BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER > DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING
News from Down Under
Michael Bush:
I had some punched plastic ones in the past. I think they tear up their wings more than smooth wire or smooth round plastic ones.
max2:
I mentioned a while back a very large swarms we hived.
I think this was around the 14th October.
We split this swarm into two.
Today I went and had a look at the 10 frame super with the 1/2 without the queen.
As expected there were 5 queen cells.
I split the 10 frames into 2 x 5 frame nuc's - each with a couple of Queen cells. On the 14 November I will open these nuc's again in the hope that both have laying queens!.
I also checked a few more of the nuc's i made a month ago - some are powering but this year I had two duds so far.
We have been taking honey off every day except saturday which was market day. The flow is still on...it will end some day...except if the Brushbox and Ironbark are delivering.
We shall see.
max2:
It has been hot here.The heat has not eased for most of the week and in the middle of the day it is even too hot to do work in the beehouse.
The bees are hanging out of their boxes too cool off.I don't like that look. This is when the SHB sneak in.
Early in the morning I managed to make a few splits, check on some hives, and pick up some queens.By nine the temperature makes work outside uncomfortable..It is not only beework I try to get done in the cooler part of the day, the garden too needs some attention.I can't stop myself from growing seedlings from seed and they need some extra attention.
When the temperature and humidity drives me inside the beehouse there are plenty of jobs waiting for attention.I have been making tealights and just ordered another 500 cups and wicks.I'm always nervous when ordering online.I'm glad and relieved when the right stuff arrives.I have a candle mould which has room for 6 x 5 hrs candles. This mould needs to have the wick inserted - quite a slow process. I can only do six candles and then have to wait for the wax to cool and release the candles.Lovely to see them when they are perfect.Back to inserting the wick and more wax...I will never run out of making up frames. I still do them the very old fashioned way - eyelets, glue, nails top, bottom and sides.. Stainless steel wire.I'm surprised by the number of frames I sell.I have made up jigs for the assembly of the frames and also for the wiring part.It is light work but when the thermometer hits 32C inside the beehouse it is time to move to my office.32C in the beehouse and only 24C in the office - no AC. We built the house more that 30 years ago from subsoil under the house footprint. The 30cm earthwall keeps the rooms lovely and cool.I never have to heat or artificially cool this part of the home.This is also the room where we keep the comb honey. perfect temperature!
Later in the afternoon the heat eases and I can return to the beehouse. A cool breeze generally moves up the valley from the river below us.By late afternoon it is time to check on the cows and move them into a new paddock.
The days are long but it is a rare day when all the jobs are done.There is always another morning
Terri Yaki:
--- Quote from: max2 on November 09, 2024, 03:54:59 am ---The days are long but it is a rare day when all the jobs are done.There is always another morning
--- End quote ---
As I recall, that is farming.
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