I wouldn't worry about bees at all. Chickens know what they can and can't eat. Bee stings can be very beneficial even to someone who is very allergic (like me). Last summer I got stung on my useless arthritic hand. I panicked, took 2 Benedryl and had my Epi-Pen ready. The hand swelled to twice it's size but I didn't go into shock. After a few weeks, I had no more arthritis in that hand. Still don't. So, if a chicken gets stung, maybe it wanted to.

Audrey, I think you are right! I got your emails, don't know why you aren't getting mine...anyway, here is the email I sent you: *********** Hi Audrey: The fee will be baby chick pix and more when they grow up...I'd love to see what the babies look like, and since I can't really tell which banties are laying which eggs, you'll have to sift through the chicks and pick yer Frizzles. *L* Since you didn't get the last email, I'm going to copy the body of it here--I made a list of which hens are laying, Frizzles, cochins and Silkies. If you change your mind and decide not to get the eggs because of having to decide which babies to keep (always a tough decision!), let me know. Frizzles you can tell at one week old, the developing primary flight feathers on their wings and their tail feathers have a very distinctive curl. :) Velvet ~:> ****************SEE BELOW******* Hi Audrey! Sorry, I must have missed the thread! iVilliage and my computer do NOT get along, it tends to crash my comp alot. Sure, I'd be glad to get some Frizzle mix eggs to you! No charge for the eggs, just postage and maybe a little for packing materials if needed is OK. Let me know how many you want and I'll get a postage quote to you. :) Since my birds all run together, I can't tell which banty hen is laying which egg (but my MF/Frizzle banty roo, Scott is mating them all), but right now the banties in lay are: All of these carry the Frizzle gene, even if they are smooth feathered: All of these girls are sisters, have a full Frizzle parent: 2 White (Frizzle feathered) Frizzle/MilleFleur mix hens, Ping and Pong 1 buff (Frizzle feathered) Frizzle/MF mix hen, Fran 1 black and brown (Frizzle feathered) Frizzle/MF mix hen, Zevon 1 Buff (smooth feathered) Frizzle/MF mix hen, Ginger 1 black & gold (smooth feathered) Frizzle/MF mix hen, Meg 1 black & brown (smoth feathered) Frizzle/MF mix hen, Splash These girls are also sisters, have a full Frizzle grandparent & 1/2 Frizzle parent: 1 black w/brown cape (smooth feathered) Frizzle/MF/Dark Indian Cornish Rock mix hen, Guinness 1 tan (smooth feathered) Frizzle/MF/Dark Indian Cornish Rock mix hen, Harp 1 black (smooth feathered) Frizzle/MF/Dark Indian Cornish Rock mix hen, Picky Also laying banty eggs, no Frizzle genes in the hens but my banty roo mating them (Scott) is a MF/Frizzle mix: 1 silver-gray hen, Silver 1 MilleFleur hen, Millie 1 blue Silkie hen, Blue 1 black Silkie hen, Coal 1 black cochin hen, Rita 1 gray cochin/Americaunas hen, Skitters 1 Dark Indian Cornish Rock hen, Gwen 1 tiny black hen, Juliette 1 partridge cochin, Boots 1 Bantam hen with gray and white barred feathers (NOT a Barred Rock though), Houdini I have been putting pics of my flock up on my website, so you can see what each one looks like by name and how they are related (if they are) to each other. I try to avoid inbreeding, so I will be very careful of that. If the pics aren't complete today, they will be by the end of the week. :) Velvet ~:> ***************************

If money is tight you can cover the open (wire) areas with heavy plastic but be sure to have a low and high vent (about 3x12") to allow air flow and to expel excess heat during the day (greenhouse effect). Be sure to keep the lower vent from being blocked by snow. I've always enclosed the smaller runs with double layer of plastic and inflated them with a greenhouse inflation fan. This keeps the wind noise down and adds strength to the plastic if some predator tries to go through it (hard for them to get a hold of the plastic). Use a 60 to 100W light bulb in the coop, be sure to use a porcelain fixture and if you can put it on a thermostat that will turn it on only if it gets below 34F and turn off at 38F that will prevent overheating. Increase carbs in their diet with Wheat/Oats/rye or corn. This will give them extra fat reserves to help them through the colder spells. Keep and eye on their weight so they don't get too fat. Any change in diet should be a gradual process.

I keep a black magic marker in my kitchen and put the date on chicken broth cartons and condiments so I can remember how old they are. I like Progresso low-sodium chicken stock in the box and use a lot of it. Within 2 weeks is my limit. seagrass