HomesteadHensandHoney – Details, episodes & analysis

I'm back! It's taken multiple attempts to record this episode due to various life chaos but here it is! I start with some quick personal updates, a little sad news (RIP Petal), homestead and hive news, and then I share some funny animal stories from the last few weeks.

Thanks for your patience with me! Please check out my Instagram for photos of things discussed.

(Marked explicit due to some light cursing.)

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This week, I talk about thistles! How can we identify them? Are they good for pollinators? How do we destroy and conquer the invasive species? Will I be digging them up forever?? (Probably, yes)

All this and more in episode 70!

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References:

• https://weedwise.conservationdistrict.org/2017/thistle-identification.html
• https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2021/04/21/how-to-neutralise-glyphosate-roundup-herbicide-contamination-in-soil/
• https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.13867
• https://www.science.org/content/article/common-weed-killer-believed-harmless-animals-may-be-harming-bees-worldwide
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969721004654
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32723788/

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I'm back from my holiday! This week, I talk about my Spring Break in Florida where I saw lots of alligators and interesting birds. Then I give updates on the homestead, including my chickens, bees, reptiles, and gardens.

Please note, I did some swearing in this one! So please be mindful if listening around impressionable young minds. I will mark the episode as 'explicit'.

Links:

• Circle B Bar Reserve
• my Pink Tongue Skink website
• Queenright Colonies Beekeeping Calendar
• Tooth and Claw Podcast (highly recommend listening!!)
• My Website (which I will no longer be updating)

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Hello hello! Well, I didn't have time to get my tortoise episode ready BUT I did bring you something. This week, I talk about a few science publications and news articles that talk about our precious honey bees (and bumble bees). I had a lot of fun putting this one together, and I hope you enjoy it too.

Links to articles/publications:

Sci-Hub (free access to science papers)

CBS News article with video

Smithsonian article

‘Social Signal Learning of the waggle dance in honey bees’ by Shihao Dong, Tao Lin, James C. Nieh, and Ken Tan.

‘The Impacts of Early-Life Experience on Bee Phenotypes and Fitness’ by Clare C Rittschoff and Amanda S Denny.

‘Honey bee waggle dances facilitate shorter foraging distances and increased foraging aggregation’ by Kyle Shackleton, Nicholas J Balfour, Hasan Al Toufailia, Emma James, Francis RW Ratnieks.

‘Do Bumblebees Play?” by Hiruni Samadi Galpayage Dona, Cwyn Solvi, Amelia Kowalewska, Kaarle Mäkelä, HaDi MaBouDi, and Lars Chittka.

Bumble Bee Watch.

My website for a full rundown of everything discussed.

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Hello, hello! This week, I give a quick update on my stray kitty friend, as well as my 'baby' Orpingtons. Then I dive into frostbite: what is it? What does it look like in our chickens? Can we prevent it? And, most importantly, how to treat it.

Please see my website for a rundown of everything discussed as well as a list of references.

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Hello! This week, I share another Farm Story. Listen in to learn about my local cat population, what TNR is, and how it can help humanely lower stray/feral cat populations. Also, learn about my own kitty friend!

Please see my website for photos of the kitties in question, and for a rundown of everything discussed.

You can check out the TNR clinic I used here.

ALSO, since recording this, I found out that the clinic does have a way to donate cold hard cash!! I think it just wasn't showing up on the mobile site. So, if you're interested in supporting this incredible program, you can find details on donation here.

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Hello! Today's episode starts with a quick update on my fierce little hen, Boo, and then goes on to discuss the issue of obesity in chickens. How can we identify an overweight chicken? What can we do to prevent obesity? And just how much food should our chickens be eating anyway? 

Visit my website for a rundown of everything discussed, as well as some educational photos. 

References for this episode:

The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow

Fresh Eggs Daily by Lisa Steele

Mypetchicken.com

scratchandpeck.com

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This week is the first in my series of what I am calling 'Farm Stories'. These are mini-episodes that share stories from around my homestead, with a focus on all the animals I am fortunate to share my life with. This week, I tell you all about my tiny hen, Boo, and her big attitude. Can a tiny hen take on a rooster three times her size? Listen in to find out!

Check out my website for photos of Boo and Red! 

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This week, I do a 'year in review' for my apiary.

I went into 2022 with two colonies, brought home a package and 4 nucleus colonies, and ended up with 5 colonies as of January 2023. Listen in to learn all about my gains, losses, and to follow each of my colonies as we moved through last year. Reading my bee journal for this episode was a wonderful learning tool for me, and I hope you will also find it useful!

Please see my website for a rundown of all things discussed as well as photos from the hives. 

Next week, I'll be back with a farm story! I hope you will join me once again. Thank you!

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I'm back! and I have news! 

For this episode, I go through goals I set for myself in 2022; what worked, what didn't. And then I explain how I fell afowl (hehe!) of the dreaded 'chicken math'. 

Please visit my website for a rundown of everything discussed, photos, and links. 

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