Animal Corner with Charles: Animals Trying to Beat the Heat!

As we enter high summer, our animal husbandry program is on the look out for heat injuries among our animals.

Our fowl and waterfowl can often be found flopping in the shade with their wings held up to let heat escape their bodies.

Our goats and sheep are usually lying in the shade or in front of the industrial fan during the hottest parts of the day.

All of our animals “pant”. Their mouths open and their breath hard to exhale heat from their bodies. The ability to sweat is rare in the animal kingdom. Only horses, monkeys, apes (including humans), and hippos can sweat to cool themselves.

Heat injuries are extremely dangerous for animals and are often a sign of neglect. Like all other injuries, the prevention is preferable to the cure. The garden takes the following steps to reduce the likelihood of heat injuries.

  1. The garden has shade in each and every habitat. Lack of shade structures and/or foliage can easily injure or kill animals.
  2. Clean water is abundant for both drinking and bathing. Both mammals and avians can dehydrate quickly in the intensity of Maryland’s summers.
  3. Our goat barn has a ventilation fan running 24/7 throughout summer and autumn. The goat play area has a large industrial fan during the hottest hours of the day.

Each week we carefully monitor temperatures and often check the cameras for signs of heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat stroke in our animals.

Animal Corner with Charles: The Nigerian Dwarf Goat

All 11 of our goats at Filbert Street Garden are Nigerian Dwarf Goats. The breed is a “dairy breed” of domesticated goat that comes from the West African Pygmy Goat. The breed hit American shores during the Great Depression in the mid-1930s as a milk alternative that was less expensive than cows, but did not become widespread. The breed has been popular in American zoos.

Here are some facts about the breed!

1. Nigerian Dwarf Goats and their Pygmy Goat cousins are the two miniature goat breeds.

2. The Nigerian Dwarf Goat has been cross bred with shaggy Angora goats to create “Nigora” goat. They produce a cashmere-type of fabric.

3. All goats typically have twins, but among the Nigerian Dwarf Goat breed triplets and quadruplets are common.

4. Nigerian Dwarf Goats are among the most popular livestock show breeds and are a popular companion animal.

5. Only miniature breeds are allowed in Baltimore City. Goats require a permit.

6. Cheese is currently the oldest goat at 6.5 years old. They can typically live up to 15 years.

Animal Corner with Charles: Swaaaaarm!

In spring each year, the honeybees begin building up their population and foraging for nectar and pollen. The queen can lay more than 3,000 eggs a day during their peak season.

This is as the “nectar flow” begins. Large amounts of nectar appear from clover, tulip popular trees, and black locust trees from April 15th to the last week of June here in Central Maryland.

So… What happens as the hive fills up with eggs (brood) and nectar? The bees “swarm”.

In a honeybee swarm the queen leaves the hive and takes 20%-60% of the hive’s bees with her to start a new colony elsewhere. They initially “bivouac” within 100ft of the hive. The swarm then drifts elsewhere having the appearance of it raining bees. It is intimidating, but this is where honeybees are at their calmest.

The garden gets 20-30 calls a year about swarms resting around the city. We have numerous swarms touch down right in the garden from our own hives and others in the area. If a beekeeper can capture the swarm, it is a free hive of honeybees!

A great book called Honeybee Democracy by Thomas Dyer Seeley discusses how honeybees as a collective choose a new hive.

Should you spot a honeybee swarm in the garden, please call the garden’s phone number on the front gate! We are eager to catch them as only 25% of feral swarms survive the first year.

Egg Production Returning–Animal Corner with Charles

Each spring our fowl and waterfowl return to “full egg production” after taking a hiatus in autumn and winter. During spring and summer, chickens and ducks under 2 years old will typically lay an egg every other day!

Days grow to just under 15 hours of daylight in Baltimore by the Summer Solstice. During days with 12+ hours of daylight the hens and female ducks lay at mass production.

As the days grow shorter, the chickens and ducks begin to “take a break” with their laying slowing down until they eventually take a 30-60 day hiatus. The temperature also affects the laying cycle of chickens and ducks.

You may ask, “Well, what do I do during autumn and winter to get eggs?”

Some folks put a light in the coop during autumn and winter. This can increase egg production. Furthermore, there are breeds of chicken and duck that are better “winter layers” and are more prone to lay during the darker and colder periods of the year.

Fun Fact: Filbert Street Garden produces close to 3800 chicken and duck eggs each year!