Raising honey bees

Cages bees come in & sugar water spray

This year we are going to add bees to the mix. We purchase the bees to add to our new hives. The bees come in a wood & screen container. The queen is kept separate until you place all the bees into the hive. There are many different phases to starting and adding to hives as time goes on, will try to update you along the way.

A solution of sugar water will calm the bees so you can shake them out of the cage and into the new hives. We traded some new frames with “empty sheets” for some established ones with a friend. The “sheets” are in a wooden frame and this it what the bees will start working on to make the combs for honey. An established sheet will help the bees to start working and building in the hives. 

Frames and and sugar water holder (w/circles)

Temperature of new bee hives is very important because they don’t have established hives to keep warm. Active hives with honey and bees wax helps to eliminate air space and keep them warm.  And depending on the time of year you get them you will most likely need to feed them sugar water until they get established and have pollen to gather.

Once the bees are released into the hives you add the queen. The queen is in a little container and you need to remove the plug. We replaced it with a miniature marshmallow that can be eaten out by the worker bees. Then she is hung in between 2 frames so all can get busy! 

Removing the queens plug

Bees are great to help pollinate your fruit trees, vegetable garden & flowers. Plus you will get free natural honey and bees wax. They don’t take up much space but location is something to keep in mind. You maybe caring sugar water to them for a time and who wants to drag it way out yonder way?

We just wanted to share part of our new experiment with you. We hope you find this of interest and something to think about. Any comments are always welcome!

If bees are not your thing maybe birds are. Visit our website to see all our bird feeders and bird houses to add some nature to your yard. Find use at http://www.ChimesAndBirds.net or click this link! Look for us on Facebook & Twitter as well!

Until next time, enjoy them birds & bees!

Chimes and Birds

Just in time!

Today we posted our May special for our on-line store. This month you will receive a FREE 8 oz. hummingbird nectar with every hummingbird feeder purchase!

FREE Hummingbird nectar

Why do I say "just in time"? well we seen our 1st hummingbird for the season! Crazy because even though we got up to 70º today... there is still snow on the ground! I've placed a new feeder out and a couple of older ones to welcome them back! How about you?

Visit our on-line store and get yourself of someone else a hummingbird feeder and receive a nectar FREE!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy them birds!

Chimes and Birds

website address for our 24/7 safe on-line store is; http://www.ChimesAndBirds.net (just click the link and you're there)!

Robins have returned 2013

With all the snow still in my neck of the woods we quit shocked when we notice 8 Robins in the area of melted snow at our home. We saw them on 4/8/2013 in the early evening. It sure was a welcome sight! That surely means spring weather can't be too far away, can it?

Well Mother Nature just can't let go of winter around here this year. She blasted us with high winds and more snow on 4/11/13! We didn't get as much as the predictions were calling for but we got enough! On average about 4" to 5".

I always feel sorry for the Robins when they think they are safe to return and just get dinged with more snow! Well with the sun warming the days better now, the snow should start to melt off right?

We have placed some food out there to help them make it until they are able to pull worms from the ground to eat. Too bad they don't eat bird seed because our feeders are always full. Who knows, if they get hungry enough they might need to eat some.

How are your seed feeders doing? Are they full? Are they clean? Are the damaged? We have an awesome selection of bird feeders and bird houses at our on-line store. Stop by and check them out! Our website is; http://www.ChimesAndBirds.net safe 24/4 shopping from your home. Spring really is going to get here and so will the birds, are you ready for they're return?

Thanks for stopping by! We welcome all comments and ideas!

Chimes and Birds

Happy Easter!

Chimes & Birds would like to wish everyone a safe and blessed Easter!

Remember, this is just one more step closer to to SPRING! Are you ready for the return of bids that have migrated?
Check out our awesome selection of

• Bird feeders
• Recycled Bird Feeders, made from plastic
• Wood Bird houses
• Hummingbird feeders
• Plastic Birdhouses

All available through our safe and secure on-line store! Safe 24/7 shopping straight to you door! (PayPal and all major credit card accepted)
Click any of the above links or go to http://www.ChimesAndBirds.net

Look for our monthly specials to save you money!

Thanks for stopping by!

Nature Heals its own

A local sportsmen’s club helps the white tail deer in our area by providing food during our long winters. On average we receive up to 200” +/- of snow each season.

Feeding deer has been argued for years in our area, but with well over a foot or more of snow on the ground at any time, deer tend to starve.

We took a drive to view the deer today and notice one was injured. (the one in the front of the pack) Its rear right leg would appear to have been broken at some point. As an injured animal it stands a very high risk of becoming a meal for gray wolf or coyotes that are in abundance around here.

It’s very hard telling when this little one got the injury, but it has adapted to the lam limb very well. I would like to think that having a spot with a food supply has given it a better chance to heal. In my opinion, if you’re not looking for food your body can focus on healing itself.

I can’t say how long this little one will avoid the other wildlife up here but it has made it this far and I hope it continues to live a long life.

Any thoughts? Feel free to comment.

At Chimes and Birds we hope you enjoy wildlife year round as well as the birds at you bird feeders.

Cold weather warning

I hate to be one to preach the same old stuff that people should already be aware of but I feel a reminder couldn’t hurt.

With cold temperatures sweeping the Northwest I would like to bring up a couple of reminders for pets.

Please don’t let pets stay outside for long periods of time. As humans it is our responsibility to care for our pets and provide them with a safe environment at all times. This includes outside in the cold and in hot vehicles in the summer. Just because you see people jogging in below zero temps doesn’t make it right to keep our pets out. Humans should have enough brains not to be out in this type of weather, but many don’t.

If you have a dog that is an outside dog be sure they have enough insulation to keep them warm. A dog house MUST NOT be too large, their body needs to heat it. Hay or straw for bedding is a must. Maybe a doggie coat could be used as extra protection.  Protect your dogs’ shelter from wind with tarps, fencing or even stacked straw or hay bails.

Pets also need fresh water. Snow is not a source of water! Heated bowls are available everywhere these days, please use one.

Don’t forget your outside cats as well. They also need adequate shelter, food and water during cold days.

If all else fails, relocate your pets until the cold snap passes. Maybe you could bring them in the basement or into the garage for a couple of days. Either way keep them warm and with plenty of water. I even passed on our daily walk when temps and wind chill are below freezing.

Every year we hear of tragedies with pets and even with children happening. Lets’ use some common sense and stop this from happening. If you see a pet left in unsafe conditions talk to the owner or call authorities to assist the animal.

Chimes and Birds would like you to enjoy the winter season with your pets for years to come, please be safe.

Your thoughts are always welcome

A rare find!

As my husband was driving down a road he noticed a white squirrel lying on the side of the road. He turned around to verify that was really what he was seeing. Yes indeed, it was a white squirrel that had been freshly killed. It most likely ran into a vehicle’s tire because it just had blood leaking from its nose.  He thought this would be a great item to have mounted, and he did.

White squirrels can be variants of one of the ornamental tree squirrels, called Callosciurus finlaysoni, which is found in some parts of Thailand and South East Asia. Such variants are rare and are found in the above mentioned regions only. White squirrels, if sighted in other parts, can be color variants of any of the existing squirrel species. Since we live in Upper Michigan will go with the last option.

The change in the color of fur is caused by variations in the production of melanin. The amount of melanin in the fur, determines the body color of the animal. So, any change in these genes can affect the body or fur color of the animal. The same applies to squirrels too. Genetic changes that causes excess production of melanin in normal squirrels results in black squirrels, whereas a reduction in the melanin production results in a white fur coat and squirrels with such fur coats are called white squirrels. We have a black squirrel that enjoys our bird feeder on a regular basis. They are rare as well, and we’re glad we get to enjoy its visits to our yard.

Now I can’t honestly say if this was an albino or not because I can’t remember the eye color when it was found. But none the less a white squirrel is rare. So, the basic difference between white and albino squirrels lies in their eye color. While albinos have pink or blue eyes, white ones have dark-colored eyes. In case of albinos, the absence of melanin in the eyes affects their vision and impaired vision results in falls and injuries that leads to loss of life. This makes it very rare to find a true albino squirrel.

Most of the white squirrels are not albinos, but both terms are used interchangeably. It’s sad that this little guy lost its life, but I’m glad we got it mounted to enjoy it for years to come.

At Chimes and Birds, we welcome any of your thoughts and we hope you enjoyed this story. Please check out our website for more stories and tips at http://www.ChimesAndBirds.net