an older flock of three laying hens for a young doe (provided one survives from my littler). In addition, I just picked up two turkey poults from the Thode Family Farm. Amazingly, all birds have adjusted to a shared living space. We are getting eggs here and there and the poults have stopped their alarm chirp. I dare say everyone is content.
All things I’m really interested in – looks like you’re doing exactly what I’m going to do next year! Hop vines are on order, and turkeys are in the works too.
Are all your poultry – chix and turks – together in one coop? I’ve heard not to do that, but it seems like it would be easier. Do let us know how it works out for you.
Also, how did you introduce the birds to each other? I know chickens can be territorial.
September 6th, 2010 at 5:51 pmI’m glad the girls are doing well! Looks like they’ve got a pretty good place to scratch around.
I have a friend that’s a wildlife biologist that specializes in upland birds and she keeps turkeys and chickens together and doesn’t worry about blackhead killing the turkeys. I think she said we’re too dry in the summer to worry about it.
Oh, and we’re also growing Cascade hops! We had the same problem with chickens digging up the rhizomes so we put them in pots and they’re doing well – though they started late. Hopefully next year we’ll have a decent harvest.
September 6th, 2010 at 6:40 pmDiana: Thanks for your comment! I have met various people that have kept turkeys and chickens together with no incidence of black head. I have also heard it is not prevalent in this climate. That is what I have chosen to do it. Previously, I kept them in a separate space but I have since used the space for rabbits. In regards to flock integration, oddly this flock integrated with not a peep. I think it may be because all the birds were new to the space. However, in the past, flock integration has required much intervention and has depended on the nature of the disruption.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:42 pm50 lbs, that is exciting! You can place the emptied frames and uncapped combs back into the hive and your bees will clean up the honey, refill the comb and cap the ripe honey. All with no robbing.
September 13th, 2010 at 10:25 pmWould like to hear more about your experience with the harvest.
Peace
Nevada: Thanks for the great info! I had put the saved comb on the frames back in the hive. These were extra frames because I reduced the hive body. I thought I’d let them clean them up before storing them elsewhere. I didn’t figure I’d attract others. Now I know.
September 14th, 2010 at 2:41 pm