What Is A Skin Tag?

A skin tag is a fleshy protruding piece of skin that normally is on your neck, under the arm pit, under the breast, or in the genital area. However, they can be found in other areas as well. First of all I want to tell you that a skin tag is normal and harmless. You probably already know this, but they can be annoying and unsightly. Most people try to hide them, but with Claritag, you can just remove them, and remove the annoyance and embarrassment as well!

What Causes Skin Tags?

Skin tags can be caused by many different occurrences. I’m not sure if they are totally understood. What we do know is that they mainly happen in older individuals. They can be caused by genetics, diabetes, obesity, hormonal changes, high blood pressure, pregnancy, and still more that they attribute to the formation of skin tags. So as you can see, there are a lot of factors that can cause them. But luckily for you, you don’t have to put up with it. You can easily remove them, so let’s look into how that all plays out.

Is Claritag Safe To Use?

Before I answer that question I am going to say, “You can go to the Doctor’s Office and spend your co-pay as well as whatever else you may have to spend, such as gas, and time driving to the Doctor’s Office; as well as time at the Doctor’s Office, and more gas and time driving home. What’s more, your Doctor is going to use the same procedure to remove your skin tag as what you can safely do at home with Claritag. So, to answer the question, YES, Claritag is safe. It is the same technology that your Doctor would use on you. And Claritag checks all of the boxes too, such as:

• #1 FDA cleared skin tag remover.
• It has been clinically tested to be safe and effective, and in most cases, only takes one treatment.
• There is no scarring.
• It uses the same cryogenic technology utilized by dermatologists.
• It is only about a 60 second procedure and the skin tag is gone in 10-14 days.
• It comes with FREE shipping.
• It comes with a 100% money back guarantee!

How it works

Before I get started, I want to throw this out there, I have used skin tag removal products before. They had an applicator tip that you had to press into the cap. The cap was a separate unit from the canister, so each time you used it, you had to assemble it, and then you would have to pull out the applicator. At that point you had to pull the skin tag away from your skin with a pair of tweezers that they supplied and then you could apply the applicator to your skin tag. You are probably frustrated just hearing me talk about it. Well, you will be glad to hear that Claritag isn’t like that at all! The Claritag device comes with a preloaded applicator that can be reused to treat up to 10 skin tags. You just charge it and go. There is enough cryogenic liquid in the canister so that you can use the device 20 times (2x per each skin tag treatment). Also included in your package is a spare pair of applicator heads so that more than one family member can use this device. Simply put, Claritag uses a cold gas to freeze the skin tag. You will feel a cold sensation and some minor irritation for a few seconds while applying the affected area. Then 10-14 days later, the skin tag just falls off and new skin has already grown over the affected area. No scarring, and no one knows you even had one. Perhaps it is best if I let them tell you how it works. Below is a video you can click on to see what they have to say about it:

Summary:

As you can see, Claritag is FDA approved and clinically tested to be safe and effective. Usually taking only one treatment. And whether you go to the Doctor’s Office or not, there will be a little discomfort, but that is minimal. The money you save by NOT going to the Doctor will easily pay for the product. On top of that, other people can also remove their skin tags with the same product. Up to 10 skin tags can be removed with just one purchase of this product. And it is super easy to use.

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1. Incorporate Creative Embellishments

Look beyond basic paper and photos to make your book pop. Add pocket pages for memorabilia keepsakes like ticket stubs. Insert envelopes with written letters. Attach ribbons, bows, or strings for interactive elements. Layer on die-cut shapes, sequins, or translucent vellum paper. Embrace scrapbooking creativity!

2. Bind Creatively

Your binding choice impacts the overall aesthetic. Leather binding exudes luxury while spiral binding adds quirky charm. Showcase photos edge-to-edge with lay flat binding. Get avant-garde with Japanese stab binding. Or leave it unbound as an artistic photo folio. Explore options to suit your style.

3. Play with Creative Materials

Mix up textures and surfaces throughout your album. Try glossy, matte, or textured pages. Use photos printed on wood, metal, or acrylic for dimensional interest. Incorporate transparencies, vellum, patterned craft paper – anything to make pages pop. Surprise with unexpected materials.

4. Develop a Color Palette

Pull together a color palette of hues that complement your photos. Add backgrounds, frames, and paper accents in those shade to tie everything together visually. A subtle palette creates cohesion while pops of color grab attention. Let your photos guide your creative direction.

5. Spotlight Your Cover

Your cover makes the crucial first impression. Consider a favorite hero image, collage, or custom text design. Spot gloss or matte lamination adds striking texture. Inlay photos or materials into cut outs for dimension. Add shine with foil stamping or embossing. Pull out all the stops on this showcase piece!

6. Tell a Story

The best photo books have a narrative that connects images together into a meaningful story. Determine the central theme or timeline you want to convey, like a vacation, milestone, or relationship. Then curate photos that help tell the full story from beginning to end. Add captions to guide the journey.

7. Focus on High Quality Photos

A photo book is only as stunning as the images inside. Comb through your library to collect sharp, vibrant photos that pop. Crop out distracting elements and adjust lighting if needed. Upgrade image resolution for crisper professional printing. The impact is in the details.

8. Mix Up Your Layouts

Keep your photo book dynamic by changing up layouts from page to page. Full bleed photos make a statement while collages tell more. Vary photo sizes and placements. Use angles, frames, drop shadows, layers – anything to showcase images creatively. Consistent layouts become monotonous so switch it up!

9. Embrace White Space

Don’t cram every inch with photos. Thoughtful white space helps highlight the best shots. Play with photo collages on just half a page or frame a beautiful landscape with white borders. Clean backgrounds allow striking images to shine.

10. Enhance With Artistic Touches 

Elevate your book with artistic embellishments. Use patterned papers, colored backgrounds, illustrated dividers or sketches. Add stylized text with varying fonts, titles, headings and pull quotes. Craft paper cut-outs or stickers for interactive accents. Get creative!

11. Organize Methodically

Keep your book cohesive through careful organization. Group related event photos into chapters. Arrange chronologically or geographically. Build rhythm with consistent page layouts for distinct sections. Logical flow keeps the narrative moving fluidly. 

12. Personalize Fully

From cover to end page, infuse your personal stamp. Monogram and emboss the exterior, select special binding, and craft a thoughtful back-cover summary. Inside, include handwritten notes, fun details and even scenic concert tickets or maps. Thoughtful personalization creates keepsake magic.

With careful curation and creative flair, you can craft a show-stopping photo book. Follow these tips to highlight precious memories in a stunning album you’ll cherish for years. Let your images inspire you as you produce an artistic masterpiece!

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Everyone’s thought of doing some DIY projects at some point or another. When they do, they often think of how much time and effort they’ll have to put into it, which is why they often procrastinate. There are more than a few ways to make it easier for yourself, however.

You could take a lot of the time, stress, and even hassle out of the process with a few DIY tips to follow. If you’re considering taking on a few home projects, it’s well worth taking advantage of a few of them.

You’ve no reason not to make things easier for yourself.

1. Wrap Rollers In Clingfilm – You’ll usually have to put several coats of paint on when you’re painting any walls or doors. In most cases, you’ll end up cleaning your rollers between coats as you’re waiting for them to dry. Instead of putting all that effort in, wrap your rollers in clingfilm. It’ll keep your rollers moist, and they’ll be ready to use again once you’re putting another coat on.
2. Add Vanilla Extra To Paint – When you’re painting, you could find yourself being overwhelmed by the smell of the paint. You’ll open up the windows and doors trying to minimize this as much as you can. Another easy way to minimize it is to add some vanilla extract to the paint. You’ll make it smell nicer without compromising the quality of your paint. It’ll be a nicer experience because of that.
3. Use The Right Tools – The tools you’re using for your DIY project play a vital role in how easy the project is to do. From paint rollers to compression springs, make sure you get the right ones for you. They can make or break your project, so put the effort into making sure you have them all.
4. Dip Scissors Into Boiling Water – If you need to cut up delicate fabrics, you wouldn’t want to tear them or have any cuts in various places. The quickest and easiest way of preventing this is by dipping your scissors into boiling water. You’ll cut through delicate fabrics much easier, and the scissors will just breeze straight through them. You shouldn’t have any problems with it.
5. Add Nail Varnish To Nail Holes – One of the unwanted things about screws is they can often come undone after a while. It’ll end up meaning whatever they’re attached to can be too loose, and it might even end up falling down. Avoid that by adding some nail varnish after you’ve put the screws in. You’ll keep them in place permanently.

If you’re planning on DIYing any home projects, then you might be concerned about the stress and hassle involved in them. It’s why you might’ve procrastinated and put them off for quite a while. Despite that, the projects might still need to be done.

With a few practical DIY tips to follow, you shouldn’t have to worry about this. You’ll end up getting it all done relatively quickly and easily. You’ve no reason not to consider using a few of them.

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The Aquashower is a user-friendly device that has been made by Multipure to insure that only clean water is pouring over you in the shower. Not only does it perform outstanding, but it is designed to easily connect to most existing shower heads without any special adapters or tools .This also makes it a great companion when traveling. You can hook it up at the hotel or cabin, spend your time worry-free, and then take it back home when you go. Now you don’t have to worry whether their water is clean or not because you are going to filter it yourself.

Multipure has been a leader in the field of water filtration products for more than 50 years. And they also have the most NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certifications in the industry. That should tell you a lot about their company. Their advanced water filters have been meticulously engineered to improve the quality of the water that comes out of your shower head and removes impurities such as chlorine, heavy metals and sediments. By removing these harmful elements in your water, it will leave it softer as well as healthier for you and your hair. It will also leave your skin more radiant and clean. Without a doubt, this one product can change your life as well as help you stay healthier.

Here is your chance to make a difference for everyone in your family. Just think of the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you never have to worry about the contaminants in your water again. Multipure can help you get there. They have a long history of purifying water. They may very well be the only water filtering company that has been around for over 50 years. They know what they’re doing. And aren’t you drinking that water too? So, let’s just say for the sake of argument, that you, as a consenting adult, are willing to take the risk of bathing and drinking this water. But what about your significant other? Are they willing to take the risk? Or your children? Can they even make a conscious, informed decision? How about your friends and family? Multipure also makes water filters to protect you from contaminants in your drinking water as well. Perhaps you would like to read more about Multipure, or look over some of their other products. Here is the link to their website: Multipure

If you would like to keep up with their Social Media, just click on the appropriate icon below:

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It comes with an instruction manual, batteries, a power supply ( in case you want to plug it into the wall), and all of the hardware you need to install it onto your coop. My first install was on one of those cattle-panel hoop coops. Thus, I had to make a wooden frame to mount it to. Below is the video about my install, programming, and final thoughts concerning the product. I hope you watch it and like it.

In case you didn’t watch the video, I’ll go over the highlights here. At first I wasn’t sure I would like it. It opened different and was made of plastic. However, the product won me over when I realized I had a lot more control over how and when it opens. My old door could be programmed, but you had to use their app and that is a bit inconvenient. With the Chickcozy Automatic Chicken Door, I just push a few buttons and it’s done. Also, the safety switch is very light. If you have a young chicken, it still will not hurt them if they are in the way of the door closing. I have very young chicks in with my hens and I don’t have any issues or concerns.

The installation was a breeze, even with the framing I had to do to install it. If you have a wooden coop, all you have to do is make sure it has the proper sized opening and screw the door to your coop. Next, either put the batteries in, or plug it in to a wall outlet (your choice). That’s it. I monitored the opening and closing and although it comes pre-programmed from the factory, I still had to adjust the light intensity that triggers it. I wanted it to open earlier in the morning, so I had to lower the number for the opening of the door. If you want to learn how to do that, just watch the video above.

When you first wake up your screen, it will show you the next mode of operation, and the percentage of battery life you have left (another great feature). It has 3 modes: Manual, Time, and Light. The light mode is what it will be set at from the factory. In the light menu it tells you what the light sensor is reading right now. That is awesome because it helps you determine what to set the opening and closing numbers at. Just remember that once the number reaches your setting, it still won’t open for 20 minutes from that time. You can also add more minutes to that if you want, but it has a 20-minute delay at the very least to keep it from being triggered by a flashlight or a perimeter motion sensor light, or anything else. In Time mode, you set the time and it has then an internal clock that keeps track of the time. It doesn’t calculate daytime savings time, so you will have to reprogram the time when necessary if you live in that area of the U.S. Next, you will have to tell it what time you want it to open and close. The Factory settings are at 6:30 am it will open and 7:00 pm it closes, but you can change it to whatever you want. Then there is the Manual mode. Pretty self-explanatory. You just push the OK button when you want to open or close the door.

Final thoughts? Well, I have only tried the two Automatic Chicken Doors, but so far, I’m sold on the Chickcozy Door. It’s easy to program and you can tweak it to open exactly when you want it to open. For me, that is what I need. And with that, comes peace of mind that they are safe and secure. If you would like to get one of your own, here is my affiliate link. By using it, you’re thanking me for writing about it and making my video about it. And I thank you for using it. Here it is: https://chickcozy.com/mark

I hope you found this informative and helpful, and if you would like to check out their Social Media, here are the links. Just click on the appropriate icon below.

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The wheels are there and ready when you are, and they have several designs. What’s more, if you have special needs, ChickLifts is willing to design special mobility items that will fit your special needs, such as higher clearance for rough terrain, or a lift for those heavier Chicken Tractors. If you have special needs or concerns, just contact them. I just had a few questions and they were quick to respond. Pictured above is their Original ChickLift, its their most popular style. It consists of a set of wheels that attaches to the back of your Chicken Tractor. This isn’t just a set of wheels though. They are solid rubber flat free tires. The last thing you want is a flat tire when you need to move your chickens to a new location. The wheels allow you to have your Chicken Tractor flat on the ground and then by stepping down on it, it will lift it up off the ground for transportation. Now you can pull on the front of the Tractor and move it by yourself, easily. Even a heavy Tractor can be easily moved by one person. Then you only have to step on the ChickLifts again, and you can lower it firmly on the ground again. Maybe they should be called EasyLifts! Now let me tell you some things that you might not know.

This is how mine came. It is The Wide Track ChickLift for 8-10 foot wide coops, and it comes with a pull kit that attaches to the front of the tractor to help yo pull it to it’s next location. It is extremely easy to install.

You only have to drill two 3/8″ holes.

Next you can bolt the whole apparatus to your tractor.

Then you slip the wheels and washers on. Lastly, you place the retaining pins in to keep your wheel from slipping off. That’s it, you’re done! Your ChickLift is ready to go. ChickLifts made it so simple that anyone can do it. Now you are able to easily move your chicken tractor.

I also got one of these New Chick-Lids. The concept is pretty simple; you just place a battery operated LED in a bucket with some water in the bottom of the bucket. Place a drop or two of dish soap in the water so that the bugs drown in the water (unable to float due to the lack of retention from the dish soap). and cover it with the Chick-Lid. The bugs are attracted to the light and enter the bucket at night.  The cone shape makes it hard for them to locate the exit, they become disoriented and eventually end up in the water. So then you can feed these bugs to your chickens. ChickLifts told me that bugs are attracted more to a white light, and that one of the best and cheapest options for a light is with a Harbor Freight security light. It attaches with one screw and you’re done for about $13.00. Man, these guys are really helpful!

Here is a picture of The Wide Track PLUS ChickLift (10-12ft+ wide coops). It also comes with a Pull Kit which includes all the hardware needed to attach it to your Chicken Tractor. Their Pull Kits are much easier on your hands than a rope or chain. I also want to inform you that their Pull Kit can be adjusted to fit the user’s height when you install it, This way, the individual is leaning into the pull, and using their body weight rather than only their arms. The tube and wire can be cut to fit your size to minimize wear and tear on your body.

You know, Chicken Tractors are really great for several reasons. They move around to allow your chickens to free-range while they remain safe from predators. They benefit from the lush fresh grasses and bugs on a daily basis. Because it is easy to move, you are more inclined to move it on a daily or semi-daily schedule. Your chickens also stay healthy longer because you are moving them more often. They cannot remain healthy if they are subjected to breathing their droppings every day, so by moving them more frequently, your chickens are healthier. And you get your lawn fertilized without burning it up from too much nitrogen. Are you starting to see the trend here? You have to move it often in order to maximize your benefits. This is all done by stepping on the mechanism and pulling it along’ That sounds easy enough. And like I said, if it isn’t easy, you aren’t as inclined to do it, so ChickLifts made it easy for you. I have also seen people who have made Tractors for their rabbits. Now there’s another use for a ChickLifts. You can put it on your Rabbit Tractor!

If you would like to look into getting your own, click on this link: ChickLifts. You can look through their inventory or contact them about your special needs. And just so you know, these ChickLifts are proudly made in America; Texas as a matter of fact. With that said, I saved the best until last, ChickLifts is giving away one of their Wide Track ChickLifts for an 8-10 foot wide coop for free! I told you I contacted them with some questions. Anyways, it will be a lucky day for one lucky individual, and it all starts on St. Patrick’s Day (3/17/23). The Luck of the Irish! If you would like to enter, here are the details:

Click on the Rafflecopter Icon below starting on March 17th, 2023. You can get extra entries by performing the tasks on Rafflecopter; some are daily and some are just once. Good Luck To All!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post ChickLifts Makes Life Simple appeared first on Mom Blog Society.

When my Freestanding Chicken Perch came in the mail, it was wrapped very well. Not only were they packed well, but these boxes came in boxes. If the outer box got destroyed, they were still in these boxes! And I must say, they are packages very well to keep things from getting damaged. I got the Hen Adventure Kit. It arrived in two different boxes. The Freestanding Chicken Perch is modular, so you can add or remove perches anytime. You can purchase the items individually to fit your flock, your needs, and your pocketbook. Putting it together was a breeze, all you need is a screwdriver. If you receive the Weather Vane Attachment, you will also need a wrench to tighten the lock washer. I just used an adjustable wrench. It took me about an hour to assemble all of the pieces. If you had help it would greatly reduce that time. I decided to screw the screws into the perches with an electric drill, so part of that time was going and getting the tools I wanted. Also, I got the largest kit. It has six perches, a weather vane, and the treat dish. Chickens just naturally like to get up on perches, but the first time I introduced them to it, they didn’t want to get on it. They weren’t afraid of it, they just didn’t perch on it. So, there might be a transitional period for them to view the Perch as something they can roost on. I left it in their run overnight and by the next day, they had no problem jumping up on it, especially once they knew there were treats up there.

Another thing I like about this Freestanding Chicken Perch is that it is mobile. I can pick it up and move it with my Chicken Tractor or just out in the yard. Since I move the Tractor every day or two, it would continually get farther and farther from them if it was stationary. But if you have a chicken coop that is permanent, you might want it to be stationary. In that case, you could leave it in the same spot or you might want a Pole Tree. The Pole Tree Chicken Perch is one, or two, or more poles with perches and treat trays that your chickens can play on, and it is bolted and secured in one spot in their run.

Actually, while I’m on the subject, Omlet sells anything pet related. Omlet is a company that focuses on pampering your pets. In addition to that, their focus is also on you (the pet owner) and how easy it can be for you to enjoy your pets as well as clean up after them. It all started with chickens (hence the name Omlet), and from there it has grown into an all inclusive pet oriented company with products for cats, guinea pigs, dogs, chickens, hamsters, rabbits, birds, gerbils, and almost any other pet you might have, They make some amazing toys and enclosures for your pets. Check this out…

Here is one of their smaller runs and coops for chickens. As you can see, they really think about what you and your pets need. There is a coop for your chickens, a run so they can exercise, and food and water for when they are hungry or thirsty. All of that is convenient for you, and its easy to clean. It is enclosed with a top for shade. It is predator proof for your chickens’ safety. No hawks or animals can enter as well as a perimeter fencing so that animals can’t dig under the fencing. With that said, it is also mobile so that you can move it to where they can get fresh grass, and you leave the mess behind. Less work for you while they fertilize your lawn. Very nice!

Here we have a Large Bolster Dog Bed. Now at first glance you might think that this is just another dog bed; WRONG. These Dog Beds have Ultimate Comfort on a High Performance Memory Foam Mattress. Yes, and they come in 15 different colors so that you can match or accent your decor. They also come with an Easy to Clean Dog Bed With a Zip on, Machine Washable Cover. Easy to clean is always a plus. And for added comfort, you can raise your dog’s mattress off the ground. They have a variety of different feet that you can put on it. This can reduce drafts on your pet, as well as improve the airflow under the bed. This added air flow can help minimize the build up of mold, mildew, dust and debris under the bed. This alone can keep the dog bed, and your house cleaner; making it easier for you, and better for your dog.

Time and space doesn’t allow me to show you everything that Omlet has too offer. I mean, have you seen their site? If you have a pet of any kind, Omlet has something for you there. Here is a link for their website: Omlet. And if you would like to order their Freestanding Chicken Perch, just click on this link: Freestanding Chicken Perch. Once you get some toys for them to play with, and play on, you will see how much they enjoy it and you’ll want to get them more. Why? Because we love them. Omlet really is a great company; innovative, unique, and dedicated to enriching the lives of you and your pets. In fact, I contacted Omlet prior to publishing this Article and they said that they would offer our readers a 10% discount code on everything you purchase on their U.S. website from now through April 30th, 2023. Just enter “MOMBLOG10” at checkout! See what I mean, they didn’t have to do that, but they did.

I’m sure you will also want to see what everyone else thinks of Omlet, so I provided a way for you to keep up with their Social Media Platforms. Just click on the appropriate icon below. maybe I’ll see you there. Bye for now…

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Just about anyone who has chickens has seen these Automatic Chicken Doors. And I can tell you from first hand experience, that the ones made by Run-Chicken work great! I did have mine not open up once. We had freezing rain over the night and in the morning, the door was frozen shut. Just so you know, these doors have a safety device built in that keeps it from crushing your precious little chickens if it closes while the chicken is going through it. And it is that mechanism that keeps your motor from burning up trying to open when it can’t. So once I got the door thawed out, it was back to working great again! Anyways, Run-Chicken is giving away one of these awesome doors. They are set from the factory to open and close at dawn and dusk, but you can program it (with the app) to open and close whenever you want.

Run-Chicken also makes these modular Nesting Boxes. They’re made of Eco-friendly aluminum, not plastic. They fit together, so if you have more than one box (which is likely) they take up less space than the same number of square boxes. I also have used these nesting boxes, I have four. However, my hens usually fighting over one box. In fact, I had three of them inside jockeying for space once. They lay in the other boxes, but not as much as the one. With that said, Run-Chicken is also giving away one of these along with the door. Don’t you love Giveaways?!?

A new addition to Run-Chicken’s lineup is this Feeder. Now to give you some perspective, a 5-gallon bucket is 12″ x 14″ (that’s about 168 square inches). This feeder is 10.5″ x 17″ (that’s about 178 square inches). This is a pretty good sizes feeder! The Run-Chicken feeder holds 20 lbs (9 kg) of feed and provides enough food to keep 10 chickens full for a week or one chicken for 74 days! Now that’s piece of mind. I haven’t had the chance to use one yet, they’re brand new. But guess what? Yes, you guessed it! Run-Chicken is giving one of these away as well! Isn’t that awesome!?! One lucky winner is going to win a Run-Chicken T50 Automatic Chicken door, a nest box, and a feeder for their chickens! What an awesome Prize!!! And they come in several colors. Which color will you want?

Okay so here is how you can enter the Valentine’s Day Run-Chicken Giveaway: Click on the Rafflecopter Link below. That will take you to the Giveaway. It will have a list of things to do that will give you entries into the Giveaway. Some things you do once and some you can do every day to add to your chances to win. At the end of the contest, Rafflecopter will select a winner and if you are the lucky winner, we will notify you (via email) and you will have 48 hours to respond. If you do not respond within the 48 hours, Rafflecopter will select an alternate winner and the process continues until someone responds and we get a winner. At that time we will get your name and address and notify Run-Chicken as to who the lucky winner is, and Run-Chicken will send you your prize! If you have participated in Giveaways before, this is pretty standard stuff. Well, what are you waiting for? Click the Rafflecopter Link below and get your entries in. You only have until midnight on Valentine’s Day to enter… Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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What Do Bees Need?

Bees get their nutrients from many places, but what they need is fresh nectar and pollen. Fresh nectar is the food that they prefer, but sugar water will work if there isn’t any nectar to get. If there is fresh nectar for them to gather, you can put all the sugar water you want out and they will ignore it. Nectar gives them the carbohydrates that they need. However, they also need pollen. Pollen is what they use for protein and they need that as well, so don’t forget to put that out in the spring as well. Fresh pollen coming in is also what they prefer. If you put out pollen substitute when there is fresh pollen to collect, they will ignore your pollen substitute.

Last spring I fed them and learned something interesting. I always knew that they would be at my feeders, but this year I filmed them at the feeders and realized that they need the pollen much more than the sugar water. It was as if it was an urgency for them to collect it. Below is the video I made of my Spring feeding.

If you would rather watch it on YouTube, just follow this link: Spring Feeding Honey Bees.

As you can see, there arm many times more bees clamoring to get into the pollen feeder than there was at the sugar water feeder, and this was early enough that there were no flowers or trees blooming where they might get nectar from another source.

When And How To Feed

I do want to add some information. You do not want to feed your bees incorrectly too early. You want to feed a heavy syrup; at least 1.5:1 to keep down the amount of moisture in the hive. As close to 2:1 as you can get might be better. Once the nights stay above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the most part you can start bringing the mixture closer to 1:1 which will trigger them to start making brood as long as they have enough pollen to feed them. That is why you want it to be warmer so that they do not get a super cold night and not be able to keep it warm enough to keep the brood alive.

If you are feeding bees heavy syrup, it won’t trigger their desire to raise brood like the 1:1 sugar water will, so you can feed them that and not run into any issues. And always feed them pollen substitute. Have you ever heard of a person who lost his colony over the Winter and they would say, “But I had plenty of honey in the box for them and still they died out.” It just may have been that they needed protein and didn’t have any. Your bees need protein as well as carbohydrates to survive. Most bee keepers put so much emphasis on how heavy the hive is for Winter that they neglect the fact that they need pollen as well. Don’t let that person be you…

I hope you found this informative and useful. Take Care…

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Breeding Chickens

I haven’t come up with any superior style, but have come up with some inventive ideas to make my flock sustainable for us. I don’t believe in bringing in new bloodlines unless all else fails. The reason I believe this is for the same reasons that people who show chickens don’t want to do it; because every time you bring in a new bloodline, you run the risk of bringing in new problems.

I am not breeding for color or breast meat, I breed for healthy birds that will stay healthy without a constant supply of antibiotics and supplements. Mostly because I am going to eat it and I don’t want that in my system, but also because it doesn’t make your birds healthier, in fact, quite the opposite. You see, now you are taking a bird that is unhealthy and cannot survive if it doesn’t take the antibiotics, and then you are going to breed those genetics back into the next generation and the next, and the next. You will never produce a chicken with great genetics by doing this, so my selection process is first of all, letting nature take it’s course by allowing nature to cull the chickens naturally. If they are healthy and remain healthy, they are definitely considered for propagation. We as small-time farmers can’t afford to waste any resources, so we nurture them back to health. This is what I do as well, but the ones I have to nurture will not be part of the next generation.

The next criteria that I use to decide for breeding stock is how they perform. If it is an egg producing chicken, I want to know how many eggs they produce, and if it is a meat chicken, how large the chicken got by butchering time. Although we think it good to harvest the biggest birds, it is probably a better strategy to breed those birds to make more chickens like that. No one wants to cull a chicken from their flock, and you don’t have to. If you decide to keep them, that is your decision, but for me, I won’t be using them as breeding stock.

Now taking all of this into consideration, You will need to keep records. If you can’t tell one chicken from another, just put a leg band on them. You can use the commercial ones or use colored zip ties, but you will want to keep track of your birds to know which ones are doing what. Then you will know which ones are your breeding stock and which ones are not.

Sustainable Breeding Practices

Below is a list of the different kinds of established breeding practices and I will explain each one:

• Flock Mating
• Rolling Mating
• Spiral or Clan Breeding
• Line Breeding

Flock Mating

Flock mating is exactly what it sounds like, you have one flock. In order to be somewhat sustainable though, you will need at least 3 roosters and 30 hens. More is better from a sustainable aspect. It is a long term semi-sustainable breeding program, but you won’t know which roosters are with which hens in this program. And it takes a hen 14 days to clean out her oviduct. Meaning, from one egg to another, you may have different fathers. With multiple roosters in the equation, you have no idea which rooster is the father even if you see a rooster and hen mating. This type of system is slow to show improvement, but it is a good method you want is to keep a steady supply of chickens. These chickens will show slow progress depending on how well you evaluate the ones you keep as breeding stock, and the stock of chickens you started out with.

Rolling Mating

In this scenario of breeding chickens, you have a minimum of two pens of 9 chickens each. One rooster and 8 hens, and what you do is breed the best young hens with the best older rooster, and the best older hens with the best younger rooster. This method isn’t very sustainable. You can end up with inbreeding depression because the gene pool is small. This is similar to line breeding, but with multiple hens, you wind up with a lot of different combinations of genes. Also with two different pens (or more) you can use those genetics to diversify the other.

Spiral or Clan Breeding

This method I mainly use when breeding chickens, however I also do line breeding as well. This system uses three to five clans. We will call them clan 1 through 3 for demonstration purposes. In the first year, Clan 1 will hatch chicks and the best chicks are placed back in with that flock. Clans 2 and 3 are also going to do the same so that there are now 1st generation and 2nd generation hens in the group. The second year, the rooster from Clan 1 goes to Clan 2, Clan 2 rooster goes to Clan 3, and Clan 3 rooster goes to Clan 1. All of the hens stay in their clan and the roosters move in a spiral pattern; each year moving to another Clan.

Once the roosters have all been through the clans or are no longer viable, then the roosters are no longer identified. Then you will take the best rooster from clan 1 to rotate. He goes to clan 2, the best rooster from Clan 2 goes to Clan 3, and the best rooster from Clan 3 goes to Clan 1, and the cycle goes on indefinitely. Every year you will take the best rooster and rotate him.

By doing this you are putting the best genetics back into the breeding program. Also each year you will only keep the best 8-10 hens. This system takes a little more record keeping but is very sustainable. The three Clan system is suppose to maintain good genetic diversity up to 20 generations, and the 5 clan system should be sustainable infinitely. So as you can see, it is a very sustainable system without purchasing other birds or bringing in other genetics for you to fight through.

Line Breeding

Line breeding is taking the daughters and breeding them back to the father and taking the sons and breeding them back to the mother. The problem with breeding chickens with this system is that in two generations, your birds are three-quarters of the original bird and has a potential to show signs of genetic depression. This is something to watch for and may or may not develop. However, if you have a superior bird, it is a way to lock in on those traits and multiply them within your flock.

You should use this as a tool to bring out the best in your birds. Let me walk you through how it is done. You mate a rooster (A) and a hen (B). Their best rooster (C) is bread back to the mother (B). You then take three of their best hens (D) (E) & (F) and breed them to their father (C). You then take their best three roosters (G) (H) & (I) and these are the beginnings of your clans for clan breeding. If you wanted five clans then you would save five hens and five roosters instead of only three, but from there you will do your clan mating to get away from the line breeding so that you will have sustainability.

Obviously this is to be used more as a tool than a system because sustainability is only a few generations using this system. I also want to say that you could use this method to evolve into any of the other mating methods, but you will need to switch systems to keep from having problems.

In Conclusion

So as you can see, there are many ways to maintain a viable flock of chickens and should you want to be sustainable for a long time, you can do that, but in order achieve better chickens, you may have to incorporate more than one system and at the very least, you are going to have to keep records. The choice is up to you, I’m just here to give you some options. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below and I will try to get back to you promptly. If you would like to read another article that I have written recently, perhaps I might suggest Run-Chicken. I also want to say that these breeding practices are recognized by breeders of all kinds of animals as well. See you next time!

Take Care…

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