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Tips for Happy Tails

Do Bees Eat Honey? The Birds AND the Bees Eat Honey!

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Did you know that around 25,000 species of bees exist in the world today? About three-fourths of them are solitary, meaning that they don’t live in colonies but instead burrow into the soil or other places. Very few of them make honey. So do bees eat honey? If they make it, they eat it. So what do other bees eat? And what else do bees make? We’re going to explore everything about these sweet little vegetarian critters!

What Makes a Bee a Bee?

Here’s the story. Millions of years ago there were no flowers. Instead, ferns, mosses, and conifers stored spores or male and female pollen in dull packets to be distributed by the wind. No brightly colored sweet-scented flowers and fruit. The first insects were flightless but developing the ability to fly made their lives much easier because pollen was nutritious.

Some beetles and flying wasplike insects preferred the lifestyle of landing on plants to nibble. It was only a matter of time before plants co-evolved with insects to take advantage of their flying around to aid in their reproduction. It was much more efficient than random gusts of wind.

You know the question about which came first, the chicken or the egg? If you ponder the question of which came first, the pollen or the pollinator, the answer is that it was a partnership. The newly emerged flowering plants flourished when insects found their colors attractive and their sweet nectar refreshing.

The first fossils of flowering plants appeared around 130 million years ago, beginning what one bee lover called “the longest marketing campaign in history.” The insect-flower partnership worked so well that flowering plants quickly spread all over the globe. The protein-rich pollen was as nutritious as the prey insects the carnivorous wasps devoured, so some of them specialized as pollen-eaters.

Bee joke

Life Stages Of Honey Bees:

  • Eggs: Eggs are the result of the queen bee leaving the nest for a few romantic flights to mate more than 20 times in mid-air with different drones. She then returns to the nest to begin laying over 1000 eggs daily.
  • Larvae: After three days, each egg develops into a larva, a small grub that is fed by young nurse worker bees.
  • Pupae: After about six days, the worker bees cap each cell with beeswax so the larvae will spin cocoons around themselves and, like butterflies, begin to transform. Depending on which kind of jelly the nurse worker bees have fed them, they emerge as workers, queens, or drones.
  • Role determination: Most of the eggs will develop into female workers as well as a few queens, but the unfertilized eggs become male drones. Worker bees feed the larvae special jelly made in special glands in the heads and mouths of young nurse worker bees. The type of jelly controls the growth of the larvae.

Workers, Queens, And Drones

  • Workers: Fed “worker jelly,” eggs destined to become workers emerge in 18 – 22 days. They start work immediately, cleaning and prepping wax cells. After a few days, she begins work as a brood nurse to care for the larvae by feeding them.

    Around two weeks later, she graduates to producing wax to build and repair the cells in the nest. About three weeks later, she becomes a guard bee to defend the nest against threats. She eventually begins the last stage of her career by collecting pollen and nectar.

    Other duties include collecting water, removing dead larvae and bees, and fanning air to control the internal temperature. Workers only live around six weeks, spending every day of their lives helping the nest
  • Queens: Fed “royal jelly” with more protein and extra nutrients, queen bees emerge in 16 days. They spend their lives laying eggs except during a winter break. When the colony needs more space, the queen will lay extra eggs destined to become queens, and then she will lead a swarm of bees out to establish a new nest elsewhere. A queen may live as long as four years.
  • Drones: Fed “drone jelly,” adult drones emerge in 24 days. They have no other purpose but to fertilize a queen. After mating, the drone dies.

Leaving the Nest

Leaving the nest: When the nest becomes overcrowded, the old queen and part of the colony leave in a swarm. They find a safe place to wait while scout worker bees explore potential sites for the new nest. Ideal nesting sites are usually hollow trees, rock crevices, caves, or underneath roofs.

Communicating by dance, each scout reports on the location and suitability, also taking time to disrupt the dances of other scouts. Eventually, a decision is made as other scouts and colony members gravitate toward the most effective communicator and echo the dance as well as disrupt the remaining dancers. A nest will be used and enlarged for several years.

Check out this National Geographic video to get an idea of what it’s like to be a honeybee.

Where Do Bees Go in the Winter?

When the weather gets cold, honey bees will hunker down in their nests. Do bees eat honey? Winter is the time they survive off the honey they’ve been storing during the previous months. On warmer days the field workers will seek water and whatever flowers are nearby.

Although many insects hibernate, honey bees don’t. Keeping the nest warm requires a lot of energy, as does flying in cold temperatures. As soon as the weather begins to warm up in early spring, bees are on the go again in search of pollen and nectar to bring back to the hive to begin replenishing the honey.

One of the toughest times for a hive is in very early spring because not much is blooming yet. With their highly developed sense of smell, foraging bees will find your offerings hopefully before the ants do.

One of the most important factors in helping bee colonies survive is ensuring that their stores of honey are not robbed in the fall before the bees have time to make more. You can leave out pieces of raw ripening fruits such as oranges, plums, peaches, grapes, apples, bananas, pears, and figs that substitute for nectar.

Planting Cold-Hardy Early Bloomers:

  • Ajuga
  • Bellflower
  • Bleeding heart
  • Bush clematis
  • Chives
  • Crocus
  • Grape hyacinth
  • Jacob’s ladder
  • Lilac
  • Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
  • Mahonia
  • Peony
  • Potentilla
  • Sand cherry

Do Bees Drink Water & What Do Bees Do During Drought?

do bees drink water

Bees need water, not only to drink but to thin the honey and to cool the nest or hive. They use their excellent sense of smell to locate it. Once they’ve found a reliable source, they’ll keep coming back. Not only do they prefer slightly salty water, but also nutrient-rich water that smells like dead leaves, worms, moss, and algae.

With nectar and honey available, they don’t need added sugar. Although sugar water can help them temporarily, it should never be put inside the nest because it can make the inside of the hive damp and promote the growth of mold. Water is less available in winter, but worker bees collect it from dew and other sources on warmer days. They also make use of condensation within the nest.

You can help by maintaining a bee watering station. They’ll think it’s the bee’s knees!

TIP: Bees not only need a good water source throughout the year, but they need to have a place to stand because they can’t swim. Some beekeepers put a piece of untreated wood under an outdoor water spigot and let it drip. This way water is available all year round regardless of drought or cold.

Do Bees Eat Their Own Honey? What Else Do Bees Make?

Do bees eat honey? Bees make honey for their hive members to eat, especially during the winter when flowers are no longer available, but they make several other substances as well. Some you’ve heard of but the others might surprise you:

  • HONEY: Mouth-watering details in a moment.
  • ROYAL HONEY: This milky secretion made by worker bees provides early nourishment for developing larvae as well as for the queen her entire life. It contains water, proteins, sugars, fats, vitamins, salts, and more.
  • BEE BREAD: Basically a chewed mixture of pollen and nectar or honey along with other secretions, bacteria, and molds, bee bread is what worker larvae and adults eat.

Propolis And Wax

  • PROPOLIS: Made from plant resins, propolis is also called “bee glue” because workers use it to line new nests before laying down the honeycomb cells. The workers select various plants to collect their resins for repairing wounds, repelling insects, and protecting new buds. Mixed with saliva and wax, propolis seals holes in the nest that would otherwise allow heat to escape.

    If an invader such as a mouse is too large to carry out of the nest after the workers have stung it to death, it will be “embalmed” in propolis. In fact, the ancient Egyptians sometimes used propolis during the mummification process.
  • WAX: Do all bees make wax? No, only those from the genus Apis, which includes 11 species of social bees living in nests, making honey, and communicating by dancing. Beeswax contains over 280 compounds depending on the type of pollen used.

VENOM: Not all bee species can sting, and most bees that can sting won’t unless provoked

What Exactly Is Honey?

what do bees use honey for

As you know by now, honey is made from nectar and pollen that honey bees collect and process to feed the colony. “Do bees eat honey?” you asked. Yes, yes, yes! Most honey is “multi-floral,” made from different kinds of flowers. Mono-floral honeys are more expensive because they’re made from mostly one flower type and have distinctive flavors.

Popular varieties of honey:

  • Acacia: It actually comes from the black locust tree and has a sweet, strong honey flavor and pale color; often used for skin conditions because of its antibacterial properties.
  • Buckwheat: Thick, dark, and strong, this honey is highly nutritious, delicious when used as a marinade, and highly effective as a healing wound poultice.
  • Clover: The most popular type in North America, it is amber-colored with a light floral taste.
  • Dandelion: Made early in the season, it is dark amber with an intense floral flavor and a tart finish.
  • Eucalyptus: Predictably, this honey has a menthol-like herbal flavor but is often used as a home remedy for respiratory conditions.

More Varieties

  • Linden: Popular in Europe from fragrant linden trees, it has a bright, slightly herbal taste; it also has mildly sedative properties.
  • Manuka: Made from the tea tree bush, it has a medicinal flavor, but is popular for strong antibacterial properties; used for oral health, the FDA has also approved it for wound treatment.
  • Orange blossom: Light-colored with a delicate citrus flavor, popular in Spain and Mexico.
  • Sage: Light and mild, this honey is often mixed with other honeys to keep them liquid instead of crystallizing.
  • Sourwood: Not sour at all, sourwood honey boasts a rich caramel flavor with hints of butter and spice; made to be enjoyed.
  • Tupelo: From southern swamps, this luscious honey has been described as “buttery smooth.”
  • Wildflower: A multi-floral honey that varies from batch to batch; light with a fruity flavor.

Another type you may not have heard of is “honeydew honey,” made from bees stroking the aphids of sap-sucking insects to collect the sweet secretions.

What DO Honey Bees Eat and Do Queen Bees Eat Honey?

The best food for bees is the honey they make. What do bees use for energy? If they’ve had access to flowers all season, they will have made and stored enough honey to sustain them. So do bees eat honey? There is one exception, as you’ll read about next. The workers do and the drones do, but not the queen.

She’s able to feed herself, but being the queen, she is always surrounded by her personal attendants tending to her every need. They even pre-digest her nectar and honey for her into royal jelly, feeding it to her mouth-to-mouth all of her life! Queens eat almost constantly, too, because their job is to produce thousands of eggs to populate the hive. Now you know the answer to “Do bees eat honey!”

Flower Power

honey bees on flowers

Did you know that without bees and other animals carrying pollen from flower to flower, about three-fourths of native American plants would likely disappear? On one trip, a foraging worker bee will check out about 100 flowers to gather nectar and pollen. She’ll make 10-15 trips per day.

On a good day she might visit as many as 5000 blossoms. Although the big foraging season ranges from March through September, bees will go any time of the year if the temperature reaches 50F.

Plant your flowers in clumps or “drifts” of individual species instead of mixing them since the bees focus on one type of flower per trip. You’ll want to plan your plantings so something is blooming all the time. When choosing plants, you might be tempted to try out new cultivars advertised as double flowers.

These varieties produce exotic blooms resembling two flowers in one with lush, thickly layered petals. Although beautiful, they’re not good for bees and other pollinators because the extra petals make the nectar and pollen difficult to access. Choose single flowers whenever you can.

Bee tongue length is another factor determining the best flowers for bees. Different species of pollinators have different tongue lengths. That’s another reason why it’s good to provide bees with a variety of choices. Avoid hybrids because they’re sterile, hence, no pollen.

Provide some bushes or trees that offer protective scaffolding for the plants. Regarding color, red appears black to bees. Bees respond best to blue, purple, yellow, orange, and white. Avoid toxic pesticides and fungicides or at least apply them when pollinators aren’t active, either very early or very late. Not at all is best.

A Word About Native Plants

what are native plants

While many environmentalists advocate the use of native plants over non-native plants, climate change is affecting the ecology all over the world as species migrate or die off. For that reason, a newer school of thought is suggesting that choosing a variety of non-invasive plants might be the best strategy to keep local wildlife healthy. To learn more about other pollinators, check out our Happy Tails post on butterflies!

Suggestions for bee gardens:

  • Alyssum
  • Basil
  • Bee balm
  • Black-eyed Susan
  • Borage
  • Butterfly bush
  • Calendula
  • Chives
  • Cleome
  • Coneflower
  • Comfrey
  • Cornflowers
  • Dill
  • Hellebore
  • Honeysuckle
  • Lamb’s ear
  • Lantana
  • Lilacs
  • Lavender
  • Mint
  • Oregano
  • Poppies
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Salvia
  • Sedum (especially Sedum spectabile)
  • Snapdragons
  • Sunflowers
  • Thyme
  • Verbena
  • Wallflowers
  • Wisteria
  • Zinnias

Why Weeds Are Not Weeds!

Weeds are unwanted plants. In light of climate change and declining insect populations, the term “weeds” is quickly becoming obsolete. We prefer to call them “wildflowers” because they feed a large number of pollinators.

Do bees eat honey? They can when they can make enough from abundant flowers all season long. By mowing lawns less frequently, flowering weeds such as the following can significantly contribute to local bee colonies:

  • Bird’s foot trefoil
  • Chickweed
  • Creeping Charlie
  • Crimson red clover
  • Daisies
  • Dandelions
  • Henbit
  • Joe Pye weed
  • Purple deadnettle
  • White clover

What Kind of Birds Eat Honey & Honey Bees?

In the wild, few birds eat honey because nectar is so much easier to access. Also, honey is thick and sticky, so it can disable flight feathers. However, honey’s stickiness makes it an excellent binder when used to make delicious bird treats, so check out our recipes!

Some species of birds in the U.S. that go after honey bees include purple martins, thrushes, swifts, kingbirds, mockingbirds, summer and scarlet tanagers, and woodpeckers. Woodpeckers are the most assertive because they focus on a specific hive and feed off any available bees. Most bee-eaters also consume wasps, instinctively knowing how to quickly remove the stingers.

Did you know that in some areas of Africa, humans and wild birds known as greater honeyguides have partnered up to locate honey bee nests? The humans want the honey and the honeyguides want the wax. The humans call to the birds to alert them when an expedition is forming, then follow the birds who slowly lead them to the nest.

After smoking the nest to calm the bees, the humans share the combs with the birds. The honeyguides aren’t domesticated but in some cases, the wild birds even initiate the calls to the humans to help them open a recently located nest.

Is Honey Healthy?

how much honey a day

Honey is meant to sustain busy, fast-growing bee larvae and active adults, so it has to be extremely healthful. Its benefits are most available when it’s raw, unfiltered, and locally sourced instead of highly processed and diluted. Manuka honey provides the biggest antibacterial and antifungal punch. Dandelion, heather, honeydew, and tupelo honey are said to contain the most antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E, plus phenolic acid and flavonoids).

Other nutrients include B-complex vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin K, and minerals such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and zinc. Dark honeys are the most nutritionally concentrated.

Benefits of Raw Honey vs. Commercially Processed Honey

Mass production as well as the desire for convenience have governed food production for many years. Unfortunately, processed foods generally exchange freshness for extended shelf life by adding chemical stabilizers, preservatives, dyes, artificial flavoring, and less nutrient-dense fillers like corn syrup.

In addition, to save money and increase production, factory farming methods have generally replaced humane farming practices. Animals are housed in crowded conditions to save space, fed the cheapest feed, and discarded when they become ill or when their productivity declines.

However, as people become more aware of sustainable farming practices, the tide is turning. In the case of bees, beekeepers are finding that their hives are healthier and more productive when allowed to live more natural lives. Buying natural, unprocessed, raw honey from local farms will give you the most healthful honey with the most benefits.

Usually store-bought honey contains many additives as well as additional non-honey sweetening agents. Genuine fresh honey may be cloudy or crystallized or contain bits of honeycomb, and that’s all good.

In the case of our household pets, many humans are taking advantage of BARF-type diets: Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods. This means eliminating processed ingredients in favor of the natural raw foods found in the wild, with freshness, balance, and variety. This is why we suggest homemade pet treats with natural honey instead of sugar, corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners.

Medicinal Uses of Honey

Not only has honey been used for thousands of years as an oral medication and skin poultice, but it is still used today. Although all honeys have antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects, manuka honey from New Zealand by far contains the most.

Taken by mouth, honey is used to stimulate appetite, reduce cough symptoms and cough duration, ease sore throats, aid stomach ulcers, improve sleep quality during respiratory illnesses, balance gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, and help ease joint pain. When local honey is taken, it may assist with seasonal allergies due to trace amounts of pollen possibly stimulating the body’s immune system.

Honey also fights infection and stimulates healing in wounds and skin conditions such as injuries, burns, road rash, diabetes-related foot ulcers, eczema, insect bites, rashes, and hot spots. Researchers are exploring its effectiveness with psoriasis, herpes lesions, and MRSA infections.

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

Is it spelled “honey bee” or “honeybee?“
According to the Entomological Society of America, the correct spelling is “honey bee” to specify one of many kinds of bees.

What’s The Difference Between A Nest And A Hive?
A nest is a place where a colony of honeybees builds a safe home, often in hollow trees, rock cavities, caves, or under overhanging roofs. A hive is a manmade structure built for a colony in order to harvest their honey. Archaeological evidence suggests that humans have been beekeeping for over 9,000 years.

Who Else Eats Honey?
Do bees eat honey? Bees make it for the colony to eat, but other animals such as bears, honey badgers, raccoons, opossums, skunks, and humans also eat honey. They also eat the wax and the nutritious larvae and pupae.

“Eeewwww!” you’re saying! But the larvae and pupae, referred to as “honey bee brood,” are consumed in many countries including Mexico, Australia, and Thailand. They’re commonly eaten dried or cooked, often in soups and in egg dishes.

Is Beeswax Edible?
Bees make wax from the honey they eat. The workers secrete it from glands in their abdomen, then chew it to make it soft. Originally white, it turns yellowish from absorbing pollen oils. Unlike wax made from paraffin, a petroleum product, it contains no added chemicals and is basically inert. You’ve probably already eaten it in the form of food glazes on hams, turkey, pastries, and other sweets.

Honey Recipes for Your Pets

Can birds eat honey? In treats, absolutely yes!

Homemade Bird Treats With Honey

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/2 cup quality bird seed
  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1/4 cup gluten-free flour
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • Optional: Finely chopped dried fruit
  • Optional: Finely chopped chilis (safe for birds according to the author)

METHOD:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Combine dry ingredients.
  3. Add dried fruit and chilis if used and mix well.
  4. Add water and mix well, then add honey to form a dough.
  5. If the mixture is too sticky add more seed or flour.
  6. Roll the mixture into small balls.
  7. Place lined baking tray. If you want to hang them, push holes in them with a chopstick or straw.
  8. Bake 20-30 minutes.
  9. Remove from oven when firm and beginning to brown.
  10. Once cooled store in an airtight container.

http://www.allpetseducationandtraining.com.au/homemade-bird-treats.html
“I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where I work and live. I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging. I celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.”

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Homemade Birdseed Treats
Honey Treat #1

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup birdseed
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 egg white
  • Chopped nuts
  • Chopped fruit

METHOD:

  1. Combine birdseed, honey, and egg white.
  2. Add enough nuts and fruit to make a thick mixture.
  3. Spread on lined baking sheet let sit for two hours.
  4. Break into small chunks and serve.

https://animals.mom.com/how-to-make-homemade-bird-seed-treats-12191359.html
These treats and several others can be made for pet birds and wild birds alike, either broken into chunks or spread into pine cones or over cuttlebones.

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Honey Treat #2 ~ Birds

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cuttlebone
  • Honey
  • Birdseed

METHOD:

  1. Coat cuttlebone with honey, then sprinkle with birdseed.
  2. Place in freezer until seeds are firmly set.
  3. Bring to room temperature and present to pet bird.

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Homemade Bird Treats With Millet

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 tbsp birdseed
  • 2 tbsp oats
  • 1 tbsp whole wheat flour
  • Some millet
  • 1/2 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp honey

METHOD:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Mix birdseed, oats, flour, and millet.
  3. Add water and stir.
  4. Add honey and mix until fully incorporated into a dough. Add more water or flour to make dough easy to work with and not sticky.
  5. Roll small balls and put them on a baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuHeeC1RRTc

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Homemade DOG Treats With Honey

Honey Apple Pupcakes For DOGS

Do dogs eat honey? Oh, yes!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 ¾ cups of water
  • ¼ cup applesauce
  • 2 tbsp raw unfiltered honey
  • 1/8 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 medium-size egg
  • 4 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup dried apple chips
  • 1 tbsp baking powder

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Mix water, applesauce, honey, egg, and vanilla together in bowl.
  3. Add remaining ingredients and blen well.
  4. Pour into lightly greased muffin pans.
  5. Bake for 1 ¼ hours

https://siouxhoney.com/recipe/pupcakes-pet-treats/

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Double Sweet-Sweet Potato Dog Cookies

Sweet potatoes contain vitamin A, B6, and fiber. These homemade dog treats are great for diabetic dogs because sweet potatoes may help stabilize blood sugar and lower insulin resistance.
Pumpkin: Substitute or add fresh or canned pumpkin for this recipe but not pumpkin pie filling.
Wheat-Free: Use a gluten-free flour like potato, rice, or oat.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 large sweet potato
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/8 cup honey
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Peel and cut sweet potato into 1-inch chunks. Place into a microwave-safe bowl, cover with a paper towel, and heat for 2 minutes or until soft.
  3. Mash soft sweet potato chunks with a fork.
  4. Stir together with the applesauce and honey.
  5. Lightly beat the egg and mix into potato mixture.
  6. Gradually stir in flour until combined.
  7. Lightly grease a baking sheet or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  8. Using a 1-inch cookie scooper, place round mounds onto the baking sheet.
  9. Bake for 20 minutes.
  10. Cool on wire rack.
  11. Keep in refrigerator and use within one week. May be frozen for up to 6 months.

Yield: Makes approximately 20 dog cookies.

http://www.dogtreatkitchen.com/recipe-for-dog-treats.html

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Becky Hardin’s Peanut Butter Dog Treats

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup peanut butter (BE SURE IT CONTAINS NO XYLITOL)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons honey

For the Frosting:
⅓ cup cornstarch (or potato starch or arrowroot powder)
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 tablespoon honey
3-4 tablespoons hot water

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
  2. Combine flour and egg in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add peanut butter, water, and honey. Stir until dough is stiff, mixing with your hands if necessary.
  4. Roll out dough about 1/2 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Make different shapes using cookie cutters.
  5. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until golden.
  6. Once done, set aside to cool (with smaller cookies, shorten baking time to prevent burning).
  7. To make frosting, combine peanut butter and honey, and microwave in 15-second increments, mixing each time.
  8. Stir melted peanut butter mixture into cornstarch until just combined.
  9. Add 1 tablespoon water at a time until reaching desired consistency.
  10. Add icing to a piping bag and pipe designs on each dog treat.
  11. Frost treats with the peanut butter/honey mixture if desired.
  12. Store in an airtight container or give as gifts!
  13. Upload an image on Instagram or tag me @thecookierookie!

Becky’s Tips:
You’re making two different frosting consistencies. Thicker frosting will hold the outline; thinner frosting will fill the inside.
To make thicker frosting, you need 2-3 tablespoons of water to be thick enough to hold its shape but thin enough to be squeezed through a piping tip. Use it to create the outline of your design and let dry about 10 minutes.
Thinner frosting requires at least 3-4 tablespoons of water. Fill in the outline with the thinner frosting, smoothing it out with your fingertip.
Since some dogs have an allergy to wheat, you can make wheat-free treats by using rice flour or coconut flour.
XYLITOL is an artificial sweetener that can be fatal to dogs, so always check food labels first! Some peanut butter contains xylitol.

https://www.thecookierookie.com/pb-dog-treats/

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Homemade CAT Treats With Honey

Raw Honey Catnip Bites

Do cats eat honey? Oh, yes!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of organic catnip
  • 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup dry milk
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 tablespoon raw honey
  • 1 large egg

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate mixing bowls, then combine by adding the wet mixture to the dry mixture to form a dough.
  3. Roll out the dough, adding more whole wheat flour if needed.
  4. Cut dough into small shapes or squares.
  5. Bake catnip bites for about 20 minutes or until light brown.
  6. Allow to cool completely.
  7. Place in an airtight container in refrigerator or freezer.

TIP: Although many people think milk is good for cats, many can’t digest dairy products because they don’t produce lactase. Lactose is the enzyme that breaks down the sugar lactose that naturally occurs in milk products. You’ve heard of some people being lactose intolerant. Although cats can digest flour and eggs, they can’t tolerate dough containing yeast because it can cause bloating and even alcohol poisoning. If you think this recipe is one your cat will love, then get cooking!

https://manukahoneyusa.com/how-to-make-honey-catnip-bites-for-your-cat/

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Tuna & Honey Cat Treats

INGREDIENTS:

  • Cooked fresh tuna 2.5 ounces / 70 grams
  • Eggs 2 ounces / 60 grams
  • Honey 1.77 ounces / 50 grams
  • Carrots 0.7 ounces / 20 grams
  • Rice flour

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 355F.
  2. Roast fresh tuna and pumpkin until smooth, then cool and crush.
  3. Peel and grate carrots.
  4. In a bowl, beat egg, then add carrot, tuna, and honey. If needed, add some rice flour to make an even dough.
  5. Form little balls and sprinkle with rice flour.
  6. Place the treats on greased tray or parchment paper on baking tray and bake 10-15 minutes.
  7. Cool at room temperature.
  8. Store in a tightly sealed container for 1 week.

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Homemade RABBIT Treats With Honey


Do rabbits eat honey? Oh, yes!

Bunny Biscuits

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 carrot, pureed carrot
  • 1/2 banana, mashed
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/4 cup rabbit pellets
  • 1/4 cup of oatmeal.

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 325F.
  2. With a coffee grinder or blender, grind the rabbit pellets and oatmeal into fine powder.
  3. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
  4. Knead dough with your hands 1-2 minutes.
  5. Roll dough into 1/4-inch layers between parchment paper or wax paper.
  6. Cut dough in small squares or cut with small cookie cutters.
  7. Bake for 30 minutes. Turn heat off and allow cookies to sit in the oven for about an hour. Refrigerate extras.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Rabbit-Treats

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Rabbit or Guinea Pig Treats

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup oatmeal
  • 1 cup rabbit pellets
  • 2/3 cup natural or low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons honey

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. In large bowl mix all ingredients.
  3. Roll out dough and cut into shapes.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes.
  5. Turn off oven and leave treats in the oven for an hour.
  6. Serve.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Rabbit-Treats

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Rabbit Honey Balls

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/4 cup crushed Weetabix
  • 1/4 cup oats, honey,
  • 1/3 cup crushed rabbit pellets
  • 1 carrot, finely chopped
  • Honey

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Mix everything together except honey.
  2. Add honey a little bit at a time just enough to make ingredients stick together.
  3. Roll into small quarter-sized balls.
  4. Serve in moderation since frequent sweets can cause dental issues, obesity, and diabetes.

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Final Thoughts

Do bees eat honey? Now you know that honeybees eat honey along with many other animals. Honey is a nutritional and medicinal substance made by creatures that have helped support life on earth for millions of years.

If we claim to love animals and love our earth, then it’s our responsibility to ensure that bees are protected. Using pesticides and herbicides results in killing off bee colonies.

Maintaining grass lawns instead of flowering plants contributes to the decline of bee populations. In fact, declining diversity of plants is the main cause of the decline of native bees. Each of you reading this can make a difference! To learn more, check out our resources below after one last joke:
If there’s a bee in my hand, what’s in my eye?
Bee-eauty. Bee-eauty is in the eye of the bee-holder.

Resources

A magazine for beekeepers:
https://www.beeculture.com/12-types-of-honey/

The best water for bees:
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26345

All about pollinators:
https://ucanr.edu/sites/PollenNation/Meet_The_Pollinators/Bees_496/#:~:text=Most%20bees%2C%20approximately%2075%25%2C,nests%20tunneled%20into%20the%20soil.

What kinds of flowers bees prefer:
https://www.almanac.com/best-flowers-bees

Learn about Greater Honeyguides in Mozambique:
https://www.audubon.org/news/meet-greater-honeyguide-bird-understands-humans#:~:text=Flock%20Together-,Meet%20the%20Greater%20Honeyguide%2C%20the%20Bird%20That%20Understands%20Humans,simple%20%22brrr%2Dhm.%22&text=The%20Greater%20Honeyguide%20is%20the%20Jekyll%20and%20Hyde%20of%20birds

Can Dogs Eat Beets? How To Use Beets For Allergies, Liver Health & Immunity

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Can dogs eat beets? Which kind of beets are you asking about? Red beets? Golden beets? Sugar beets? We’re going to answer all those questions as well as many others. What’s more, we’re going to leave you singing — wait and see!

Are Beets Good for Dogs?

In the wild, the wolf ancestors of dogs were not pure carnivores. Not only did they feed on the different kinds of prey they caught, but they took advantage of other available nutrition sources such as eggs, insects, fish, vomit, and poop. In addition, they also ate their prey’s stomach contents containing plant material.

We’ve all seen our dogs eat grasses as well as a variety of vegetables and fruits. Beets are just one of many veggies that make an excellent canine dietary supplement when prepared correctly. Moreover, others include carrots, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, and squash such as zucchini. Check out our Tips for Happy Tails often because we post new articles on pet nutrition all the time!

What’s the Best Food for Dogs?

If you’re one of those people always reading food labels, good! That’s important. However, you need to know how to read between the lines to understand what “beef dinner” or “meat meal” or “complete and balanced” really means. Labels present as well as hide a lot of information because they’re composed by marketing experts, not nutritionists.

One way to ensure that your dog gets the best food possible is to make it yourself using the right balance of fresh, organic ingredients. Have you ever made pancakes from scratch? Even if you haven’t, you know from common sense that you don’t add eight crocodile eggs to a half cup of flour, and you don’t fry the batter in WD-40 oil. The ingredients have to be digestible and in the right proportion. So it is with natural dog food.

An increasingly popular way of providing pets with delicious and healthful meals is with the BARF diet: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. When you know the basics of canine nutrition, you know exactly what ingredients will do more than meet the bare minimum legal requirements the way most commercial foods are formulated.

They will make your beloved buddy feel good all the time. About your question “Can dogs eat beets?” — just keep reading to find out why the answer is YES.

How Do Beets Improve Dogs’ Health? Benefits of Beetroot For Dogs

can dogs eat beets raw

Whenever dog lovers ask a question like “Can dogs eat beets?”, they show how much they care. As you can see below, beets contain a wealth of nourishment as well as many other micronutrients not listed:

  • Beta-carotene: Precursor to Vitamin A aiding in skin and coat health as well as eyes, immune system, and mucus membranes
  • Betalains and other anti-oxidants: Appear to have therapeutic benefits for oxidative stress and inflammation
  • Fiber: Needed for digestion, blood sugar stabilization, fat metabolism, and a sensation of satisfaction after eating
  • Iron: Needed to form blood and aid in energy metabolism
  • Magnesium: Needed for enzyme and hormone function, cell membranes, and formation of bones and teeth
  • Manganese: Needed for enzyme function, nerve function, and bone development
  • Nitrates: Plant-sourced nitrates promote blood vessel health and lower blood pressure
  • Potassium: Needed for nerve function, enzyme function, and blood chemistry
  • Vitamin A: Needed for growth, vision, and immune function
  • Vitamin B9 (folate): Needed for protein synthesis and metabolism and hemoglobin function
  • Vitamin B12: Needed for enzyme function, white blood cells, appetite
  • Vitamin C: Did you know that dogs don’t need a source of vitamin C because their bodies manufacture it?

Scientists are actively exploring many aspects of beet nutrition, so keep your eyes peeled for updates on this exciting topic.

How to Use Beets for Dog Allergies

beet for dog allergies

Although scientists are discovering more and more about allergies and inflammation all the time, there’s still a lot to learn. Allergic reactions are the result of an overactive and misguided immune system. It appears that many allergic and inflammatory conditions result from continued exposure to toxins as well as a chronically imbalanced diet.

One of the best things you can do for your pets’ health is to learn about the benefits of organic, natural foods from clean sources and fed in the right proportions. If clean food is good for you, why wouldn’t it be good for your pets? Canines have different dietary requirements from humans, but clean is clean.

Can dogs eat beets as part of a clean BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet? Absolutely yes! Beets contain several nutrients that are very beneficial for skin and immune system health. Be sure to feed as recommended without overdoing it.

Are Beets Safe for Dogs?

Can dogs eat beets as much as they want? No. The liquid with canned beets has a high sodium content plus chemicals leached from the coatings used to line the cans. The skin of raw beets is tough and can cause choking or intestinal blockage. Being naturally acidic, beets can irritate the digestive tract of some dogs, causing vomiting or diarrhea.

paw prints

Beets are high in oxalates which, when ingested in excess, can contribute to kidney stones. Oxalates also bind with calcium and iron, preventing their absorption. They can also aggravate gout, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and allergies. To minimize these issues, choose organic beets and be sure to wash them well and peel the roots.

Can Dogs Eat Beets Raw?

Cows chew their cud to make it more digestible, so you can make raw beets more digestible for your pooch by peeling and grating them and then pureeing or mashing them. If you want to lightly cook them, blanching and steaming will preserve the nutrients better than other methods.

Can Dogs Have Beet Juice?

Can dogs eat beets? By now you know the answer is definitely yes, but the answer about beet juice might surprise you. First, the red liquid sloshing around inside cans of beets is not beet juice — it’s mostly salty water dyed by the beets. It has very few nutrients but can contain BPA (bisphenol A) and other compounds found in polycarbonate plastics used for food containers and for lining metal cans.

Real beet juice is made from water and pureed beetroot. Since beets are higher in sugar than most vegetables, the juice is very sweet. Your dog is better off having beetroot mixed in food, and a big bowl of fresh water on the side. The juice can result in a sudden sugar spike for dogs with diabetes.

Can Dogs Eat Pickled Beets?

can dogs have pickled beets

An occasional slice or pickle bit usually won’t cause a problem, but most pickles contain ingredients that aren’t good for your dogs. As a matter of fact, many pickling ingredients are contrary to our dogs’ health in large doses. You definitely want to avoid pickled snacks for pooches with kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, or weight problems. Here are the culprits:

  • Salt/sodium: Can raise blood pressure and aggravate certain medical conditions such as kidney and heart disease
  • Vinegar: Is acidic and can cause digestive upsets, bad for dogs with kidney disease
  • Sugar: Fattening, bad for dogs with diabetes, cardiac conditions, and obesity
  • Xylitol: Sugar substitute highly toxic to dogs
  • Myristicin in cinnamon and nutmeg: Toxic to dogs
  • Onion: Toxic to dogs
  • Garlic: Toxic to dogs if not given correctly

How To Prepare Beets For Dogs

Choose organically grown beets and use them at their freshest. Scrub them to remove unwanted residues and spray or rinse the greens thoroughly. Peel the skin from the beetroot. Store unused portions in the refrigerator or freeze.

dog recipe

BEETS FOR DOGS — A HEALTHY & TASTY DOG FOOD RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

Chicken: 2lb./900 kg. chicken breasts
Beets: 1 large or 2 small fresh beets, peeled
Greens: Bag of mixed leafy greens
Brown rice: 1 cup (250 ml)
Yogurt: 1/2 cup

DIRECTIONS:

  • Bake the chicken breast at 350F about 20 minutes until the juices run clear.
  • Add beets and cook for about 30-35 minutes.
  • Cook rice and add an extra 1/2 cup water.
  • Add mixed leafy greens to rice mixture while cooking.
  • Grate beets and cube chicken breast.
  • Combine everything.
  • Call your dog for dinner!

https://www.wagthedoguk.com/2015/01/13/beets-for-dogs-recipe


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dog recipe

OATMEAL, BANANA, AND BEET DOG TREATS

INGREDIENTS:

1 mashed banana
1 beet, peeled
1 cup flour
1 cup oats
¼ Cup plain yogurt

DIRECTIONS:

  • Add 2 inches of water into pot and bring to a boil.
  • Add beet to steaming basket and place in the steamer pot. Steam until tender, about 25 minutes.
  • Remove pot, let cool.
  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, mash cooled beet until smooth.
  • Put oats into a blender or food processor and make into a flour consistency.
  • Mix beet, banana, and yogurt together.
  • Fold in flour and oats.
  • Form a dough ball and roll out on a flat, floured surface.
  • Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
  • Place shapes onto cookie sheets.
  • Back at 350 degrees for 11- 14 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and let cool down at least 30 minutes.
  • Store in airtight container, but first don’t forget to share one or two with the dog.

NOTES:
Roll dough out on parchment paper for easier clean-up.
Place parchment paper on cooling rack before placing cookies on the rack
Wear gloves to work with this dough unless you don’t mind pink hands.

https://www.housethatbarks.com/oatmeal-banana-and-beet-dog-treats/2

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dog recipe

BEET COOKIES FOR DOGS

INGREDIENTS:

8 oz. cooked beets
1 cup + 1 Tbsp whole wheat flour (or flour of your choice)
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp coconut oil (or oil of your choice)
Sour Cream Icing optional if you want to frost cookies

Sour Cream Icing
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp honey
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp water
1-2 drops of leftover beet puree

INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Place beets in food processor or blender and process until pureed.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl with a hand mixer or wooden spoon, combine flour, baking powder, pureed beets, honey, and coconut oil. Mix until combined, taking care not to over-mix.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to about ¼” thick. Using whatever cookie cutter you desire, cut out shapes from cookie dough. Place on prepared baking sheet about an inch apart.
  • Bake cookies for 15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving to a metal rack to cool completely.
  • Once cookies are cool, top with sour cream icing. You can either spread on with a spatula or pipe on with a pastry bag.

Sour Cream Icing
Put sour cream, honey, cornstarch, and water in a small bowl and whisk together. Add in a little bit of beet puree or natural food coloring to give icing a pink tinge if desired.

NOTES:
Keep a little bit of the beet puree to the side to use to color your icing.
Feel free to use any type of flour and oil you want for these cookies.
Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you’ve made the recipe!

https://wearenotmartha.com/beet-cookies-for-dogs/3

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Why You Should Feed Your Dog Beets

You should feed your dog beets from local organic sources because it supports your community, your country, and your planet. In fact, if you want to plant beets in your garden for your canine buddy and you to share, they’re not difficult to grow if you live in a cooler climate. Gardening is a great activity to enjoy together!

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

Can Dogs Eat Beet Greens?

Like the beetroot, beet greens should be fed in moderation because they contain high levels of oxalates and nitrates. These two compounds work together to cause the same kind of kidney problems that beets can bring on if consumed in large amounts. They’re very nutritious for humans as well as dogs, but go easy.

Can Dogs Eat Beets Of Different Colors?

Red beets are the most nutritious for your canine buddy. While golden beets are high in antioxidants, they’re also a little higher in sugar. White beets are the sweetest, contributing over half of the domestic sugar production in the United States.

Are Beets Good For The Liver?

Is beetroot good for dogs

The liver is a busy organ in the body. It works 24/7 filtering every drop of blood to identify and detoxify harmful compounds but it has to be healthy to function. In addition, beets not only contribute iron but also a significant number of antioxidants to fight inflammation and oxidative stress.

Will Red Beets Make Dogs’ Pee and Poop Turn Pink Or Purple?

Compounds in red beets have been used for hundreds of years as a natural dye. Did you know that some Victorians used it to color their hair? It definitely can add an unusual but temporary pink or red tinge to your pooch’s pee and poop.

Final Thoughts

Can dogs eat beets? Now you know. And the more you know, the more power you have to change life for the better for you and your canine companions. From now on, maybe one of Sonny and Cher’s famous songs will remind you of the many health benefits of this beautiful vegetable and you won’t be able to stop yourself from singing, “And the beet goes on … and the beet goes on!”

paw prints

Resources for More Information

Why beets can’t be beat for humans:
https://explore.globalhealing.com/benefits-of-beets/

Learn more about canine nutrition:
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/10668/dog_nutrition_final_fix.pdf

Information about the BARF Diet:
https://perfectlyrawsome.com/raw-feeding-knowledgebase/biologically-appropriate-raw-food-barf-adult-dogs/

Curious about a BEETles song written with a sound in it that only your dog can hear?
https://www.gigwise.com/news/85705/

How Long Do Crickets Live? The Amazing Cricket

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Crickets have long been a fascinating insect to humanity as a whole since the beginning of their discovery in time. Depending on how we choose to perceive crickets and their many varieties has developed our initial approach to how long do crickets live?

Generally, we have always heard crickets before we have ever seen them. Their sound is a soothing symphony to most of us everywhere we go in the warmer weather and, evenings of the year. Their sound tells us that everything is okay.

It is always so impressive when we are out camping and listening to the cricket chorus in the evening when all of the sudden for some reason they all come to a complete cricket chirping stop and the forest is completely silent. Then one cricket starts chirping then several more and then the entire cricket symphony begins again.

One of the many benefits of camping and being in the woods.

How Long Do Crickets Live?

Crickets do not survive for more than a year. A field cricket dies in winter, but house crickets can survive the low temperature and live for a year inside the warm temperature of a home. On the other hand, mole crickets live deep under the ground for two years. The cricket life cycle has three stages: egg, nymph, and adult.

Crickets have four stages in their life cycle. It begins with breeding and around two weeks later the female lays her eggs in her chosen location.

where do crickets live

Crickets As Pets? It Is Possible

They make great pets to observe but are not the touchy-feely type. If you can make your cricket feel comfortable he or she will stay with you. Most crickets in the wild will see you coming and very quickly leave into whatever cover that they are close to. But there are those exceptions when cricket will jump on you or near you and that will enable you to begin the relationship-building process with the cricket, those are wonderful moments.

So, depending on how you obtain your cricket, it is best if you have a small aquarium. Next, give them a comfortable environment to observe and feed them in. Then give them objects to go in and crawl on. They do have a very curious side to them if they don’t feel threatened. This means that they will hang out with you on your hand or arm with very little movement on your part.

Go Catch A Cricket

One thing we suggest to people that are interested in having cricket as a pet is to go outside and catch one. You will instantly notice that depending on the age of the cricket that you catch is that some are more curious about you than others. They have very individual personalities. So, keep catching carefully until you catch the cricket that works for and with you.

This may take a moment because after finding them most crickets will be afraid of being approached and caught. Imagine a giant reaching down to pick you up. It brings fear to most people just thinking about it. The key to it is your approach. It should be slow and methodical.

Then once caught be still with them in your hand. Give them a moment to acclimate to being caught and in your hand. This moment of stillness will determine your relationship with your new friend. It will allow the cricket to relax and determine your intentions. If done right your cricket will stay with you. If not it will jump away. No worries just try again with another cricket. The better you get at being still the sooner your cricket will stay with you.

Yes. It is important to let the cricket choose you as well. Cricket has a choice too. Do not just catch the cricket and put it in a container. The cricket that stays with you is your new friend and pet. Love it well.

Crickets And Their Sound Of Music

When crickets make their sound it is the males calling out to the females that we hear. They do this by rubbing their wings together which makes the sound that attracts the females. Also, chirping is used to drive off other males and is a territorial display. The frequency of the cricket chirp is around 9,000 to 10,000 Hz. http://songsofinsects.com/biology-of-insect-song

Where Do Crickets Live? In The Wild

how long do crickets live

Crickets are pretty versatile with where they like to hang out and a lot of it has to do with a food source, water, climate, and preditors. So when you ask where do crickets live? It is just about anywhere where there is dirt a food source and a little bit of moisture some shade or darkness. They are pretty hardy insects as long as the environment is right.

They prefer shadows and darker places because they are nocturnal which means they prefer to be out at night and call out for their mates at night as well. Hence, their beautiful chorus in the evenings and all through the night. What peaceful joy it is to hear.

You can find crickets at the base of almost anything in nature, plants, rocks, foliage, the root base of grass where it is cool when it is hot and when it is cool where it is warm. The roots are an ideal place for the females to deposit their eggs that will hatch in about two weeks or the following season if the weather is starting to get cold.

They like to be out of sight of predators which is not an easy task for crickets. Crickets are on the menu of birds, lizards, rats, frogs, mice even kitty cats, and more. After crickets pass on the ants will make a quick clean-up of their little insect bodies. It is always interesting to watch the ants bring the cricket parts back to their house for food.

Click Here To Listen To Audios Of Various Types Of Crickets

Crickets Indoors – Crickets In The House

We have crickets in the house during the summer months. They come in where it is cooler away from the heat. Their chirping in the house is a giveaway to us and also the cats to find them and start playing with them.

That usually determines how long do crickets live in our house if we are not there to rescue the cricket and put it outside away from the kitty cats.

How Long Do Crickets Live Without Food Or Water?

The answer varies depending upon the temperature and the availability of food and a water source. Generally, to determine how long do crickets live it is dehydration that will get them first because they can eat just about anything if they have to.

From wallpaper to leather that has had food or oil on it to the fabric on your furniture it is all fair game for Crickets to eat. Also, the clothes in your closet other insects, fruit, and dead carcass even each other if there is no other food source the dominant cricket will prevail.

Generally how long do crickets live is around a week or two without food or water depending on the environment that they are in. They can live up to a year if the environment is right.

How Do Crickets Reproduce 

The male calls out to the female by chirping. He rubs his wings together to make his soothing sound. The sound that they make is species-specific so that he attracts the right female to him. When she arrives the male and female mate.

She then carries the seamen with her fertilizing her eggs and moves on to deposit her eggs in the ground or a chosen location. She does this by inserting a long tube from her abdomen into the ground that is called an ovipositor.

The female can lay quite a few eggs per day. After she deposits her egg in about two weeks the young emerge from their eggs as nymphs. They are very small and do not have wings at this point in their journey. If the eggs are laid in the fall months the eggs will hatch the following spring when the weather is warmer and conducive to the youngs success.

The young go through a series of moltings. This is where the outside of their body coverings crack open and they emerge as a new and larger cricket. They walk out of the clear covering and leave it behind. This can occur about six to eight times to the point that they are adults and have grown wings.

FAQ

How Do Crickets Hear?

Crickets have small eardrums behind their knees on their legs that allow them to hear sound and feel vibrations. They spend a lot of time cleaning their legs so they stay clean but also to keep their hearing in perfect order.

How To Identify A Male Or Female Cricket

The Females have two antennae looking like things coming out of the back of their abdomen called cerci. The middle antennae is the ovipositor which she uses to lays her eggs through. The males have only two antennae or cerci at the end of their abdomen.

What Do Crickets Like To Eat?

what do crickets eat

When it comes to how long do crickets live Crickets are Omnivorous which means they can eat both plant and animal parts or just about whatever is available to them. This attribute makes them highly successful in the insect world. Being able to eat whatever is available increases their chance of survival and allows them to adapt to changing environments.

How Long Do Crickets Chirp At Night?

A Cricket’s day is at night. This is called nocturnal behavior when they do their living during their day at night. You will hear Crickets chirp during the day because they are in a dark place or under something that keeps the light away from them but that is the exception and not the rule. The warmer the weather the louder the chirping because they are simply more active in a warmer climate.

Crickets have different chirps for different occasions. They call out louder to attract female crickets. They tone it down when females approach and mate with the males and they have a softer after courtship chirp when they are done matting.

Male crickets have a loud aggressive chirp to ward off other competing male crickets and it is a way to also get the females to pay attention to them as well.

It is the male cricket that creates the sound of chirping to attract the females and they do this by rubbing ruff spots together on their wings. The left-wing has many ribs on it and this area is called the file. The right-wing is called the scraper and when the Cricket learns how to play his wings by rubbing them together he produces the sounds of attraction and repulsion that we hear at night and in the warmer weather of the year.

What Is The Difference Between Crickets And Grasshoppers?

whats the difference between grasshoppers an crickets

At first glance, it appears that there are not many differences between Crickets and Grasshoppers but upon closer examination, there are striking differences.

Because Crickets are active during the nighttime hours they have colors that correspond with the night such as shades of blacks and browns tans and light greens. Better to blend in and hide from predators that determine how long do crickets live.

Grasshoppers are out during the day and correspondingly they have shades of greens and browns coloring to match the foliage that they are on or around. Again blending into the environment that they are in so that they are not as obvious to predators.

When it comes to size the Grasshopper is larger. Anywhere from one and a half inches to four inches long. The Cricket will size in at around three-quarters of an inch to two inches long.

Also, the Grasshopper has larger back legs than do Crickets.

Crickets have longer antennae than do Grasshoppers.

Do Crickets Fly?

Yes, some do. In particular, when it comes to how long do crickets live the House Cricket and the Field Cricket have wings and do fly as a means of avoiding predators or danger. There are Crickets that do not have wings and mainly live in the ground such as the Jerusalem Cricket.

The Camel Cricket does not have wings and on an interesting note is not part of the Gryllidae family but it looks like a Cricket and is often seen and is so associated with Crickets.

Concluding Thoughts

How long do crickets live? Well, we’ve talked about not only the actual time frames that crickets do live but about the conditions and factors that determine the cricket’s lifespan.  The identification between a cricket and a grasshopper should be clear now and how you can befriend these beautiful creatures. And now you know their favorite habitats and intricate details about their unique anatomy such as how crickets hear.  Above all, crickets create a beautiful symphony for us during certain seasons if we only tune in and receive their bountiful gift.  

Other Posts of Interest

What Do Butterflies Eat? And How To Attract Them To Your Yard
Cockatiel Lifespan: Everything You Need To Know Guide 2022
Where Do Seagulls Sleep? Gulls Sleep In The Open

Great Dane Lifespan: Complete Guide To A Long Life

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How long do Great Danes live? Not long enough! The world would be a better place if there were more of these friendly, affectionate, playful, gentle giants. Although the average Great Dane lifespan is only 7-10 years, you have it within your power to add to it. And we’re going to tell you all the ways you can do just that!

Why Do People Love Great Danes?

In addition to their comically expressive faces, Great Danes have an endearing temperament and personality. First, do you know the difference between temperament and personality? Temperament refers to an inborn genetic tendency toward certain behaviors.

In other words, temperament is a natural predisposition. Personality, on the other hand, is one’s identity based on temperament but developed over the years. It includes learned behaviors from parental upbringing, cultural surroundings, and exposure to other influences. Here are a few of the especially lovable traits that Great Danes possess:

  • Playfulness and Humor: Dane lovers observe that their dogs seem to respond to the sound of human laughter and quickly learn to keep doing things to make people laugh more.
  • Loyalty: Sometimes called “velcro dogs,” Danes bond closely with their humans with a high level of affection and devotion. They like to lean on you and want to cuddle in your lap.
  • Companionability: As a breed, Great Danes are generally accepting of new friends of all ages.
  • Tolerance and Gentleness: They demonstrate amazing patience toward the antics of small children, puppies, and other such lively creatures. As adults, they seem to sense the need for gentleness and care during play. A word of caution: as exuberant puppies, not so much!
  • Big Hearts: These sweet dogs have sensitive feelings so don’t make fun of them. As a matter of fact, they literally do have big hearts! The dog is the animal with the largest heart-to-body-mass ratio, more than elephants and humans.

Great Dane Breed Characteristics & Interesting Facts

how long do great danes live

Why Are Great Danes So Big?

Dogs have been partnering with humans all over the world for thousands of years. Just as humans adapted to the demands of the local climate and activities of survival, so did dogs. Big hunting hounds appear in ancient Egyptian art as well as in ancient Chinese literature. By the Middle Ages, several different kinds of muscular dogs were used for hunting boars, bears, and other large animals.

It was only natural that dogs were included as valuable commodities traded among the various kingdoms. Many of the dogs were kept indoors to guard the families against invaders and assassins. Since most of the bloodlines came from Germany and England, the reason for the breed’s name change in the 1800s is unknown. Although originally bred to corner and hold game during the hunt, today these hounds are known for lacking a strong prey drive.

The Great Dane Body

Great Danes characteristically stand out not only for their size but for their powerful, heavily boned, smoothly muscled bodies. They can stand well over 40 inches at the shoulders and weigh 100-200 pounds. Males are generally larger than females. They have big heads, big mouths, big teeth, and big drool.

Their ears are typically big, too, and naturally floppy. For protection against boars’ tusks, hunting dogs’ ears were cropped. Today, since Danes are mostly companion animals, the practice of cropping has been banned in many countries or only legally performed by veterinary surgeons. There’s no health reason to deprive anybody of their ears.

Coat and Grooming Needs

The Great Dane coat is short and flat and comes in a variety of colors. The only color to avoid is pure white because it’s frequently linked genetically to vision and hearing disabilities. Do Great Danes shed? Not only are they moderate to heavy shedders, but there are also many more square inches of furry skin compared to most other dogs.

Almost all dogs shed. Canine coats are divided into two types: single and double. Double coats have a thick, soft undercoat covered by a long, thick overcoat of guard hairs. Danes have single coats without the insulating undercoat. They shed year-round but usually more during spring.

Besides good nutrition and general health maintenance, the best thing you can do to manage shedding is to brush your pooch’s coat often. Brushing is also a wonderful bonding activity to share because it’s calming and soothing.

A large shedding brush or bristle brush used a couple of times weekly is good, although using it daily is even better. Bathing too often will cause dry skin, so it’s important to use a pH-neutral shampoo formulated for dogs with natural ingredients instead of dyes and artificial additives.

Natural Tendencies of Great Danes

  • Barking: Low
  • Digging: Low
  • Drooling: High
  • Energy Level: Average
  • Guarding Ability: Althogh naturally protective of their households and intimidating with their size and deep bark, Danes are not naturally aggressive.
  • Heat Tolerance: High; they like hot weather
  • Metabolism: High; they grow fast and their bodies require lots of energy to function
  • Playfulness: High
  • Snoring: Low
  • Shedding: High; easy to groom but need regular and frequent grooming
  • Social Needs: High; they easily become lonely and need your company
  • Trainability: Generally eager to please but need attentive training due to size; can understand 150-250 words and hand signals; however, thinking beings with brains are susceptible to boredom
  • Water Behavior: Varies from individual to individual; can swim but not genetically bred to work in water; although their body shape is good for swimming, lean muscle is dense and heavy

Activity & Exercise

what do great danes eat

The right kind of regular activity and exercise will not only extend the Great Dane life expectancy but their quality of life as well. In addition, sharing active fun together will strengthen your shared social bond and probably extend your own life expectancy. Although your Dane might be content to lie around like a giant bag of couch potatoes, the pent-up energy will break loose sooner or later.

For optimum health provide up to two hours of activity daily in separate sessions lasting 20-40 minutes. One to three walks every day plus some form of brisk freestyle activity is recommended. Unlike some breeds, a Great Dane’s bones and joints, especially in rapidly growing puppies, can be harmed by too much exercise.

Daily Walks And Plenty Of Cardio

Hip damage in the first year or two will last a lifetime. While daily walks provide physical, mental, and social stimulation, humans walk too slowly to give long-legged dogs the level of activity they need. Jogging and visits to dog parks can supplement the daily walks as well as games such as fetch and opportunities to swim.

Be ready to slow things down if your Great Dane starts getting tired; an exhausted animal risks becoming injured. When Shakespeare commented that “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,” he might have been thinking of the welfare of an exuberant giant hound. Instead of asking about the Great Dane lifespan, you might ask about what age they’re considered to be seniors.

By age seven most of them have developed joint problems such as arthritis, pain, and lameness in the hips. Your dog’s veterinarian can help you adjust the kinds and amounts of activities accordingly.

Signs Of Lack Of Exercise

If your Great Dane isn’t getting enough exercise, you might observe:

  • Obesity: You should be able to see ribs under the muscle.
  • Abnormal restlessness: Pacing, barking, and other signs of unrelieved energy.
  • Destructive behaviors: Chewing and even aggression are often caused by frustration.

Walking Big Dogs Safely

To walk your big dog safely, train your dog from an early age — taking a training class together will be one of the best investments of your life. The rest of this section is about choosing the right gear for your safety. To have physical control of your dog, you need a good-quality collar or harness that fits properly without causing pain.

You also need a strong non-retractable leash. Slip your thumb through the leash loop and use your other hand to control the amount of slack between you and your dog. While you don’t want your dog to escape, neither do you want surgery to repair your fractured hand. You’ll need to wear snugly fitting footwear with good traction in case the dog lunges or pulls.

You may even want knee protectors. Because both hands need to be free for handling the leash, some people wear a fanny pack for reward treats, cleanup bags, and other belongings. Remember that walking is not just for your dog “to do his business” or to hurry through 20 minutes of required exercise. It’s an opportunity for bonding as you and your buddy explore the world together.

Can Great Danes Swim?

Hundreds of years ago, the mastiff-like hunting dogs were bred to chase down and corner large game animals on land. Consequently, the modern Great Dane is not automatically compelled to gallop into bodies of water the same way retrievers often do. However, many enjoy getting wet. You can gradually introduce your Dane to water with the garden hose or sprinkler if the water isn’t frigid and the spray is gentle.

Many people start with a kiddie-type wading pool in the security of their backyard without distractions or loud, frightening noises. The idea is to make the first experiences pleasant. Since you and your dog belong to the same pack, you can enhance the experience by getting wet together.

Share the joy! This is where training comes in handy because when you direct your dog to HEEL, fear is replaced by the need to follow. Bring a favorite toy into the water as an added temptation.

If your Great Dane has joint problems, or any issues with pain or stress, hydrotherapy might provide a welcome activity option. The water is relaxing, offering buoyancy as well as resistance without stressing the joints. To learn more about recreational hydrotherapy at home or a supervised rehabilitation program, talk to your dog’s vet.

average lifespan of a great dane

Medicinal Benefits of a Biologically Appropriate Diet

A natural, nutrient-dense diet of fresh ingredients is one of the key factors in the Great Dane lifespan and quality of life. Scientists aren’t fully sure why large dogs have short lifespans but research is ongoing. It seems related to a high metabolism — needing more energy to carry out cellular functions while battling oxidative stress.

An ongoing invisible war rages in all of our bodies as antioxidants try to stabilize the damage caused by an overabundance of free radical molecules. Free radicals are generated by both internal and external sources. Although some enzymes scavenge free radicals, a large number of certain antioxidants are supplied by a biologically appropriate diet.

paw prints

BARFing is good! A BARF diet (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) means fresh, natural, unprocessed food containing a balance of proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other ingredients necessary for optimum health. The nutrients are bioavailable in a form that is easily absorbed by the body. For example, it’s not enough to give your dog protein: shoe leather is protein but it’s barely digestible and it contains toxic chemicals.

The ideal BARF diet contains no fillers, only useful and usable nutrients. Tragically, many dogs forced to consume certain popular commercial dog brands are not only overweight but malnourished and hungry at the same time because of the excessive amount of non-nutritive additives designed to preserve the food, make it palatable, and alter the appearance so consumers find it visually appealing.

Avoiding Preservatives And Fillers Create Longevity

Because foods manufactured in bulk are difficult to market fresh, they require shelf-stable ingredients such as cornmeal and preservatives in order to last for months instead of days without molding or becoming rancid. Although cooking destroys most bacteria, it also destroys many vitamins and proteins, which then have to be added later in synthetic form during the processing.

So what should you feed your beloved Great Dane for a longer lifespan? Avoid foods causing gas. Read labels so you understand what’s in your dog’s food. Research unbiased reviews of commercial dog foods online. Learn to add natural foods as supplements for a healthier, happier dog. (While you’re at it, check out some of our Tips for Happy Tails posts including the one on seaweed for dogs!).

Not only will your pooch enjoy the variety, but will benefit from the needed nourishment. Because a natural diet is satisfying, it aids in maintaining a healthy weight for your Great Dane. Weight control is a major factor in extending the Great Dane life expectancy.

Clean Purified Or Spring Water A Must

A word about water: opinions differ about the best water for your pets. Many experts believe that if your local tap water is safe for you, then it’s safe for dogs, and local water suppliers can provide information on state regulations and compliance records. Home filtration devices and bottled spring water are alternatives to tap water. A greater concern is poor hydration due to the lack of available fresh water at all times.

Canine Mental & Emotional Health

great dane lifespan

Canines are pack animals, and you’re the pack. What’s more, Great Danes are “people persons” and want to be with you. They want physical contact with you. Because you’re the pack, you have the responsibility of learning to understand their body language and vocal sounds as well as to teach them some of yours.

Have you ever been in love and cherished every glance, every smile, every touch, every message? Great Danes love their humans and crave frequent contact throughout the day.

To strengthen your bond of trust, take advantage of every opportunity to include your pooch in everyday activities. Talk to your dog … express your feelings … show your dog the computer screen … play music to your dog … it’s all good. You can also have fun with toys and games together. Some Dane lovers report that their dogs especially love small squeaky toys. Finally, you can teach your dog things, as we’re going to explain next.

great dane life expectancy

Training Your Great Dane

Training is not boot camp and you are not a drill sergeant! Training represents communication and teamwork. There is no punishment, yelling, or name-calling. Your dog wants to please you but neither one of you is fluent in the other’s language so things will get easier as you learn to work together.

The benefits of training include safety, control during crisis, and the pleasure of working together. Good training classes are available through dog clubs, pet stores, and online. Although many training techniques exist, the most successful ones emphasize a good learning environment, communication, consistency, repetition, and rewards.

  • Learning Environment: The best time for anyone to learn is when they’re comfortable, rested, relaxed, and feeling safe in a distraction-free setting. Knowing that learning will be rewarded with snacks provides a good motivation. Creating teachable moments is important in childhood education but it works for your big dog children, too.
  • Communication: Teacher and pupil need to share a relationship of respect and willingness to communicate. The first step is learning how to learn and learning what to expect in future sessions.
  • Consistency: Consistency breeds confidence. Inconsistency breeds confusion.
  • Repetition: Repeating the steps often will reinforce the desired behaviors.
  • Rewards: Rewards clinch the deal! Choose small, nutritious tidbits for formal training but reward good behavior anytime with affection or a playtime session.

Learn Basic Commands First

Teach these basic commands first for safety, then have fun teaching tricks after these are mastered:
1. Come!
2. Heel!
3. Sit!
4. Down!
5. Stay!
Begin communication training early and reinforce it often. Most trainers use a hand sign with each verbal command. These life-saving directions extend the Great Dane lifespan by ensuring that these big dogs are never out of control because your Dane knows that you’re the top dog providing leadership for the welfare of the pack.

A final point: consider choosing universal terms that other people would use automatically in an emergency if you’re not around. While issuing commands in another language or choosing funny words might seem like fun, your dog’s life might depend on being under control.

Special Considerations for Big Dogs

The growing trend in nursing homes and other medical facilities is “person-centered care” that focuses on the individual needs and preferences of each patient instead of using a “one size fits all” philosophy. The best practices in pet care are tailored in the same way.

Large breeds have special needs. Because of their high metabolism and extra stress on their hearts and joints during rapid growth, you’ll add to the Great Dane lifespan by making some adjustments just for them. How long do Great Danes live? They live longer when their special needs are met.

  • Eating: To prevent orthopedic strain, put food and water bowls on a low table or in a custom elevated dish holder.
  • Bathing: Don’t force a giant dog into a slippery bathtub. A shower stall, basin bath while standing, or outdoor set-up is safer.
  • Nail Trimming: Reread our section on training. If you start early with short, positive sessions, your dog will become conditioned to nail trimming as a regular part of grooming. Trimming your dog’s nails is another way to establish leadership and trust, therefore, reinforcing the bond.
  • Stairs: If your Dane becomes ill or disabled, you’ll need to find a way to navigate stairs in and out of the house as well as into rooms on different levels.
  • Space: Have you been the parent of a teenage boy? Known a teenage boy? Been a teenage boy? Are you a teenage boy? It’s challenging to be unaware of your own size, and nobody should get impatient with you for something that’s not your fault! That’s how it is with Great Danes: they need ample space for zoomies, flinging drool, all those big legs, and their muscular, wildly whipping tails. And don’t be surprised to see a big head resting on the countertop or even stovetop.

Genetic Health Tendencies

How are big dogs different from little dogs? Big dog bodies are prone to unique health issues. Orthopedic problems such as arthritis, hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), and hip dysplasia are unfortunately common in large, fast-growing animals. Arthritis develops over the Great Dane lifespan but can be slowed down or minimized in the ways we’ve discussed.

HOD is a painful autoimmune bone disorder appearing in puppyhood. Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition in which the knob at the top of the thigh bone doesn’t fit correctly into the hip socket. Giant canines can also acquire cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition commonly known as enlarged heart. You see why weight control is so important for your Great Dane.

One of the most severe conditions requiring emergency treatment is bloat. Often but not always the result of a large meal, gas becomes trapped in the twisted digestive tract as pressure builds up. Bloat can also result from gas-producing foods, allergens, poor quality kibble, eating too quickly, exercising after eating, and swallowing air. Dogs following a BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Diet) are much less prone to bloat.

If your dog develops a firm, swollen abdomen or begins retching without vomiting, get veterinary help immediately.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Great Danes

paw prints

Are Great Danes dangerous?
1. Their tails (Some of their enthusiastic “happy tails” run over a foot and a half long and sting like a whip.)
2. Their farts (Large dogs don’t suffer from excessive flatulence but might make the humans around them suffer! Many commercial food ingredients cause indigestion and gas. Anxiety or stress can cause dogs to swallow air as well.)
3. Their size
4. Their drooling

How Old Was the Oldest Great Dane?
Pirate was a handsome gray gentleman in the UK who lived to be 11-1/2 years old. His human, Sarah attributed his longevity to cuddles, love, and happiness. She also said that he wouldn’t have lived so long without a natural diet made of chicken, vegetables, whole grains, and balanced nutrition without artificial ingredients and specially formulated to his age, weight, medical conditions, and taste preferences.

What Is the Difference Between a Watch Dog and a Guard Dog?
A watchdog is like a burglar alarm, ready to alert you to the presence of invaders. A guard dog may or may not bark; some silently go after a perceived threat, either cornering or attacking the offender. Great Danes are protective of the ones they love and appear menacing with their size and deep bark, but since they’ve been bred as companion animals for centuries, they’re not likely to attack without special training.

Do Great Danes Need Another Great Dane to Be Happy?
One of the reasons that dogs inspire the best in humans is their sense of gratitude. Dogs appreciate everything good in their lives even when their needs aren’t being met. In the perfect world, your Dane would have another Dane companion along with you, and you’d all be together all the time!

FACT: If not the same breed or breed type, most dogs do like having at least another compatible pooch of some kind in the household.

How Fast Can Great Danes Run?
They’ve been clocked at 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour), around the average speed of a galloping horse! That’s why the Great Dane lifespan depends on adequate exercise, the right kind of nutrition, and obedience training.

So How Long Do Great Danes Live?

Five years? Twelve years? Some people wonder if smaller Danes live a little longer than larger individuals, and the answer is that they do. And similar to the human species, female Great Danes tend to live a bit longer than males. None of us knows how long we’re going to live, but we’re grateful for whatever time we have.

In fact, think about all the short-lived things in life you enjoy: holidays, parties, meals, sunrises and sunsets, favorite songs, pet hamsters … the list goes on and on. You focus on quality over quantity. Check out this peek into life with a Great Dane.

Final Thoughts

Is a Great Dane right for you? Are you right for a Great Dane? What is the Great Dane lifespan, and how can you extend it? Now you have some answers. You and your Great Dane are members of a very special pack, and you’re very privileged indeed to be adopted by such a gentle giant.

Resources

General Info about Great Danes and Choosing a Healthy One
http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/great-dane

Information about the BARF Diet
https://perfectlyrawsome.com/raw-feeding-knowledgebase/biologically-appropriate-raw-food-barf-adult-dogs/

Online Dog Training Courses
https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/get-btfd/?hop=sage0591

Tips for Happy Tails - where tails matter

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