chicken breeding

In spring there is also plenty to do in the henhouse. The hens lay back soon walk the fresh eggs and chicks back to show off the grass!
Make sure the early nesting hens all the care they desire by extra straw in the nest to be processed so that the risk of cooling of the eggs remains low.Also very important is the power of our chickens. A good, strong grain mixture is also recommended. The chickens have some chance to recuperate to avoid diseases. Provide enough greens occasionally as "chickweed and various grasses. Also a vitamin regimen can do wonders in chickens, ... you see them cheer.
Chickens and breed:Chickens are about to breed because their natural instinct demands it. Like every living creature they also have the urge to procreate and care for offspring.
Who has a broody hen, takes best into account the following factors.

    Make sure your eggs in small bantam chickens hatch not let heavy breeds. There is danger of trampling the little chicks.
    In chickens with feathers on its legs, we should be cut off to avoid when leaving the nest the hen makes the eggs.
    In chickens as 'Cochin' and 'Brahma' must sometimes be cut down around the cloaca (vent hole) to promote fertilization.
Breed:If you have a breed that is fairly easy broody, you can quite easily on course to hatch. If one of your good broody hens, and so one day or all three of the little or no nest, is it best to separate from the rest and some lay eggs below.
The best put the them in a dark place.
Here are some features you can tell them that a brood is:

     She stays on the nest and pick up the carer as he comes closer.

    She puts her feathers open wide and makes a clucking sound.

    If you give her an egg, she will hide under her.
Especially not too many eggs among them slide, otherwise the possibility that eggs and roll cool, so the embryo will die.
A broody hen eat and drink less, but still every day fresh water and a little corn feed demand. If the whole incubation process is successful then the chicks 21 days after the start of breeding from their hatching.

Kippen brahma krielen

Brahma's are certainly very graceful, according to many the most beautiful of the many breeds. They are big, impressive and above all very child friendly. Besides the great Brahma's you also have the bantams, bantams called Brahman.

A common color variety is the Columbia. With a black collar and foot feathers are a real picture to the eye.

They have a rather sturdy look and weigh a lot once they mature. An adult rooster up to 5 kilograms. weigh them and a 3.5 to 4 kg.

They definitely have a gentle nature and are certainly not aggressive with the caregiver.

Brahmas are from India, where they eventually were imported to Europe. Since this breed has undergone a lot of crosses to be finally obtained with a fuller chicken has a much better foot feathers.



The production of eggs that hens in comparison with that of the hen rather poor with the ordinary egg size generally known.

In the spring they will when some eggs are quickly proceed to breed. A race that is so broody quickly. The hens are excellent mothers and care for their young for several months

With a 150 to 160 eggs per year, the decorative layer and a pearl in your chicken coop!

Frogs and toads hibernate

Frogs, toads and newts in the pond to help hibernate


green frog
Depending on the design of a garden and its location in a particular landscape, it is possible that various amphibian species to establish if there is a garden pond is present. An amphibian pond invites out, if the water is not too small and there is enough real water plants, floating plants and marginal plants are present. The closer the pond in natural amphibian habitat is, the greater the chance to get frogs, toads and salamanders to be seen.
Frogs and toads
Bufo bufo.Path with warts



Common Frog
The common toad (Bufo bufo) is the most common garden resident. Because they lead a hidden life, she is rarely seen. Also, Bufo calamita (natterjack toad) and Alytes obstreticans (the Midwife) are sometimes in gardens. Toads and fire-bellied toad (Bombina variant with yellow belly) in the dry winter in caves and under rocks, roots, etc.
Frogs, toads, unlike, dagactief. They are from spring until October (and sometimes mild weather in November) and the pond to find. It may Rana esculenta (green frog), Rana temporaria (the frog), Rana arvalis (the moor frog) and Rana lessonae (the little green frog) are. Frogs hibernate on land or in water. R. lessonae and R. esculentae usually overwinter in the water, in shelters on the bottom. The animals that hibernate on land, do so in caves, under rocks and wood and compost heaps. The other two species of frogs overwinter mainly on land.
Because amphibians breathe through lungs, the question is how long they can survive under water. At 5 ° C cold water, the animals reduced the extent of their metabolism, breathing lung that she could switch on skin respiration. The heart rate has only 4 beats per minute.
Help overwinter in the pondNature lovers in their gardens can do much to help amphibians hibernate. For wintering in the pond must be at least 80 to 100 cm deep. Place piles of stones or wood on the bottom. You could also concrete or clay pipes, 5 to 10 cm diameter, diagonal or straight up in the pond lay. Like many amphibians hibernate in a dark place. Is not present on the soil, then they might find a dark spot on too shallow along the lake shore. There, the animals freeze.
Aerating the pond is recommended, as long as the surface is not completely frozen. By the surface motion is a total freeze on the surface postponed. Once the surface is completely frozen, cut through the (air) pump off. Now the air present under the ice is enough to the animals to hibernate. The whole can be repeated if the surface is temporarily thaws. If the water in the pond 4 ° C. , it has its smallest volume. The air between water and ice acts as a cold insulation. Also snow on the ice acts as an insulator, so that thickening of the ice is slowed or stopped.
Help overwinter in the pondAlso on the land hibernating animals, we can lend a hand. Particularly moist garden areas or places with pristine vegetation to attract amphibians. Also among piles of wood, stone or in the aforesaid pipes is like overwinters.
Lay the pipes and tilted 30 to 40 cm deep into the earth. It is often impossible to amphibians from vertically placed tubes to crawl. Cover the entrance with leaves, so it is dark inside. Do all this well before winter begins.
SalamandersNewts hibernate on land under wood or rocks and in caves. But there are exceptions.
Typically the adult newts leave their offspring in the late summer water. Some crested newt (Triturus cristatus), however, live their entire lives in water. Also, larvae of this species sometimes not fully developed in the second year and then they leave the water. A few remain throughout his life, "larva", ie with external gills. This is called neotenie.
Salamanders in the water over winter, this doing in muddy soil and are mostly left on skin respiration. Those salamanders that breathe through lungs, have occasionally to the surface for air. In the summer this happens very frequently and rapidly, in winter there are large intervals between the slow and done. The metabolic rate is heavily reduced. Neotenie also occurs in Triturus vulgaris (the common, or newt) Triturus alpestris and (Alpine newt) for.
These two species overwinter on land, as Triturus helveticus (the vinpootsalamander). The fire salamander (Salamandra Salamandra), a real land salamander hibernate out of water. They often hibernate in groups in caves and under rocks and wood.
Dead animals in the springPond enthusiasts sometimes see that after their monarch dead amphibians in ponds float. This is caused by lack of oxygen and is found mainly in foil ponds. If the fish have survived, the cause of death had been an infectious disease.
In natural clay or loam soils are organic substances mainly through the soil. In a particularly sour leaf waste pond water and extracts very much oxygen. It is therefore recommended for winter leaf litter from the pond to get. Also is seen in the autumn with a net over the pond, catch the falling leaves. No nature lover, this failure may be a good winter for amphibians to deliver.

Repel cats from the garden

Repel cats from the garden: peaceful methods at a glance
What can I do cats in my garden?When we think of a cat than most people make a pretty cute creature for. How sweet and beautiful they are, some gardeners have at times a different picture of cats. Cats in small gardens can often be an eyesore. They dig wells, omgraven or destruction of plants, birds eat them or chasing away good, it can all be reasons for him to annoy bland. It should also be aware that if their cats in the garden stool fail causing a number of diseases can be transmitted to humans.
Here are a few tips to prevent these quadrupeds their smelly message behind your yard, without fighting to get their owners.
There are many methods and remedies that can ensure that cats choose their heels. As gardeners often are animal lovers, we try two birds with one stone and the garden to keep cats from using PLANTS:

    More plants in your garden up so the ground is close up and no place to toss to the ground. Ground cover for cats to the garden so much less attractive.

    Protect the plants by cats through some very popular plants in a corner of the garden. The cats will then only in the corner of their favorite plants stay and leave the rest of the garden feel.
If you lost your cat, you know immediately where you can find them.

    Nepeta cataria (wild catnip)
    Teucrium Marum (gama more)
    (Ornamental) oats or another layer of soft grass
    Alyssum pollen (seed shield)
    Dianthus deltoides (Maiden Pinks)
    Sagina (vetmuur)
    the so-called cat grass
    
    One can also plant in the garden where the cats hate it so they stay away from your garden.
    Put these plants in strategic locations in your garden to the casual passerby to know that he is not welcome.
plants that lemon scent:

    Macrorrhizum Geranium (Cranesbill)
    Dictamnus (fireworks plant)
    Aloysia triphylla (lemon verbena)
Ruta graveolens (rue) also helps to keep cats away.
May prickly thorn and fire strategically placed the cat does not sit.A lot of thorny branches of this shrubs in places where the cat enters your yard can also help. This may encourage the cats to go in another direction. Make sure that the cat is not just about to jump.
Another somewhat radical way to prevent the cats to use the garden as a litter box, tying prickly prunings between plants. Cats will not be happy among them. It does perhaps not as neat but it helps the estate of the unwanted cats road.
When they have a fixed angle to your yard as a toilet to use or they come into the garden through a fixed route, you can try here next home and kitchen remedies apply:

    Sprinkle pepper on the spot where the cats go too far
    A cup or bucket filled with water or a hose
        This is a great environmentally friendly way to get cats to chase. It is obviously not a pleasant way for the cats but then an effective educational method.
    sprinkle mothballs around the end
    lemon peel between the plants
    spreading grounds
        This stinking coffee grounds will stick to the legs and the fur of the cat sitting. When the groom will find unpleasant, and she could not return them quickly.
    A sufficiently high fence around the garden where they of course can not by

    Deer Horn Oil
        The pharmacist will do this for you if you promise to order the immediate entry to retrieve. It smells awful. Some branches dip into the oil or the oil on the branches make with an old toothbrush. Throw in the deer hear the treatment is not immediately brush off, you will see that the next morning all the hair off lying. The treated branches stitch here and there in the ground and the cats and the dogs stay away. Sticks with deer horn in oil-soaked rags can also stabbing the ground.
        Watch out with this stuff because if you accidentally get some on your hands, there comes the first week no more metaphorical cat with you in the neighborhood.
    Cocoa caps
        This well help to protect against the use of your garden as a litter box. The cocoa shells will not chase cats. They find it less pleasant to walk on, but they will not stay away. You can buy bags of cocoa shells in garden centers or the do-it-yourself store.
        After a rain stick the cocoa shells one kind of crust on the bottom become. At that time it has the following characteristics:
            dig not good for cats
            retains moisture
            weeds comes only through hard
            It gives nutrients to the soil / plant
            it looks pretty nice.
Of course there are also many commercial remedies on the market to repel cats but they do not always work properly and after rain certainly not.
I hope that one of the above Fri humane methods ensure that you get started in the ground any unpleasant surprises to come.I wish you all already a carefree garden season.

Honeybees in the city

Honey bees in urban areas

By the urbanization have bees year after year more difficult to survive. It is also well under when looking in nature. And this has repercussions on the production of our food, the bees are indeed responsible for the pollination of many fruit crops.
Therefore more and more cultivated honeybees used in agriculture to meet the demand of food to maintain compliance.
Not only are bees important in the country (we are talking here about the solitary bees), in the city, these winged insects for pollination of flowers, shrubs and trees in parks, city gardens and even window boxes. The solitary bees make for pollinating 67% of all plants, without them, several species extinction.
It is therefore important that the bee population remains.

The (over) living solitary bees?

Soliltaire bees are bees that "as the name implies" living alone. They will not defend like wasp colonies and are therefore not aggressive. When a bee sting by the cross, the barbs stuck in the skin and dies by. So when it tries to avoid by just stabbing in extreme distress. They are also the only female bees stabbing. Moreover, the sting of many species of bees are not strong enough for the human skin stabbing. Unlike wasps. More information about wasps? Read the file wasp plague is coming.
It is important that honey bees from spring until the spring to gather enough nectar and pollen. The nectar provides them with energy, the pollen they need for their protein.
Moreover, they find flowering plants within a radius of 500 to 600 meters around their nest.

Actions for honey bees in the city

In large cities like London, Paris and Amsterdam have already been pilot projects to install beehives. Unlike the agriculture in the city less bee mortality due to pesticides used by agriculture, which is much less present in the city and bees can also quickly flowering plants found in gardens and parks. In the country turns more and more over to monocultures such as corn and potatoes, where the bee has no place.
More and more cities do not use chemical pesticides more in the maintenance of green parks, among other things, that's one reason why the bees begin to do better in cities.
Through the installation of hives in cities it seems that even a greater yield of stems and a smaller bee mortality.

 

 What can you do for the bees?

     Try a variety of flowering plants to provide, from early spring (eg willow) to fall, that way the bees are always fresh flowers in your neighborhood. Tropical plants are less suitable because they often have no stamens.
     Bees love to stay in insect hotels. These hotels are best directed to the south because bees will always find hot spots. Also, hollow stems of dead flowers the bees will dare stop. So if you have a quiet corner in the garden you can leave dead flowers.
     For homes that have no garden for bees to do something: Get flowering plants on a balcony or terrace. Plants that are ideal for bees include lavender, rosemary, Pentecostal flowers, dandelions and daisies ordinary. Climbers such as ivy or climbing hydrangea plants are also good for facade that much pollen and nectar supply.
     Some bees like to keep themselves in cracks and crevices, eg between tiles on the terrace. So try not to scrub the patio with bleach.

Found bat rear

Raising bat found "Elsie" - 2011 is the year of the bat

The year 2011 has been declared the Year of the bat. That's why we spend this year in a number of articles focus on the bat. In addition, we follow the seasons.

Elsie

An observant passer-by saw Elshout, near a colony of bats, a small bat on the ground. He picked up the little creature and placed it in a tree. He hoped that the way to the bat colony would find. That did not happen and the next day was the bat on the same spot as where the man had left her.
Through the animal is the bat when the bat ended up in group and it was done with care.

Although it was difficult to precisely determine the age, it was clear that it was a baby. The baby goat was that some salts had been added. As they grew well and eventually could be slowly switched to mealworms.
Because the bat was raised by people without contact with peers, was returning to nature is impossible. She was named Elsie, because of its location.

 




rabies

It goes very well with Elsie and it's a nice story. Elsie lucky that the man who found her her arrest but was concerned that the man was not really wise. Although the risk may not be large, it is possible that a rabid bat is. They are not domesticated animals and if you're not a connoisseur, you can not sufficiently aware of the reaction of a bat if you pick up. Therefore, the man had more right to call the animal.
Rabies Rabies is a virus or disease that can be transmitted by physical contact with sick mammals such as dogs, foxes and bats. The virus is in some European species of bats is found, the European Bat Lyssa Virus (EBLV) called. This virus is less contagious than the classic rabies virus, but one should always be careful and wear gloves.


winter

All Dutch species of bats are insectivores. A bat needs to survive a night quarter to one third of its body weight in insects. For a bat means a night to 300 mosquitoes, moths and beetles. This means that for example a water-bat single in the period from 15 May to 15 October over 40,000 mosquitoes will eat. An average colony eats a few dozen kilos of summer insects. No other animals that night so many insects. However, many of these insects harmful to agriculture and forestry.

In the winter months there are too few insects for bats to survive. That's why they go in late autumn to find a place to hibernate them. For most species in the Netherlands, a suitable place for the winter cold and frost-free. (between 2 and 10 ° C) Humidity should be high and it must be dark. Furthermore, there is no disruption occur. For many types of conditions are found in caves and similar places such as basements, underground bunkers, forts and mines. Known hibernation sites include the limestone quarries in South Limburg, the forts of the Dutch Waterline, bunkers from World War II and ice cellars in old estates. Nowadays there are bats in many places, new artificial winter quarters built.

 


In hibernating bats reduce their body temperature to about 5 ° C and slow down their breathing, heart rate and metabolism. They consume very little energy and can then continue to live on their fat reserves. Hibernation may be four to six months. Bats prepare for winter by eating a lot in the fall. This is the fat percentage increased significantly so that the animals in their winter fat reserves may teren. During hibernation animals try their body surface area as small as possible by their wings and tail to the body again. Some species fold their legs behind their ears to prevent freezing.

In the area of ​​the Gardens in Demen state since several years a bat basement. Each year the bats working to keep a count. The recent census was, like the previous years, a brown-bat grootoor observed. The circumstances in which the bat hibernates, for a number of other species also favorable. When the counts in Demen are invariably observed several salamanders, including the rare great crested newt.

Lawn grubs

much damage to target grubs in the lawn
vermin provides bare, dead spots in the lawn:


grubs under lawn

Grubs and beetle larvae.

The larvae feed on the roots of grass. Damage to lawns, golf courses and other sports fields is evident in July when the caterpillars are at their largest. The turf will be loose because the roots are devoured. This gives the lawn here and dried, dead, yellow or even open spaces. The birds like blackbirds, starlings, docks, rooks and crows, .. want to feast on the delicious thick and larvae scavenge in the withered grass patches. If you are an affected, rootless lifting sod rolls or you'll soon find dozens of larvae.

Lifespan:
In heavily infested gardens, starting in May and June the adult beetles at dusk in large numbers from the grass fly up. The eggs are laid in the grass and it will then hatch out after a few weeks. The larvae feed on the first week even with humus-like, plant remains. Then they switch to the hair roots and finally all the plants roots to eat. The damage to the lawn will we even notice until the early autumn when the larvae have grown a lot. The larvae are thick, C-shaped and are 2 to 4 cm long. They are white with a brown head and have three pairs of legs.

As the temperatures drop in autumn, the larvae crawl deeper underground. In the spring when the temperature rises, they will come back up to the grass roots to eat. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in the soil in spring.
The adult beetles feed on the foliage of various plants in general but cause little damage.

 


Control:Give the lawn plenty of water and fertilizer to ensure that the best condition possible.Restore the damaged grass, new grass seed to sow or turf to lay. Poorly maintained lawns are more susceptible to damage. Give your lawn so preventive enough food and water. Rake enough against the moss to avoid damaging beetle larvae.A chemical control is not possible because there is currently no effective pesticides available for controlling grubs in lawns.The natural enemies of grubs, birds, hedgehogs and shrews, moles.
Biological control of the garden chafer beetle and the SallandElectronics (Hoplia philanthus) is possible with insect parasitic nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora). The June beetle and the bug are not susceptible to these nematodes.These microscopic nematodes will actively search for beetle larvae. If they penetrate a beetle larvae excrete bacteria on living in symbiosis with nematodes but which is fatal to the grub. The bacteria convert the intestines of the host in liquid foods easier to eat for the nematodes.The parasitic nematodes are very at ease with their eetparadijs multiply in the grub decomposes before that. Thereby spreading a new generation of useful nematodes can look for any remaining grubs. Infected beetle larvae or grubs turn from white-beige to bright red to brown and the insect glue verse makes it often difficult to find. The first grubs after two to four days may already be slain.This treatment can we best apply from mid July to September when the beetle larvae are located just below the turf. Furthermore, the floor temperature must not drop below 12 ° C and the survival of the nematodes as large as possible to the lawn before and after treatment are well watered. Under ideal conditions, 95 percent of all white grubs after only six weeks are slain. In the absence of food, the worms turn away.
Interestingly, these nematodes also the larvae of the weevil kill harmful.For best results it is important that these nematodes are highly organic and completely safe for humans, animals and plants.

Leatherjackets and control

Leatherjackets - larvae of Tipula

The crane fly larvae are about 4 inches long and look brown with a cylindrical body. They have no legs and they occur in the early autumn under the ground.
When leatherjackets largely present in the lawn will be clear to see bald spots. It is often said that the leatherjackets the roots of grasses eaten piece, but actually they feed on the green of the grass. They pull the grass down to where there is credit to do so.
The most common are the larvae of Tipula oleracea leatherjackets and Tipula paludosa. The difference between these two types of crane flies is in the number of antenna particles. Tipula oleracea has the 13, Tipula paludosa has the 14. In addition, the Tipula paludosa fly later in the fall then soorgenoot in late August to early September has flown.
Another important difference between the two species is that T. paludosa only one generation per year, which brings forth from late fall until May harm. The T. oleracea has two generations per year. The first generation will mainly damage in the summer, while the other generation, like T. paludosa from autumn until May dominates the lawn.
Besides these two, there are over 1000 species worldwide. In the Benelux there are about 50 different species.
Leatherjackets are not very deep in the lawn, they usually spend 2 to 3 inches below the turf. At night they crawled halfway out of the ground and they begin to eat the green. On rainy days they can also move above the ground when they are looking for food.
If you hope that the prince will eliminate the leatherjackets you're in for trouble. Leatherjackets are not frost sensitive larvae that are also (at moderate temperatures) during winter will further their destructive food tours.
Besides grass, they will be found in lawns with flowers and young plants in the vegetable garden.

Emeltenplaag recognize
To check for leatherjackets present the lawn covered with dark plastic. Do this if it rains when leatherjackets active. The dark plastic, they remain on the grass. When you remove the plastic leatherjackets are visible.
Leatherjackets fight
Leatherjackets can be combated by the use of nematodes (also called nematodes). Nematodes are parasitic insects that will invade leatherjackets and there will be a bacteria which secrete leatherjackets eventually die. From there starts a new generation of nematodes towards other leatherjackets. When no longer sit leatherjackets these nematodes die eventually.
And another quick method to combat leatherjackets the use of chemical pesticides such Pychlorex.
The best time to leatherjackets to fight in the autumn mid-September, provided that the soil temperature is not less than 8 degrees.