Post by: NigelP on October 24, 2021, 08:58:21 am
Today I removed the Apitraz strips from my hives as they had been on for 6 weeks. Then jarred a load of soft set honey ready for a farmers market next weekend.
Just need washing and labelling and they are good to go.
(https://i.ibb.co/nntS0G0/softsetsmall.jpg" alt="softsetsmall)
Post by: Ben Framed on October 24, 2021, 02:22:54 pm
Thanks,
Phillip
Post by: NigelP on October 24, 2021, 02:29:55 pm
Sell them at of 8$ each. Once customers get hold of real smooth soft set honey they are hooked and back for more....which is good for me.
Post by: Ben Framed on October 24, 2021, 02:34:02 pm
12oz or 340gs. I like using hexagonal jars as they stack better (and more of them) in the crate.
Sell them at of 8$ each. Once customers get hold of real smooth soft set honey they are hooked and back for more....which is good for me.
Thank you; Yes I see the advantages, adding these jars promote an extra attractiveness.
I am also curious as what our members are doing in the bee yard. We have members from so many countries and climates.
Phillip
Post by: CoolBees on October 24, 2021, 03:09:26 pm
Post by: NigelP on October 24, 2021, 05:02:30 pm
Basically most honeys will eventually set. Problem is they usually set hard and with coarse crystals. To cut a long story short if you seed liquid honey with a very fine set small grained honey the crystals will act as a seed and crystals will form in the liquid honey at that size and make a soft set honey. To make a small grained honey you take a set one and grind it down with a pestle and mortar to produce your "seed". It's not the end of the story as crystals will aggregate during the process and although the final product is a soft set it will have some large crystals that are a bit like sandpaper on your tongue. To make it smoother you need to grind the crystals against each other. I have a machine, bit like a butter churn, that does the mixing and grinding so the crystals break down to their smallest form. Result is a soft set hidey that is like a paste that always remains soft and spreadable but is has an incredibly smooth texture. Original process (Dyce) was invented in USA for clover honey, but that involved pasteurisation which is not part of the current soft set process.
Hope that helps.
Post by: The15thMember on October 24, 2021, 05:33:48 pm
Pls pardon my ignorance - what is Soft Set honey?Alan, we call it creamed honey in the US. :happy:
Nigel, I can't believe how white that honey is! I've never seen honey that color before, even creamed/soft set. What variety is it?
I'll be in the bee yard tomorrow, so I'll let you know how my day goes. This is a fun idea for a thread, I'm surprised no one has started one like this before.
Post by: NigelP on October 25, 2021, 04:46:06 am
The secret to getting it as white as it is hard work. As the crystals form from the "seed" honey, they tend to aggregate a bit and these need to be broken down. I used to use a long handled potato masher which did the job but was hard work as I was working the honey every few hours for a 2 or 3 days.
Now I have a machine, like a giant butter churn that works the honey for 15 minutes then rests it for an hour before repeating.
You get the same result with any type of honey, but the real secret is I can only get it this white during our winter months as it needs to be cold. And even when it's cold like 2-3C in my bee shed the friction of the crystals rubbing together generates heat so the mixture ends up around 21C, which is about the max you want.
If I try to make it in our summer months it just won't work as well and you bet a darker (read larger crystal) product.
Post by: CoolBees on October 25, 2021, 02:59:24 pm
Post by: LawyerRick on October 25, 2021, 04:17:10 pm
Post by: The15thMember on October 25, 2021, 07:07:51 pm
Post by: Beeboy01 on October 25, 2021, 11:49:01 pm
Already have a table reserved at the local flea market for Halloween and expecting it to be a busy weekend for sales.
Post by: TheHoneyPump on November 12, 2021, 11:38:38 am
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on November 20, 2021, 12:04:00 pm
Post by: LawyerRick on November 20, 2021, 05:47:56 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on November 20, 2021, 07:24:27 pm
Bee careful depending on regular masks for OAV. If the wind shifts, you could bee in serious trouble.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: rast on November 20, 2021, 07:47:47 pm
Post by: NigelP on November 24, 2021, 07:17:29 am
Bee work finished here (apart from messing in workshop).
Post by: Oldbeavo on November 26, 2021, 05:18:32 am
So we are left with a hive with no eggs to form a cell.
we had 4/28 hives in a group queenless, Just as well we have heaps of nucs.
Post by: NigelP on January 03, 2022, 12:37:27 pm
Post by: TheHoneyPump on January 03, 2022, 01:29:13 pm
https://map.beecounted.org/hive/summary/VZ9l
https://map.beecounted.org/hive/summary/z58o
https://broodminder.com/pages/about
Post by: NigelP on January 03, 2022, 03:10:20 pm
Post by: Jim134 on January 03, 2022, 08:31:22 pm
Post by: Lesgold on January 03, 2022, 09:33:40 pm
Post by: Oldbeavo on January 05, 2022, 04:44:51 am
I would not worry about adding pollen frames until early Spring in the first honey flow.
Bees that just hibernate over winter do not need pollen. Alot of our hive are sometimes broodless over winter. Queens abdomen shrinks and she is hard to find.
Our best wintered hives are packed down in April and hardly touched till mid July when we do a pre almond audit to make sure they are strong enough.
If you go back to the post" pollen collection" you will see that we don't, and the bees take what ever pollen they have into winter.
If we do have bees in Autumn on poor pollen or no pollen honey flows we will open feed pollen substitute.
Post by: csull72 on January 05, 2022, 04:58:13 pm
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Pittwater Pete on January 06, 2022, 01:26:38 am
My first post. I am a newbee.
I installed my first two nucs into my new custom horizontal langstroth hives.
Regards
Pete.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220106/6ce9c88580ff377077b0c4330b2f4afa.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220106/53e1593dd8d98168cc749089810df567.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220106/0281a9f79031c84611dd61f50ca3bdf7.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220106/b87c793571f39157ef694fca86d2f846.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220106/2c03b73a09fdf23b7e771a3d3653a417.jpg)
Post by: Ben Framed on January 06, 2022, 02:00:00 am
Phillip
Post by: Oldbeavo on January 06, 2022, 04:40:19 am
Do you build houses, ours isn't as fancy as your hives.
I hope the bees appreciate them.
Post by: Bee North on January 06, 2022, 05:26:25 am
Post by: Pittwater Pete on January 06, 2022, 06:53:37 am
I am a joiner so that means I am cheating a bit.
It was a project that I did when we were in a Covid Lockdown.
No point wasting time.
Thanks again.
Pete.
Post by: NigelP on January 06, 2022, 08:27:42 am
Our UK top bar aficionados insist on using a "v" shaped hive with just a grooved top bar for the bees to work their comb from.
Post by: cao on January 06, 2022, 02:08:02 pm
Post by: The15thMember on January 06, 2022, 02:47:01 pm
Post by: Pittwater Pete on January 06, 2022, 05:04:51 pm
Here are a couple (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220106/2147ed944854f36ecd7233b8b5b169cb.jpg)
of close up pics.
Enjoy
Pete.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220106/b069c78ec26a93312e63c1628a04aeb5.jpg)
Post by: Pittwater Pete on January 10, 2022, 02:24:58 am
Pete.
Post by: BeeMaster2 on January 10, 2022, 04:53:34 am
Welcome to Beemaster.
Great looking hives.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Lesgold on January 10, 2022, 05:14:12 am
Post by: Pittwater Pete on January 11, 2022, 05:54:01 am
Got stung under my armpit for my trouble. First sting too. Was only a little one so no swelling.
I will leave them for a week as it?s raining a lot. Will wait for better weather before doing my first proper hive inspection.
I?ll be wearing a bee suit next time.
Regards and have fun.
Pete.
Post by: Oldbeavo on January 11, 2022, 06:27:27 am
Please explain the need of a bee suit when extracting?
Post by: Ben Framed on January 11, 2022, 12:23:49 pm
Quote
Just finished extracting a few boxes of honey. Pretty warm in a bee suit and extracting in the shed. The humidity was the killer. 3 changes of clothes and plenty of water helps.
Les we have a screened in porch area of our home that has three sides surrounded in screen which makes the room almost bee proof. This screened in room has proved to be a great asset for not only relaxation and entertainment, but honey extraction as well. This is where I do my extracting. However some bees do get in, mostly from inside the boxes of honey which are carried into this room. A few from the opening of doors as I come and go during extraction time. This can sometimes total into several dozen bees flying freely.
In my experience I have learned they will not sting during extraction (unless mashed) and that doesn't happen because all they seem to want, 'is out', so they are usually bumping the screens attempting to get out. While at the same time, outside 'free bees' are trying to get in those same screens. I also incorporate a couple fans in this set up for comfort which makes a great difference in comfortable extraction work. I really do not like to see the bees just buzzing around, trying to find their way out, as this will eventually lead to a certain death for them 'in time'. Even with the doors open, and a 'your free to go' after extraction, they concentrate their attention of the outside world an bump the screens, most never find the open doors. So; in that case, I use my bee vac to gather them and take them out for release. This is sick, easy, and effective.
With this method I have found no need for the bee suit during extraction. I hope this small bit of information helps you.
Phillip
Post by: Ben Framed on January 11, 2022, 12:34:19 pm
Thanks,
Phillip
Post by: Lesgold on January 11, 2022, 03:31:06 pm
Post by: Pittwater Pete on January 11, 2022, 09:55:26 pm
Pete, welcome to the world of beekeeping! Yes we will take those stings for sure. At least you did not have an allergic reaction. Thumbs up! Keep us updated!Ha, the update is that I woke up this morning and had two stings in my armpit and it was swollen.
Thanks,
Phillip
Glad I got my first bee stings out of the way.
Next time I?ll do it right.
Pete.
Post by: BeeMaster2 on January 12, 2022, 05:25:55 am
It is a good thing that you did swell up a little on your first stings. I was going to warn you that if you did not reach to the stings, the next time you could have a severe reaction.
By the way, bee stings actually help you. When I don?t get stung for a long time, I start having joint problems.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Pittwater Pete on January 12, 2022, 06:16:24 am
Post by: BeeMaster2 on January 12, 2022, 08:38:27 am
Stings really do help. I know of two women that get stung every other day to stay functional. One is bed ridden, severe fiber myalgia, after not being stung for a week. She has been using bees for over 30 years. The other woman had stage four cancer and was allergic to bees and started beekeeping as a suicide attempt and they he saved her life. That was about fifteen years ago. She now teaches apitherapy.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: NigelP on January 12, 2022, 01:24:56 pm
Science suggests bee stings may help prevent it developing further.
They are not a miracle cure.
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on January 12, 2022, 07:58:07 pm
Post by: The15thMember on January 12, 2022, 08:09:47 pm
Post by: Lesgold on January 12, 2022, 08:21:55 pm
Post by: TheHoneyPump on January 17, 2022, 01:54:05 am
Temperature has been in -35 deg Celsius range since november. After a 24-30 hour swing it was a warm +5 deg Celsius.
The bees have been confined by the bitter cold temperatures since early November. Today I walked about and observed scattered plastering of bee poop in snow across the yards. As they were able to get out to vent and get some basic housecleaning done. This gave me a sense of how they have been coping with the cold winter .. thus far. Only 4 more months to go.
+2 degC today and falling. Chinook is done, temperature is dropping and the forecast trending to -26 degC by tomorrow night.
Fun times.
Post by: Ben Framed on January 17, 2022, 10:07:01 am
Thanks,
Phillip
Post by: TheHoneyPump on January 17, 2022, 11:01:13 am
For me, there is no substitute for the strength and durability of wood. Which is important when handling, moving, stacking with machinery (trucks, fork truck, and lifts). , and bears. Drop a poly box of bees and honey it chatters, blows apart, not salvageable, complete loss. Drop a wood box and can just pickup, restack, add a nail or screw and carry on. Bears rip into and destroy the poly effortlessly. Wood, they have to really work at it and usually resort to tipping the hive and rolling the boxes around until the frames fall out. Wood boxes survive bears and people. Poly do not.
Post by: Oldbeavo on January 17, 2022, 05:33:17 pm
They have an outlet/ factory in Australia.
We are at present trialing a smart base that sends hive weight to your phone. Also has motion detector that send an alarm if the hive is moved.
https://claytonplastics.com.au/product-category/bee-hives/
They are pretty reasonably priced.
Post by: Ben Framed on January 17, 2022, 09:59:12 pm
Phillip
Thanks for your input as well Oldbeavo.
Post by: Lesgold on January 17, 2022, 10:25:44 pm
Post by: TheHoneyPump on January 18, 2022, 11:57:24 am
Post by: Ben Framed on January 18, 2022, 03:23:32 pm
Beekeeping in Your Area Per your request.
Phillip
Post by: Lesgold on February 12, 2022, 05:17:29 pm
Post by: The15thMember on February 12, 2022, 06:49:50 pm
Post by: Lesgold on February 12, 2022, 07:29:54 pm
Post by: Bob Wilson on February 12, 2022, 10:36:27 pm
I moved the untouched honey frames to the entrances, removing the honey barriers to the queens expanding their nests.
Lastly I repaired one of my swarm boxes and cleaned it out for putting up next week.
Post by: Lesgold on February 14, 2022, 03:38:22 pm
Post by: rast on February 14, 2022, 09:08:50 pm
Post by: Lesgold on February 21, 2022, 04:37:42 pm
Post by: FloridaGardener on February 22, 2022, 05:44:41 pm
Added some empty frames to expand nests, added old brood comb with capped honey for a couple hives that were short on stores from full-speed-ahead brood production. Some capped drones in all hives.
One colony has small brood nest (size of orange). She's getting old. A little techy. I added a frame of open brood. In a couple of days I will pull the queen and add more eggs, hopefully get a couple of Q cells. Should be enough local drones then to get a new queen mated. I'll follow advice from here, to keep her separated above a Snelgrove board (double screen) for the time being. She's good looking but I don't think she's got much oomph left to bail them out later.
Going to set swarm traps & bait hives this week.
Post by: Bill Murray on February 22, 2022, 06:36:59 pm
The last week. Made appox. 50 splits, All on double bottom boards. Yesterday Made up 12 NUCS, to be re-queened by the said splits. Today cleaned the dead outs I starved due to all my trucks being out of service. Ill take my wifes info to heart next time. "Just go rent you a truck" Shes way smarter than me. Also this last 2 weeks I sold all my fall nucs from last year that I wanted to part with.
Post by: saltybluegrass on February 23, 2022, 02:49:43 pm
Anyway I had a super that I took off last year full of bees and laid them on the ground. They have been living in an open 10 frame box for 5 months.
I relocated them to the dead hive
Let me tell you I was attacked. They came at me in the hundreds
Lol
Hopefully they?re mean enough to last
Post by: LawyerRick on February 23, 2022, 05:28:01 pm
I do have a few Lyson 6F boxes. They are OK. There are some local hobbyists who have 10F poly hives and they like them. The bees definitely have an easier time maintaining their climate inside, year-round, and do well in them.Have you tried Technosetbee, Anel or Apimaye supers? They are much stronger than wooden ware & minimize temperature swings in the hive. I've been using these hard-shelled poly supers for 4 years & they stand up to transport etc. very well & the bees do much better in poly than wood, especially in the winter.
For me, there is no substitute for the strength and durability of wood. Which is important when handling, moving, stacking with machinery (trucks, fork truck, and lifts). , and bears. Drop a poly box of bees and honey it chatters, blows apart, not salvageable, complete loss. Drop a wood box and can just pickup, restack, add a nail or screw and carry on. Bears rip into and destroy the poly effortlessly. Wood, they have to really work at it and usually resort to tipping the hive and rolling the boxes around until the frames fall out. Wood boxes survive bears and people. Poly do not.
Post by: Lesgold on February 23, 2022, 10:25:34 pm
Post by: NigelP on February 24, 2022, 04:23:45 am
I was lifting a bucket of freshly melted heather honey out of my honey Melter when the handle on the bucket broke. When jarred that would have fetched around $500 now all laid out over my garage floor. Thank goodness for power washers and concrete garage floors.
Never happened in 10+ years of lifting buckets of honey around, will probably never happen again!
Just as well I have another 7 buckets of heather honey to jar.
Post by: The15thMember on February 24, 2022, 11:09:36 am
Disastrous morning!Oh no! That is so horrible! :sad:
I was lifting a bucket of freshly melted heather honey out of my honey Melter when the handle on the bucket broke. When jarred that would have fetched around $500 now all laid out over my garage floor. Thank goodness for power washers and concrete garage floors.
Never happened in 10+ years of lifting buckets of honey around, will probably never happen again!
Just as well I have another 7 buckets of heather honey to jar.
Post by: JurassicApiary on February 24, 2022, 03:36:30 pm
Disastrous morning!
I was lifting a bucket of freshly melted heather honey out of my honey Melter when the handle on the bucket broke. When jarred that would have fetched around $500 now all laid out over my garage floor. Thank goodness for power washers and concrete garage floors.
Never happened in 10+ years of lifting buckets of honey around, will probably never happen again!
Just as well I have another 7 buckets of heather honey to jar.
Indeed, very frustrating, Nigel; Sorry to hear. I too benefit from concrete floors in my honey house, but am thankful that I have not had this issue as of yet. I use 3-gallon buckets for most of my storage needs for ease of moving them around and less strain on my back, so the reduced wight load hopefully on the handle will prevent this from happening, but if the design/strength of the handle/bucket is manufactured in proportion to the bucket size, then the difference is moot. :tongue:
Post by: Ben Framed on February 24, 2022, 03:58:36 pm
Phillip
Post by: Lesgold on February 24, 2022, 04:21:53 pm
Post by: Lesgold on February 24, 2022, 08:08:53 pm
It?s clean enough to now make some foundation over the cooler months.
Post by: Ben Framed on February 24, 2022, 10:52:04 pm
Post by: Lesgold on February 24, 2022, 11:22:24 pm
Post by: .30WCF on February 25, 2022, 11:51:21 pm
Disastrous morning!5 second rule apply here?
I was lifting a bucket of freshly melted heather honey out of my honey Melter when the handle on the bucket broke. When jarred that would have fetched around $500 now all laid out over my garage floor. Thank goodness for power washers and concrete garage floors.
Never happened in 10+ years of lifting buckets of honey around, will probably never happen again!
Just as well I have another 7 buckets of heather honey to jar.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: JurassicApiary on February 26, 2022, 06:35:21 pm
(https://media1.giphy.com/media/10Jpr9KSaXLchW/giphy.gif)
5 second rule apply here?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Bill Murray on February 26, 2022, 08:15:46 pm
Also Marley practiced marking queens (using drones and next years color) she was pretty proud of herself. So was grandpa.
Post by: Bill Murray on February 27, 2022, 05:25:01 pm
Post by: jtcmedic on February 28, 2022, 06:53:47 am
Post by: NigelP on March 01, 2022, 04:04:21 am
A night in front of the fire seems to have done the trick.....
(https://i.ibb.co/64DXkG6/treesmall.jpg)
Post by: The15thMember on March 01, 2022, 11:01:11 am
Got a call out to feral colony in a tree that had come down in the storms. They were logging it and cut clean through the nest. As it was raining heavily and frost forecast for the night I went and recovered as many soggy cold shivering bees as I could, Ddin't spot the queen but wasn't looking too hard, more get them inside somewhere warm and give them a chance to survive.Awww, poor things. I see pictures on my sister's goat forum all the time of people bringing cold and wet baby animals in to warm up in front of the fire, but this is the first time I've ever seen it done with bees! :happy:
A night in front of the fire seems to have done the trick.....
(https://i.ibb.co/64DXkG6/treesmall.jpg)
Post by: NigelP on March 01, 2022, 01:19:32 pm
We shall see.
Post by: The15thMember on March 01, 2022, 02:09:50 pm
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on March 01, 2022, 06:15:20 pm
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on March 01, 2022, 06:17:49 pm
Great job well done, hope the do well for you.Got a call out to feral colony in a tree that had come down in the storms. They were logging it and cut clean through the nest. As it was raining heavily and frost forecast for the night I went and recovered as many soggy cold shivering bees as I could, Ddin't spot the queen but wasn't looking too hard, more get them inside somewhere warm and give them a chance to survive.Awww, poor things. I see pictures on my sister's goat forum all the time of people bringing cold and wet baby animals in to warm up in front of the fire, but this is the first time I've ever seen it done with bees! :happy:
A night in front of the fire seems to have done the trick.....
(https://i.ibb.co/64DXkG6/treesmall.jpg)
Post by: Bob Wilson on March 04, 2022, 09:25:01 am
I came straight home to mine. Drones were walking on the combs, and pollen and some nectar is coming in too, but no QCs yet. However, I went ahead and pulled some nucs from each of my hives to sell. We still have a month until our honey flow begins, but the bees are busting.
Post by: .30WCF on March 04, 2022, 04:22:17 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220304/774bbad6d8243b3f3cc0aecf0cdf6785.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220304/c83690bb49d12e8401a531c54dad504c.jpg)
The bees are hitting something like chickweed that sprouts out in the same areas that my clover does, maples, Bradford Pear, and my poor little peach tree that will probably get frostbitten is trying to blossom. Thankfully my pear and apple trees aren?t trying to be overachievers this year.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220304/069a18d9dfd91762e3244c4e8083d483.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on March 04, 2022, 07:52:40 pm
Post by: .30WCF on March 04, 2022, 08:23:52 pm
I did my first inspections today. All 3 hives look good. I took off everyone's winter equipment and reversed the boxes. I was curious to see what the usurpers that took over one of my hives a few months ago were like, and they were the calmest of the bunch and had the best brood pattern, although I did see 2 bees with K wings, so I'll have to keep a mind on that. I didn't see their queen, Queen Ravenna, or Queen Persephone. I did find Queen Malore, which is not surprising as she's always easy to spot, so I did a sugar roll in her hive, and their mites were at 1.7%, so not bad. I did have to give her hive a frame of food.It was kinda late when you did the OA, so it might not be a good comparison, but in years past, what would the 1.7% have been.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on March 04, 2022, 09:04:42 pm
It was kinda late when you did the OA, so it might not be a good comparison, but in years past, what would the 1.7% have been.I know, I just really wanted to give it a try as a trial run with all the equipment. I'm planning on hitting them again when I split, possibly in conjunction with a trapping treatment, because they'll be broodless then. I had 5 hives entering last spring, and my numbers were these:
Sugar Rolls
Nitocris: 2.8%
Berenice: 0%
Hera: 4.3%
Guinevere: 2.2%
Martha: 0%
Which averages out to 1.76%, so make of that what you will. I'll try to get rolls on the other hives next week.
Post by: loisl58 on March 08, 2022, 07:28:34 am
Just finished cleaning up the wax from last weeks extracting.Wow Amazing amount of wax. I only have 2 x 31 frame long langstroth. 1 just into 3rd year & am getting a bit off them although 18 frames nectar/ honey mix. If they get capped before end pf Autumn I will have heaps.
It?s clean enough to now make some foundation over the cooler months.
Other hive was a swarm Dec 10th 2021. Only on 15 frames. Funny how clean these frames are compared to older hive.
Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
Post by: loisl58 on March 08, 2022, 07:36:50 am
I collected Appox. 26 queen cells from my splits over double bottom boards in one yard 10 days ago. and split the ones that wernt ready to split then. they sure were today.Great stuff. I often wish I had someone to teach me hands on and help me straighten out mistakes. I have trouble finding my unmarked queens. And searching then handling drones onto a Queen marker is too much when doing an inspection.
Also Marley practiced marking queens (using drones and next years color) she was pretty proud of herself. So was grandpa.
Any useful tips would be gratefully received.
Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
Post by: Oldbeavo on March 09, 2022, 05:05:55 pm
Find the queen and as i am right handed get her walking from left to right and rather than try to catch her i just gently pin her to the wax with my thumb and index finger and dob her on the thorax. Gentle, gentle very little pressure required. Practice on drones. Then you will be amazed where your marked drones will end up.
Pre prime the pen so the end has the ink/paint wet on the end
Post by: .30WCF on March 09, 2022, 09:13:16 pm
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: loisl58 on March 10, 2022, 04:41:54 am
I just hit mine while they are walking around. I kinda hover with my strong hand pinky on the frame edge (think support hand shooting pool) until she stops and give her a little dab. With a primed up pen and most of the excess blotted off on something it works good. Hit and run. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220310/c0703131d69301380c65d985dfe39416.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
To mark our queens we use a Posca pen, lasts OK,Thanks. Will try both. I haven't seen either of my queens, maybe both run & keep moving. Been through both hives 4 times not seeing her. 1 hive high population, other swarm caught Dec 2021 only 15 frames.
Find the queen and as i am right handed get her walking from left to right and rather than try to catch her i just gently pin her to the wax with my thumb and index finger and dob her on the thorax. Gentle, gentle very little pressure required. Practice on drones. Then you will be amazed where your marked drones will end up.
Pre prime the pen so the end has the ink/paint wet on the end
Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on March 10, 2022, 08:54:07 pm
Post by: .30WCF on March 10, 2022, 11:00:45 pm
Our high on Saturday is supposed to be 34F with a low of 15F! Today was almost 70F, so I figured I'd better check on the girls before it gets cold, and give them a little extra food. I found Queens Ravenna and Persephone today, and both their sugar rolls came up clean, although I didn't have quite enough sugar in Persephone's roll, so I'll probably double check them. I gave both of those hives another box, as their amount of brood basically doubled since last week. Queen Ravenna the Usurper is my new favorite! Her bees are so gentle and quiet to work, I probably wouldn't even need a smoker, and she laid 4 eggs on the frame as I was holding it! I've never seen a queen do that before, just move from one cell to the next without even acting like I was there; it was so amazing to witness!Sounds like one of my queens that seemed on me. I?m gonna need her back.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: .30WCF on March 11, 2022, 04:00:27 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220311/49324c320693bfb641a17573b55ba6d2.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Bob Wilson on March 13, 2022, 09:51:54 pm
Meanwhile we are past our untimely late freeze, and back to the upper 60Fs. I anticipate some feral swarms after this freeze and rainy last week.
Post by: Oldbeavo on March 16, 2022, 07:29:50 am
We never sell our hardware, if you buy a nuc from us the buyer brings his box to us and we load in the 4 or 5 frames of bees.
We do this about an hour from sunset, leave the buyers hive where the nuc was to collect the field bees. Then they take it home.
Post by: rast on March 16, 2022, 10:18:37 am
Post by: Oldbeavo on March 16, 2022, 07:21:59 pm
We don't do a frame exchange, the price of frames is in the price. So many newby BK's frames are poorly assembled that they are liabilities when put in the hives. Top and bottom bars coming off is the main problem.
We just keep our wooden nuc box. If people want to pick up a nuc of bees we put them into a corflute nuc and charge them extra for it.
Our nucs last season were $170 in your box or $190 in a corflute nuc.
Post by: cao on March 17, 2022, 11:08:50 pm
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on March 18, 2022, 01:01:44 pm
No more dead outs only 4 so far.
Post by: The15thMember on March 19, 2022, 06:25:13 pm
Post by: FloridaGardener on March 19, 2022, 09:46:58 pm
Rast
We don't do a frame exchange, the price of frames is in the price. So many newby BK's frames are poorly assembled that they are liabilities when put in the hives. Top and bottom bars coming off is the main problem.
We just keep our wooden nuc box. If people want to pick up a nuc of bees we put them into a corflute nuc and charge them extra for it.
Our nucs last season were $170 in your box or $190 in a corflute nuc.
So I talked to someone on the phone responding to my ad for nucs. I love that more people are interested in BK. But it's really hard to help them, when they resist reading. 75% of people I sell nucs to don't read and learn the hive parts before buying, even tho I email them what they need to bring, to pic up a nuc. They end up having to borrow some of my equipment just to get their hive home. Once I had a girl show up with a knockoff flow hive assembled wrong, no brood frames, no entrance reducer/ratchet strap....wearing a swim top and skirt, and no veil.... but wanting a lesson on how to inspect? :shocked: I had to give extra frames to fill the box, and explain, no, you can't just turn the tap and honey comes out...you have to give the brood a place to live, to have a BK license, they must live on frames...
Some people gripe about buying a wood nuc/carry box for $25, and a strong colony or overwintered nuc for $150. Before coming out, they are emailed free online beekeeping lesson, handouts on equipment, feeding, inspecting, and hurricane proofing...but they don't want to read, they want to have it explained to them. I wish I could be as firm as you are Old Beavo, because for me, selling a nuc is many, many hours of time invested in each person.
Post by: .30WCF on March 20, 2022, 12:36:03 am
...wearing a swim top and skirt, and no veil...
selling a nuc is many, many hours of time invested
Doesn?t sound that bad to me.
Post by: Oldbeavo on March 20, 2022, 08:55:28 am
Yes i did do the multi hour bees course, for no money, and no girls in swim suit tops, but now the best i do is have some foam rubber strips to block the entrance to the flow hive and some duct tape to keep the whole thing together.
Does the pet shop do puppy training, no, sells you the pup, a bag of dog food, a collar and a lead. Thankyou and whose next to buy a gold fish.
Post by: FloridaGardener on March 20, 2022, 11:31:11 am
I prefer to think the bees would swarm out of the flowhive broodbox and propigate in the wild. I like to think so anyway. I've been breeding from the best feral strains from extractions & "black swamp-bee" swarms. I've rescued and/or propigated over 100 small colonies. I've never treated for mites, beyond dusting with powdered sugar one spring. So I hope they'll survive...just perhaps not with the nuc buyer.
I do have to give hats off to the 25% who actually have taken a real online or in person beekeeping class, who knows WHY I can assure them there is a laying queen, and shows a true interest in the amazing science of bees.
And to keep up with the original thread --- what I just did in the beeyard -- a friend who does extractions just pulled a colony out of a soffit with 7 queens, 6 virgins. He couldn't use them all so he gave me two and I made up more 3-frame nucs. The temps are 50 at night and 75 daytime, I sealed up the screened bottoms and they should be warm enough to make it if the queens don't get disoriented/lost. It's swarm season here.
Post by: .30WCF on March 21, 2022, 07:11:57 pm
Worked on painting and rotating out some of the boxes that need paint
Added two more supers on a couple hives
Went to the store and got a yellow paint pen, some OA and 50 frames and plastic foundation.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220321/2860e923cb4d35c5266b120bd3e89c2a.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220321/2af7ab6a48d0c90ffed71e75e7b47418.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on March 24, 2022, 07:07:48 pm
Post by: .30WCF on March 24, 2022, 10:02:44 pm
https://youtu.be/NR7wKAxvNVk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Bob Wilson on March 24, 2022, 11:26:40 pm
Smaller than a volleyball ball, bigger than a soft ball.
I baited a box and put it against them. Do they go in? No.
I shook them in the next day. Do they stay? No.
The day afterwards, they leave.
They perch on the oak tree limb for another two days, through wind, and cold, and rain. They scoff at my box.
I brushed them in the box again today, 5 days after they first swarmed, and added some syrup. Will they stay? Who knows? The bees will do what the bees want to do.
Post by: .30WCF on March 24, 2022, 11:32:40 pm
I hived a swarm today. Dumb bees.Did you give them a frame of larvae?
Smaller than a volleyball ball, bigger than a soft ball.
I baited a box and put it against them. Do they go in? No.
I shook them in the next day. Do they stay? No.
The day afterwards, they leave.
They perch on the oak tree limb for another two days, through wind, and cold, and rain. They scoff at my box.
I brushed them in the box again today, 5 days after they first swarmed, and added some syrup. Will they stay? Who knows? The bees will do what the bees want to do.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on March 24, 2022, 11:59:15 pm
Did you give them a frame of larvae?Animated 30 is right, that will make them stay. They can't resist those cute hungry babies. :grin:
Post by: NigelP on March 25, 2022, 05:51:59 am
Carried out first inspections of the year and so far all is looking good. All hives examined have laying queens and lots of pollen and stores. Gave them all a nice clean floor, although most had cleared away their winter dead bees. The only one nuc that didn't make it was the bees I had rescued from a fallen tree, they were queenless. So threw out and they have now amalgamated with the hive next door.
Post by: Oldbeavo on March 25, 2022, 08:39:49 am
A frame of open brood will stick them for sure but if i don't have access to one then as long as they have some honey in a frame in the box you put them in, then i will just leave them locked in for a few days. Most of the time they get the idea.
If they are a big swarm that i don't want to lock up then as soon as i open the hive i turn the garden sprinkler on them till dark. They won't leave if they think its raining outside. Usually by the next day they are OK.
Post by: Bob Wilson on March 26, 2022, 10:08:38 pm
Regardless, they took to the box the second time I shook them in.
Post by: .30WCF on April 02, 2022, 10:24:21 pm
Did it again to the second hive that was ready to swarm.
Pushed the queens down in three of the bigger hives and added queen excluders to clear the brood in preparation for the honey flow.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220403/ce1f8c112ee376196d17b88a67ad10d4.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220403/08cd98e5851fefdabb28ea41f6b2c590.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 03, 2022, 05:48:57 am
Did you leave a queen cell in that hive or are you try to make it queen less for the honey flow?
It sounds like that was a virgin queen. If the queen cells were capped, it probably was.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: .30WCF on April 03, 2022, 10:42:59 am
I knocked down about 15 capped cells. I left 2 in the first hive, and one in the second hive.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on April 03, 2022, 05:58:04 pm
Post by: TheHoneyPump on April 03, 2022, 06:30:53 pm
Single deep box with drone laying queen and her colony placed with an upper entrance above a queen excluder on top of a big double deep queenrite colony.
Why? The drone layer has genetics I want to continue propagating, I need drones for upcoming queen rearing operation, and it is practically impossible to get a normal hive to make drones when still have below zero temperatures and a snowy landscape.
The colony below will push up nurse bees and resources to the drone brood above. The drones will be able to get out of the upper entrance when they mature.
Eventually the queen-rite hive should kill the drone layer queen above. (Or I will). In the meantime she may get 3 to 7 frames of drones made, before the hive cuts them back. This could be a welcomed head start on mataung some queens in May.
Not my goto method, though it does work well when presented the condition and it is recognized as a potential opportunity rather than a loss.
Post by: The15thMember on April 03, 2022, 06:58:59 pm
Early drone factory.Wow! That's genius! Amazing the sorts of creative approaches the beekeeper needs to take in a harsh climate like yours.
Single deep box with drone laying queen and her colony placed with an upper entrance above a queen excluder on top of a big double deep queenrite colony.
Why? The drone layer has genetics I want to continue propagating, I need drones for upcoming queen rearing operation, and it is practically impossible to get a normal hive to make drones when still have below zero temperatures and a snowy landscape.
The colony below will push up nurse bees and resources to the drone brood above. The drones will be able to get out of the upper entrance when they mature.
Eventually the queen-rite hive should kill the drone layer queen above. (Or I will). In the meantime she may get 3 to 7 frames of drones made, before the hive cuts them back. This could be a welcomed head start on mataung some queens in May.
Not my goto method, though it does work well when presented the condition and it is recognized as a potential opportunity rather than a loss.
Post by: Bob Wilson on April 03, 2022, 09:31:50 pm
2. I thought I was seeing that beautiful, busy, airial dance of bees around the hives yesterday, finally indicating the beginning of our nectar flow, but they slowed down again today. There is still no new comb being built when I checked them this week (today).
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on April 04, 2022, 01:52:02 am
Post by: The15thMember on April 04, 2022, 11:05:49 am
2. I thought I was seeing that beautiful, busy, airial dance of bees around the hives yesterday, finally indicating the beginning of our nectar flow, but they slowed down again today. There is still no new comb being built when I checked them this week (today).Our nectar flow has been slow to come in too, probably due to a late cold snap we just had that killed all the blossoms on the flowering trees. I only have very slow comb building right now.
Post by: Oldbeavo on April 07, 2022, 06:03:27 am
The hive will be left as a full depth brood box, QX and an Ideal of honey to support them over winter. We normally winter with a full depth super with 5 frames of honey.
So we are trying the ideals to pack them down into a smaller space.
Post by: .30WCF on April 11, 2022, 02:20:32 am
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220411/bec824a71d392be694da902487543392.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220411/d37c6b0702eba8d4c77723fd28a5caa7.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220411/6793196aeb3d9e80a8f0e9b19344b833.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 11, 2022, 06:41:47 am
On the other side of the world and down the bottom we are preparing for winter. Today we put bee escapes/clearer boards under the supers.Why are you putting a qx under the super? If the bees have to move up into the super, they will have to leave the queen behind to freeze and die. We never leave a qx on during the winter.
The hive will be left as a full depth brood box, QX and an Ideal of honey to support them over winter. We normally winter with a full depth super with 5 frames of honey.
So we are trying the ideals to pack them down into a smaller space.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: NigelP on April 11, 2022, 07:43:29 am
(https://i.ibb.co/59v4kww/beeonwillowpollen3.jpg)
Post by: .30WCF on April 11, 2022, 06:31:50 pm
Bee tree strikes again with a decent size swarm.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220411/472080a4e6705408ebb8aaf256e0569f.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on April 11, 2022, 08:00:37 pm
Not what did I do today, but what am I fixin to do.I've got to do some maintenance on my swarm tree. A vine has taken over a section of it and it was a pain to deal with last year. I kept saying over the winter I should clean up around it, and now here it is April and I still haven't done it.
Bee tree strikes again with a decent size swarm.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220411/472080a4e6705408ebb8aaf256e0569f.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Queen Ravenna the Usurper's hive is starting to really think about swarming. No active queen cells yet, but 8 cups built and they are starting to backfill the brood nest. I'll split them the next time I inspect them. All my hives are low on stores for this time of year. We keep having cold snaps that set the flowers back. If the weather wasn't going to be nice for the foreseeable future, I'd have to give them all some food.
Post by: .30WCF on April 11, 2022, 08:51:44 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220411/0b0d03fa1d6ec104fe434f9ff00e1b8d.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220411/5bc5bf923a8be983dcff499a2e0e6da0.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220411/0637f6fe6a5f3079995b3879382c6874.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Lesgold on April 12, 2022, 01:52:09 am
The bees are bringing in a lot of pollen which means the queens are getting excited. Time to make an inspection before this flow starts.
Post by: Oldbeavo on April 12, 2022, 05:49:11 pm
Where are you in Australia? and what is the tree in the picture that is starting to flower?
Post by: Lesgold on April 12, 2022, 06:21:14 pm
I?m one the south coast of NSW. It?s a spotted gum. They flower about every 4 years. They produce an outstanding quality pollen and a beautiful honey. The trees will start releasing nectar when the nights get cold. The flow should last through until spring. I?ve actually enjoyed having a bit of a rest from the bees but unfortunately it will start ramping up in about a month. Looks like it will end up being one of those seasons where honey production is going to be quite good.
Post by: .30WCF on April 13, 2022, 04:16:38 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220413/9c5abb66cd1f22b6f9a4562d59efdcbe.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220413/49f211d6558e80fca47d68e6a267812f.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220413/b048514b78e71b054d410baa1f05a410.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: beesnweeds on April 13, 2022, 10:06:14 pm
Can?t get them in the box, cant shake em out.
Put a piece of brood comb in a bucket or a frame of brood comb next to the swarm, the queen and workers will walk onto it.
Post by: Ben Framed on April 13, 2022, 10:07:30 pm
Post by: .30WCF on April 13, 2022, 10:12:53 pm
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on April 13, 2022, 10:19:00 pm
They flew off while I was raising up the brood frame. Gone.Oh! So close! And of course they couldn't have just gone for the box on the low stand!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
30 I?ll give you an A+ for effort! :grin:I agree, I couldn't even have attempted to do anything with a swarm that high. I would have been calling our tree guy who is also a beekeeper for help with that one.
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on April 16, 2022, 02:15:16 pm
Post by: Bob Wilson on April 17, 2022, 06:51:14 pm
Post by: Lesgold on April 17, 2022, 09:18:56 pm
Post by: .30WCF on April 18, 2022, 12:44:22 am
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Rise and Shine on April 18, 2022, 07:32:36 pm
Questions:
Is it okay to break a festoon to look at the frames more closely?
I noticed them cleaning out some dead bees and a few partially dead bees (still moving a bit on the ground after being discarded). Is it a problem seeing them kick out ?sickly? bees?
Thank you!
Post by: The15thMember on April 18, 2022, 08:17:00 pm
Questions:Yes, they will get right back to work when you put the frame back. I usually try to not jostle them too much, just so the bees don't fall off the frame, but that's only from common courtesy. :smile:
Is it okay to break a festoon to look at the frames more closely?
I noticed them cleaning out some dead bees and a few partially dead bees (still moving a bit on the ground after being discarded). Is it a problem seeing them kick out ?sickly? bees?Cleaning out the dead or dying bees is a normal and important part of hive life, as it helps prevent the spread of diseases in the hive. It's something you'll see frequently, even more so in the summer months when the bees' lives are shortest. You may also eventually see them carry out aborted pupae, which is also normal as long as it's only a few.
Post by: The15thMember on April 19, 2022, 04:00:06 pm
Post by: The15thMember on April 21, 2022, 07:46:51 pm
Post by: The15thMember on April 22, 2022, 07:26:32 pm
I also beat my previous record for "weirdest place to get stung". As I was cleaning up in the bee yard, I had a bee get tangled in my hair and sting me on the ear lobe. :shocked:
Post by: Rise and Shine on April 23, 2022, 01:05:46 am
I was able to split Queen Ravenna's hive today. My hives have like no nectar coming in still. We've got trees blooming, but they mustn't be producing much nectar. Normally we get a decent flow off of the cherries, but not this year I guess. I fed the split the last of my leftover honey frames from last year. If the other hives need food, I'll have to make syrup, which I have never had to do this late in the year.
How can you tell whether or not they are bringing in nectar? I can see the pollen :)
Post by: Rise and Shine on April 23, 2022, 01:17:35 am
I?m so relieved to see the eggs and larvae as I know my bees are aging every day.
Is this good progress? Or, should there be more frames built out by now?
Post by: The15thMember on April 23, 2022, 11:26:07 am
How can you tell whether or not they are bringing in nectar? I can see the pollen :)Well I can tell because I'm opening them up and their honey frames are empty still. I had several of these hives start out with a few frames of honey leftover from winter and now they are empty and aren't being refilled yet, which is highly unusual for my location. Even the honey frames I gave them a week ago are now empty or filled with brood.
Just from observing the entrance you can sometimes notice bees returning with filled crops because their landing sequence will be a little off because they are carrying a heavy load, and they'll kind of crash or land heavily on the landing board. Someone described it to me once as "a B-52 slamming onto a runway."
I did my first hive inspection today. Bees were installed Wednesday of last week and I verified the Queen was released Sunday. The first few frames didn?t have much and not many bees. The third frame had some wax built out with lots of bees. The fourth frame was nicely built out with some eggs and larvae. I saw one of the worker bees feeding a cell. I also saw the Queen! She was calming laying eggs. I carefully replaced the frame and didn?t look any further. I moved the other frames back in place. I refilled the feeder, left in the pollen Pattie?s and closed the hive. This took about 10 minutes and I used minimal smoke as they were pretty calm. Watched the ladies for the next hour coming and going. The pollen started coming in late in the afternoon. I realized that I didn?t notice any drones.I think that all sounds great! Packages are often slow to start up, as they have absolutely nothing to start out with and have to build the whole entire hive from scratch. It wouldn't surprise me if you don't see drones for a while, as only strong hives have the resources to "waste" on them. Good job seeing what you needed to see and then closing them back up again. As a beginner (or as an intermediate beekeeper :embarassed:) it can be hard not to just sit there with the hive open and watch them work.
I?m so relieved to see the eggs and larvae as I know my bees are aging every day.
Is this good progress? Or, should there be more frames built out by now?
Post by: Beeboy01 on April 23, 2022, 07:52:40 pm
Ed
Post by: The15thMember on April 23, 2022, 07:56:54 pm
Spent the afternoon cleaning up my little yard after the big die off. Lost five out of six hives so far and expect to loose the last one in a week or so. Broke down the dead hives, moved the boxes over next to the shop and started sorting and hosing off the frames hoping to at least save some equipment for the rebuild. Everything is getting sprayed with a 1% bleach solution then hosed off to remove any pollen and debris. After a good shaking I'm letting the frames air dry before putting them back in the boxes with some paramoth crystal. Not a fun day in any way but as a bee keeper I've learned to take the good with the bad and this was a bad day. Still not sure if I'm going to start the yard back up, a loss like this is disheartening after all the effort I put into it last year. Don't mean to be a wet blanket but I haven't posted for about two weeks and though everybody would like to hear how I made out. Hope everybody's bees are doing fine.Sorry to hear that, Beeboy. :sad: Hopefully at least the equipment will be salvageable. Thanks for keeping us updated. I'm sure it's hard, but at least by sharing your experiences we can all learn from them.
Ed
Post by: .30WCF on April 23, 2022, 08:13:37 pm
Added one box on the far right.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220423/7b1dc024b78b5e2468383860acd03b88.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220423/94c9ee41b33739f6cabcf3b5df23365a.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220423/6aa1e2e6efd4baf69097e0c1ff493d1b.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on April 23, 2022, 08:18:01 pm
The one on the left is already three full boxes of honey, half capped. I added a box of drawn comb and a box of foundation to it.Ugh, I'm so jealous. Stupid false spring. :angry:
Post by: .30WCF on April 23, 2022, 08:23:45 pm
Well, I reversed my left and rights, but I bet you can figure out which one is making honey.The one on the left is already three full boxes of honey, half capped. I added a box of drawn comb and a box of foundation to it.Ugh, I'm so jealous. Stupid false spring. :angry:
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Bobbee on April 24, 2022, 12:11:13 am
Post by: Bobbee on April 24, 2022, 12:16:51 am
Post by: .30WCF on April 24, 2022, 06:50:56 pm
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Oldbeavo on April 25, 2022, 05:11:30 am
They won't be polishing unless they are expecting a queen to start laying.
Did you bring the nurse bees over with the open brood frame?
Post by: .30WCF on April 25, 2022, 08:07:32 am
I did leave the nurses on the frame, but there weren?t that many on there at the time.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: lastfling on April 25, 2022, 12:56:08 pm
Post by: .30WCF on April 25, 2022, 04:45:10 pm
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: rast on April 26, 2022, 08:29:38 am
Post by: Beeboy01 on April 26, 2022, 04:15:53 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on April 27, 2022, 12:08:23 am
Post by: rast on April 27, 2022, 01:47:08 pm
Post by: .30WCF on April 27, 2022, 02:31:56 pm
I shook most of the bees into the queenless half and left it in the original spot.
Looked around in a different hive and found a halfway emerged frame that needed to be cleaned and polished and swapped it out for the youngest looking eggs I could find in the queen right split. I gave the queen and reduced hive the emerging frame to work on and a box of foundation and moved them over 6-8 spots on the stand.
The queenless hive will get the foragers and raise a new queen I hope and the queen right hive should be knocked down in population, have a frame to work with, and the rest of the frames were all capped and should be vacated soon. Between that and the new foundation, maybe she sticks around.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: TheHoneyPump on April 28, 2022, 10:35:04 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220429/5c44b42806035cc3a164a39754db49c4.jpg)
Post by: Lesgold on April 28, 2022, 11:12:27 pm
Bees are producing some new wax which is also encouraging considering it is mid autumn in my neck of the woods.
Looks like I?ll be extracting again in a couple of weeks. I?m really getting sick of the sight of honey. It?s been a cracker of a season.
It would be nice to get away for a holiday but the bees are keeping me at home. (The sacrifices we have to make for these little critters lol.)
Post by: .30WCF on April 28, 2022, 11:15:05 pm
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Beeboy01 on April 28, 2022, 11:59:46 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on April 29, 2022, 12:17:38 am
Today? Did a round of checking feed pail levels. No truck access due to ground conditions so was walking through 6 to 8 inches of sopping snow, slush, and jumping over puddles. My boots and socks are so damp can feel the moss growing between the toes, and ankles so chilled every flex squeaks and creaks.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220429/5c44b42806035cc3a164a39754db49c4.jpg)
I am still amazed at the amount of honey and wax you and your bees produce in such a sort season as compared to we who live in warmer climates.
Post by: The15thMember on May 05, 2022, 02:57:01 pm
Post by: TheHoneyPump on May 05, 2022, 09:29:57 pm
It has been a terrible Spring. A desolate frozen landscape that lingered until just a couple days ago. Finally the temperatures have swung into the low teens degC, it was sure nice to finally be able to go poke down into a few of them to see what is happening in there. Quite pleased with the stage they are at despite what mother nature has been throwing at them.Today? Did a round of checking feed pail levels. No truck access due to ground conditions so was walking through 6 to 8 inches of sopping snow, slush, and jumping over puddles. My boots and socks are so damp can feel the moss growing between the toes, and ankles so chilled every flex squeaks and creaks.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220429/5c44b42806035cc3a164a39754db49c4.jpg)
I am still amazed at the amount of honey and wax you and your bees produce in such a sort season as compared to we who live in warmer climates.
By my notebook the last date that I had opened the lid on this particular hive was September 18 2021. Today. May 5 2022. I would say she has done a fine job of surviving the winter without my prodding.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220506/cd8180d25c4d5c93b30afd7b7714bc89.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220506/b67cfaf4af7e3ceb83256532438b9181.jpg)
Post by: .30WCF on May 05, 2022, 10:35:20 pm
That?s not so bad for an 8 month leave of absence.It has been a terrible Spring. A desolate frozen landscape that lingered until just a couple days ago. Finally the temperatures have swung into the low teens degC, it was sure nice to finally be able to go poke down into a few of them to see what is happening in there. Quite pleased with the stage they are at despite what mother nature has been throwing at them.Today? Did a round of checking feed pail levels. No truck access due to ground conditions so was walking through 6 to 8 inches of sopping snow, slush, and jumping over puddles. My boots and socks are so damp can feel the moss growing between the toes, and ankles so chilled every flex squeaks and creaks.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220429/5c44b42806035cc3a164a39754db49c4.jpg)
I am still amazed at the amount of honey and wax you and your bees produce in such a sort season as compared to we who live in warmer climates.
By my notebook the last date that I had opened the lid on this particular hive was September 18 2021. Today. May 5 2022. I would say she has done a fine job of surviving the winter without my prodding.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220506/cd8180d25c4d5c93b30afd7b7714bc89.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220506/b67cfaf4af7e3ceb83256532438b9181.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: FloridaGardener on May 13, 2022, 09:38:06 pm
I note only from the deposits on the hive bodies that the girls stick close to the hive when out for a bathroom break.
Because it's freezin' out there man. They're not flying far to do their business...
Post by: TheHoneyPump on May 14, 2022, 01:32:54 pm
Post by: Lesgold on May 16, 2022, 11:57:05 pm
Post by: TheHoneyPump on May 17, 2022, 12:13:30 am
Post by: Ben Framed on May 17, 2022, 12:42:00 am
Post by: NigelP on May 17, 2022, 04:28:18 am
Had a bit of a chuckle to myself HoneyPump. You are chasing warm weather for your bees to produce and I am after cold weather for the honey flow to start. Plenty of trees flowering in my area but nectar will not be released in any quantity until the overnight temperatures drop away. There are just so many variables and twists in this adventure that we are on.
Whereas in most of the UK it's flow on. despite it being a fairly cool spring. Just waiting for the oil seed rape flowers to go over before starting first serious extractions of the season. Our Hawthorne is now in full bloom, gives a lovely flavoured dark honey when the bees get on it (too rarely for my liking!).
As UK electricity prices have gone bananas I'm pondering if I can find an efficient uncapping system that doesn't involve my 3KW stream generator and Lyson steam heated uncapping knife. Will try the backwards uncapper and see how I get on with it. Otherwise will just keep putting pound coins in the meter...
Post by: Ben Framed on May 19, 2022, 12:34:58 am
Phillip
Post by: NigelP on May 19, 2022, 06:34:35 am
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on May 20, 2022, 02:09:42 pm
Post by: The15thMember on May 20, 2022, 07:08:59 pm
Post by: .30WCF on May 20, 2022, 08:59:13 pm
The shadows masked the bees so I had to play with the lighting to get the bees to show.
I?ll probably take a look tomorrow.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220520/b1bacaef7283484cdf99766a52c9bdb2.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: rast on May 21, 2022, 08:58:15 am
Post by: TheHoneyPump on June 05, 2022, 05:45:03 pm
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on June 06, 2022, 02:59:34 pm
Post by: The15thMember on June 06, 2022, 05:30:12 pm
Post by: .30WCF on June 06, 2022, 06:04:53 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220606/5733b4d8f7b7c42a1e426661e0e71c28.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220606/e756079c4a9cc896e95317c264c2dcee.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on June 06, 2022, 07:59:26 pm
Lots of bearding lately.Is it politically incorrect for me to ask why there are teepees in your yard? :grin:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220606/5733b4d8f7b7c42a1e426661e0e71c28.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220606/e756079c4a9cc896e95317c264c2dcee.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: .30WCF on June 06, 2022, 08:35:40 pm
Sorting out, testing out, repairing and refining my pack list for elk season. It never stops.Lots of bearding lately.Is it politically incorrect for me to ask why there are teepees in your yard? :grin:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220606/5733b4d8f7b7c42a1e426661e0e71c28.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220606/e756079c4a9cc896e95317c264c2dcee.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Bob Wilson on June 08, 2022, 10:18:32 am
The only comfort is that this particular long hive body was my frustrating, warped box. So now I can cut it up for other uses.
Post by: Ben Framed on June 08, 2022, 02:13:55 pm
I dismantled a hive beetle slimed hive. All the packed nectar ruined. The bee colony defunct. All because I allowed it to weaken too much earlier in spring, pulling nucs. I have reaped what I sowed.
The only comfort is that this particular long hive body was my frustrating, warped box. So now I can cut it up for other uses.
Bob you are right about having a strong hive in the Spring. You and I are both in the South and SHB are an ever threat. Does it seem they are stronger this year than last in your area? I have had some trouble as well. It may be one of those years to bring out the ole Jim and Pans oil pan remedy? I don't know how you would go about it with a long hive. ??
Phillip
Post by: BeeMaster2 on June 08, 2022, 04:47:31 pm
A few years ago, Bobsims added oil trays to his top bar hives. I believe it did make a difference. I don?t hear him complaining about SHBs any more.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Ben Framed on June 08, 2022, 06:28:12 pm
Phillip
Post by: Ben Framed on June 08, 2022, 06:49:21 pm
TOPIC: Oil trap screened hive bottom?
After my battles with the little buggers, I have found that you don't need a full tray under a full screened bottom. A small pan slid under a small hole cut in a solid bottom board that is screened over can work just as well. This mean less oil less mess and less cost to convert a solid bottom.
That's awesome cao. I know from your writings that you have many hives. Do you have this pan system under every hive or do you have a special strategy?
If you don't have these under each hive, do you find beetles from other hives are drawn to these trap hives by smell perhaps? In other words if you have these spaced out among your hives, do you find the beetles in the unprotected hives to be in small numbers now? I am asking because, if I remember correctly, Sawdstmakr said he did not have these under every hive after a period of time if I remember correctly. Again, good job!!
I haven't got pans on my long hives yet and there are 4 or 5 others that don't have pans. But the rest of them do. I will eventually have every hive have a pan with oil whether they need them or not. If one hive has beetles then they all get oil in their pans. I am not willing to chance it anymore. I already lost a hive this year.
As far as the hole size, I milled out two rectangular holes in the plywood bottom board. The pan is what they call 1/8 size baking pan. It is about 6" x 9" so the hole size that I cut out was as big as I could get. The aluminum pans were less than $3 a piece. Couldn't make anything else for that price.
I think certain hives are better and more vigilant to the beetles. I see some hives almost ignore them while other hives seem to continually harass them.
By the way the beetles in the pan in my previous post was just after a week after installing the modified bottom board.
I bet you feel confident knowing that your beetle problems are all but over! That was quite a catch for a week.. Thanks for your answers and input....
Post by: BeeMaster2 on June 08, 2022, 07:08:18 pm
Bob made two one by one by the length of the hive boards and cut out a 1/4? by 1/4? from one corner and attached them to the bottom of the hive and made a gray that slid into the slots.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Ben Framed on June 08, 2022, 07:13:52 pm
What did you do in your Apiary/Bee yard today?
Not a thing, It has rained all day, off and on! :grin:
Post by: cao on June 08, 2022, 11:45:22 pm
I bet you feel confident knowing that your beetle problems are all but over! That was quite a catch for a week.. Thanks for your answers and input....
I won't be confident until I don't see any more beetles. I am still fighting them every time I check hives. Going to invest in some nematodes shortly to put in the soil to kill the larva.
Post by: BeeMaster2 on June 09, 2022, 07:55:51 am
Nematodes can stop the SHBs from pupating from the larvae coming out of your hives. Problem is that SHBs can smell your hives from miles away, some claim as far as five miles. All it takes is for a hive within a few miles to fail and the beetles will lay thousands and thousands of eggs, probably in excess of 10 thousand. I have had to use a full size trash can filled with a strong chlorine mix to handle a hive taken over and it takes hours to kill them.
They will also breed in rotting fruit if a hive is not available.
This is why I have had to use oil trays when I lived in Jacksonville. I had on average 12 hives or more and I had to clean them out at least once a month and I they all would bee solid black with dead beetles until we, a neighbor a mile away did the same, decimated the local SHB population. The following year we both stopped putting oil in the trays because there were too few in them to worry about. It stayed that way until I moved.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: rast on June 09, 2022, 08:58:23 am
Post by: BeeMaster2 on June 09, 2022, 04:32:39 pm
In Jacksonville I would go out to the apiary every night and remove the tops and kill all of the SHBs that were on top of every screen.
It gave me great pleasure killing every one of them.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Bob Wilson on June 09, 2022, 05:22:30 pm
I change the oil a few times a year.
However, a strong hive is the MUCH better remedy to SHB in my opinion. I kick myself for losing sight of that this spring.
I was lured by the siren call of devil mammon, and sold too many nucs, thus weakening my hives.
Post by: The15thMember on June 11, 2022, 05:17:02 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on June 11, 2022, 07:02:42 pm
Once the empty combs have been cleaned by the bees, place a super of on top of your donor hive with one, ONLY ONE of the freshly cleaned, empty frames of comb in the middle and foundation frames on either side, filling the box. Feed feed and feed. The bees will kick back-in, drawing new comb and filing the replaced empty as well as stimulating the queen to lay. I do not make these splits in June because the flow in my area is still producing. I ideally like to make these splits in August in my area, but if your flow has fizzled out, Oh well. This should stimulate laying in the brood area.
If the queen is playing out they will supersede her.
Be especially aware of the DANGERS of SHB this time of year. They WILL take advantage of a weak hive as well as a starter hive! Their are two reasons I suggested placing only one drawn empty frame on top with the added frames of foundation. SHB is one and the added bonus of producing new frames of comb stimulating wax for the comb is the other.
Phillip
Post by: The15thMember on June 11, 2022, 08:35:38 pm
Question, do you have plenty of nectar coming in? (Is your flow still strong)? I have noticed when the nectar flow eases up, the brood slows down accordingly. Another question; Have you extracted your surplus honey? If your nectar flow is on the down hill slide one option would be to go ahead and extract the honey if you haven?t already, leaving the empty combs out for cleanup by your bees, (far enough away from your hives as not to start robbing.This is a REALLY good point. I still have some flow, but it's not a strong as it has been now that blackberries are over. This hive also evicted all their drones earlier in the year when we had little flow, so perhaps they are just more reactive to the change in conditions than my other hives. I did take some blackberry honey off of them, but I'd rather just let them have the rest of their honey for now than have to feed. I don't really feel the need to artificially stimulate them. I'll just let them do what they think is best. I'm just a minimalist manager that way. :smile: Thanks for the tips though.
Once the empty combs have been cleaned by the bees, place a super of on top of your donor hive with one, ONLY ONE of the freshly cleaned, empty frames of comb in the middle and foundation frames on either side, filling the box. Feed feed and feed. The bees will kick back-in, drawing new comb and filing the replaced empty as well as stimulating the queen to lay. I do not make these splits in June because the flow in my area is still producing. I ideally like to make these splits in August in my area, but if your flow has fizzled out, Oh well. This should stimulate laying in the brood area.
If the queen is playing out they will supersede her.
Be especially aware of the DANGERS of SHB this time of year. They WILL take advantage of a weak hive as well as a starter hive! Their are two reasons I suggested placing only one drawn empty frame on top with the added frames of foundation. SHB is one and the added bonus of producing new frames of comb stimulating wax for the comb is the other.
Phillip
Post by: .30WCF on June 12, 2022, 04:46:35 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220612/748dfc752512c377755e0e3249871278.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220612/14b684ba7447a2ed96c830f95366aa43.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220612/add2c879aaa518647ab4e69b9f6e3f13.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: .30WCF on June 12, 2022, 05:25:28 pm
I?m betting if I tested the honey, it?s all dry and they are uncapping it and using it.
Mid June may as well be July, August, and September.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on June 12, 2022, 06:15:34 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220612/14b684ba7447a2ed96c830f95366aa43.jpg)I LOVE this picture!!
I pulled some boxes last week and decided I didn?t have time and put them back on. This week there looked like there was less capped honey. I suspect that they are getting into the honey, so I equalized the uncapped boxes and distributed them among the hives. I?ll probably just leave them for the summer unless they get capped, but all I see now is a little clover. I?d rather not feed all summer.Yeah, we're starting to slide toward our summer dearth here too. The sourwoods are LOADED with buds though, so hopefully we'll be good to go by mid-July.
I?m betting if I tested the honey, it?s all dry and they are uncapping it and using it.
Mid June may as well be July, August, and September.
Post by: tycrnp on June 12, 2022, 09:04:07 pm
I dismantled a hive beetle slimed hive. All the packed nectar ruined. The bee colony defunct. All because I allowed it to weaken too much earlier in spring, pulling nucs. I have reaped what I sowed.
The only comfort is that this particular long hive body was my frustrating, warped box. So now I can cut it up for other uses.
A slimed hive is so disgusting!!! And sad. I am taking a multifaceted approach this year. I have beetle traps with oil in the top supers, peppermint candies (1 in each of the 4 corners of the top supers), and beneath the hives I have a borax/ketchup mix between 2 CDs. I started using the CDs to get rid of ants, but I noticed there were NO SHBs in the bee yard where I have the CDs!
But what did I do today, nothing, it rained.
Post by: The15thMember on June 12, 2022, 09:39:32 pm
I have beetle traps with oil in the top supers, peppermint candies (1 in each of the 4 corners of the top supers), and beneath the hives I have a borax/ketchup mix between 2 CDs.I've never heard of anything like this for SHB control. What's the reasoning behind this?
Post by: rast on June 13, 2022, 08:55:08 am
Post by: The15thMember on June 13, 2022, 10:58:04 am
15th, "Hillbilly Beekeeping" on YouTube.Thanks rast, I'll take a look.
Post by: paus on June 13, 2022, 11:40:09 am
Post by: .30WCF on June 14, 2022, 10:56:35 am
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on June 14, 2022, 11:14:32 am
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220614/d9a10afa2530a755cb56c7db90321960.jpg)Those look AMAZING, 30!
Post by: The15thMember on June 18, 2022, 05:50:43 pm
Post by: The15thMember on June 25, 2022, 06:45:49 pm
My favorite queen Ravenna seems about to be superseded, as I found a pretty advanced but still uncapped queen cell in her hive today. There was more brood in there today than two weeks ago, but still not really enough for this time of year, so I'm going to let the bees do what they think best. Here's a picture I took of her today.
Post by: Bob Wilson on June 27, 2022, 08:38:15 am
Post by: The15thMember on June 27, 2022, 11:13:56 am
There is a lake across the street, but some few bees like my bird bath water instead. Apparently my cat wants to contest ownership, staring down the little golden intruders.Aw, you have such a pretty kitty, Bob! :happy:
Post by: BeeMaster2 on June 27, 2022, 07:59:54 pm
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Bob Wilson on June 27, 2022, 11:43:23 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on June 29, 2022, 07:25:23 am
Everything is the same. The only thing that we change is during the winter we have the couch reversed so that it faces the he first e place. I?m now t sure which way it was during BeeFest.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Michael Bush on June 29, 2022, 11:05:28 am
Post by: BeeMaster2 on June 29, 2022, 07:07:31 pm
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Bob Wilson on June 30, 2022, 08:54:48 am
Post by: yes2matt on June 30, 2022, 09:33:35 am
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
Post by: Ben Framed on July 02, 2022, 01:39:40 pm
Room decor by La' Apiary.
:grin: :wink:
Post by: The15thMember on July 02, 2022, 07:35:59 pm
Post by: Michael Bush on July 05, 2022, 06:46:12 am
Post by: Bill Murray on July 13, 2022, 08:47:02 pm
Post by: Michael Bush on July 18, 2022, 10:40:07 am
Easy to do in the beeyard...
Post by: The15thMember on July 22, 2022, 04:29:59 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on July 22, 2022, 05:25:08 pm
The sourwood flow is basically over, so I put my first round of sourwood frames above my triangle escape board today. Some of these frames are drawn SO dumb. Anyone else have bees who decide to make that crazy super fat honeycomb during a strong flow? :grin:
I haven't tried it but I recall "eltalia" (Bill) from Australia saying he loved fat honey combs. He said he liked to use 9 frames spaced out in unisons in a ten frame box.
Phillip
Post by: The15thMember on July 22, 2022, 06:01:52 pm
I haven't tried it but I recall "eltalia" (Bill) from Australia saying he loved fat honey combs. He said he liked to use 9 frames spaced out in unisons in a ten frame box.I do that sometimes, use 7 frames in my 8 frame boxes, when it's apparent the bees are in that kind of mood. The trouble is that if they aren't, then the spacing is often off, and they cross-connect them for that reason instead. Sometimes you just can't win with bees. :grin:
Phillip
Post by: FloridaGardener on July 22, 2022, 11:14:07 pm
Post by: Bill Murray on July 23, 2022, 08:31:17 am
Post by: The15thMember on July 23, 2022, 11:18:55 am
Yep I've got an entire super in my garage (went into freezer first) full of crazy comb. They did so well with the first (foundationless) box I didn't checkerboard the frames. :oops: Now it looks like a Spirograph in there. I'm afraid I can't cut the virgin comb in squares. It will have to be chunks. No way am I going to crush and strain all that. :cheesy:Haha! I checkerboarded mine, but it didn't make a difference to them. :cheesy:
I love them also, first year I run them in 10 frames to get them drawn out correctly. Once drawn or (second year) they go into a 10 frame box with 8 frame spacers.So you reduce your boxes by two frames instead of one, interesting. I bet those combs get nice and fat! If I could just get my bees to make the WHOLE frame fat it wouldn't be so much of a problem, but they just decide to make a particular section of the comb fat, which leads to wavy drawing of the frame next door.
It's not a huge deal for me, as I do all crush and strain, so as long as I can somehow removed the frames that are connected together without busting the comb wide open, I can make it work. The problem comes when I'd like to leave the bees the honey, or donate the frames to a struggling colony, because it's impossible to inspect with cross comb.
Post by: NigelP on July 24, 2022, 05:52:05 am
It's a strange honey though , it's thixotropic, meaning it' is a gel when stood, but goes to liquid when stirred.
Can't be easily centrifuged out, needs to be pressed out. Lose most of the comb, but well worth it as it's a premium honey.
(https://www.whitby-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Heather-In-Bloom-2015-1-of-1-16.jpg)
Post by: The15thMember on July 24, 2022, 05:02:12 pm
Moved about a dozen hives onto the moors for heather honey. It's the last main crop in the UK. All is looking good.What a beautiful picture! And that's extremely interesting about the heather honey! When I was shopping for flowers earlier in the year with my mom, we found some heather for sale at a local greenhouse, and I remembered you and other UK beekeepers talking about how much the bees like it, so we planted a little patch of it in one of her tomato beds. It's not a whole moor (yet!) but the little sweat bees sure do love it. I just thought it was funny that you have all that, and we've got this. :cheesy:
It's a strange honey though , it's thixotropic, meaning it' is a gel when stood, but goes to liquid when stirred.
Can't be easily centrifuged out, needs to be pressed out. Lose most of the comb, but well worth it as it's a premium honey.
(https://www.whitby-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Heather-In-Bloom-2015-1-of-1-16.jpg)
Post by: yes2matt on July 24, 2022, 10:03:49 pm
So you reduce your boxes by two frames instead of one, interesting. I bet those combs get nice and fat! If I could just get my bees to make the WHOLE frame fat it wouldn't be so much of a problem, but they just decide to make a particular section of the comb fat, which leads to wavy drawing of the frame next door.This is easier to do with a helper. But sometimes I stand the super up tall-ways, frames on end, so I can see what I've got for a mess. Then two or three at a time (or more with a helper) I can push out the frames from the bottom as a stack/block. Then once they're out of the box I can usually figure a way to get them apart without making a bigger mess than necessary. It is maybe easiest to do indoors.
It's not a huge deal for me, as I do all crush and strain, so as long as I can somehow removed the frames that are connected together without busting the comb wide open, I can make it work. The problem comes when I'd like to leave the bees the honey, or donate the frames to a struggling colony, because it's impossible to inspect with cross comb.
Post by: yes2matt on July 24, 2022, 10:07:27 pm
Post by: Bill Murray on July 25, 2022, 09:40:52 am
Quote
I tried it without predrawn comb 1st year and it was a disaster. But my theory on this is I actually get more honey out of each super, (I should weigh each and verify that) but with same amount of space taken up and 2 less frames? Also less for the bees to cap. Makes uncapping way easier, and you are handling 2 frames less per box, to me the last 2 reasons made it a no brainer.QuoteIf I could just get my bees to make the WHOLE frame fat it wouldn't be so much of a problem, but they just decide to make a particular section of the comb fat, which leads to wavy drawing of the frame next door.
The drawback was less cappings, hence less wax.
Post by: AustinB on July 25, 2022, 02:11:48 pm
Post by: Lesgold on July 28, 2022, 03:09:10 am
Two boxes in the bucket and two on the carryall at the back. Slow work at this time of the year with the honey being quite thick and slow to drain. I could heat the room I suppose but I just take my time and enjoy the experience. Won?t have any more winter honey for another four years.
Post by: AustinB on July 28, 2022, 11:56:16 am
Wish I had your problem AustinB. I have started pulling honey but the weather is cool. (About 17 C. ) 4 boxes per day. Extracted asap before they lose to much heat.
I don't know which problem I would rather have, thick honey or high heat haha! I love that you run deeps for your honey supers.
Quote
Won?t have any more winter honey for another four years.Can you explain? I'm interested
Post by: Lesgold on July 28, 2022, 06:36:11 pm
Yes I do run deeps for supers. The advantages are obvious. The BIG disadvantage is also obvious. Those supers are quite heavy when full. The honey that I?m harvesting comes from the spotted gum. It only flowers once every four years. It?s the only winter flowering tree in my area that produces a flow. The majority of honey produced in my region comes from flowering eucalypts. Each species has a different flowering cycle. Some flower every year, others every two, three or four years. As I don?t move bees to follow a flow, my seasons vary considerably according to what is going to flower that year. Some years are quite poor. I may only extract about 20kg of honey per hive for those seasons.
Post by: AustinB on July 28, 2022, 11:31:08 pm
The honey that I?m harvesting comes from the spotted gum. It only flowers once every four years. It?s the only winter flowering tree in my area that produces a flow. The majority of honey produced in my region comes from flowering eucalypts. Each species has a different flowering cycle. Some flower every year, others every two, three or four years. As I don?t move bees to follow a flow, my seasons vary considerably according to what is going to flower that year. Some years are quite poor. I may only extract about 20kg of honey per hive for those seasons.Thats very interesting, I didn't know that so I'm glad I asked. I'm fortunate to be in an area that has a (generally speaking) pretty heavy flow from early spring all the way through summer, and some years a good fall flow as well.
edit: BTW I mowed the bee yard today :grin:
Post by: Michael Bush on July 29, 2022, 08:14:24 am
https://bushfarms.com/beeseightframemedium.htm
https://bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#uniformframesize
Post by: Bill Murray on July 29, 2022, 07:23:20 pm
Post by: The15thMember on July 30, 2022, 04:13:00 pm
Post by: The15thMember on July 30, 2022, 08:05:02 pm
Hi AustinBHey Les, I've got a question about this. If you only have this flow once every four years, and it's the only tree to bloom in winter, do your bees build up brood at this time every four years, and then is there a difference in how they winter? I seem to remember you saying your climate is pretty warm year round, so I imagine your bees don't go overly dormant in the winter anyway, but do you notice a difference in the colonies' brood cycles or populations in these spotted gum years?
Yes I do run deeps for supers. The advantages are obvious. The BIG disadvantage is also obvious. Those supers are quite heavy when full. The honey that I?m harvesting comes from the spotted gum. It only flowers once every four years. It?s the only winter flowering tree in my area that produces a flow. The majority of honey produced in my region comes from flowering eucalypts. Each species has a different flowering cycle. Some flower every year, others every two, three or four years. As I don?t move bees to follow a flow, my seasons vary considerably according to what is going to flower that year. Some years are quite poor. I may only extract about 20kg of honey per hive for those seasons.
Post by: Bill Murray on July 30, 2022, 08:09:13 pm
Post by: Lesgold on July 31, 2022, 09:53:30 am
The hives are reasonably strong at the moment (not as strong as in the spring) and I did notice that there is a reasonable amount of drone brood on the corners of some of the frames. Crazy stuff for the middle of winter. I will be expecting a big swarming season early in the spring this year. The early spring build up will start soon. There is plenty of pollen coming in and the spotted gum is still flowering. I am currently pulling off queen excluders as I rob the hives.This will give the queens chance to move up to the top box of the hives. All hives are 3 deep boxes.
Post by: The15thMember on July 31, 2022, 12:53:37 pm
Hi ReaganThat's really interesting. Just another example of how you can't keep bees by the calendar! :grin:
The hives are reasonably strong at the moment (not as strong as in the spring) and I did notice that there is a reasonable amount of drone brood on the corners of some of the frames. Crazy stuff for the middle of winter. I will be expecting a big swarming season early in the spring this year. The early spring build up will start soon. There is plenty of pollen coming in and the spotted gum is still flowering. I am currently pulling off queen excluders as I rob the hives.This will give the queens chance to move up to the top box of the hives. All hives are 3 deep boxes.
Post by: Lesgold on July 31, 2022, 06:24:49 pm
Cheers
Les
Post by: The15thMember on July 31, 2022, 07:53:21 pm
I agree. I sometimes wish that was the case. Every year is different in my location. The only consistent flow that I have occurs during the spring build up. I have a tree that flowers every year just at the start of spring. It produces good pollen and a nice honey. Apart from that, every season is different. This last season is a great example of what can happen. I had a variety of gum tree in bloom late last winter and into early spring. This led to a big swarming year as the hives built up quickly and swarming was difficult to control due to a lot of wet weather. That tree will not flower for another three years. This season has produced a lot of honey. About 80kg per hive (plus a lot of comb honey) has resulted in a shed full of the stuff. The coming season will be a small season compared to that. Apart from a small flow in the spring, there will be only one other flow that will occur in the summer months. Most of my planning is done via walks in the bush with a pair of binoculars. Flower buds on the trees in my area form anywhere from 6 months to 18 months prior to flowering. Each species is different but is quite predictable.That's wild! I'm super curious about this. Why do your trees stay in bud so long? Are they waiting for the right conditions to flower? Or does their life cycle just take really long? Does it have something to do with your climate being mild year round? I don't think we have any trees that do that. Our trees bud, flower, and fruit over a period of several weeks.
Cheers
Les
Post by: Lesgold on August 01, 2022, 01:36:39 am
The trees I?m talking about are eucalypts. Each variety acts slightly differently. Once you get to know their cycles, you can plan ahead. I noticed the first stringy bark out in flower this morning. It started a couple of weeks earlier than expected. That?s OK as it will provide pollen and nectar for the bees. As the weather has been reasonably mild over night, the bees will start building new comb soon. A couple of wattle variety have also started flowering. Spring is on the way.
Post by: The15thMember on August 01, 2022, 02:43:35 pm
Hi Reagan,That's so interesting! It's always so cool to hear how different (and how similar) beekeeping is in other areas. :happy:
The trees I?m talking about are eucalypts. Each variety acts slightly differently. Once you get to know their cycles, you can plan ahead. I noticed the first stringy bark out in flower this morning. It started a couple of weeks earlier than expected. That?s OK as it will provide pollen and nectar for the bees. As the weather has been reasonably mild over night, the bees will start building new comb soon. A couple of wattle variety have also started flowering. Spring is on the way.
Post by: AustinB on August 03, 2022, 08:07:43 am
Post by: The15thMember on August 03, 2022, 12:38:10 pm
Put down new 4x4 posts on CMU blocks to get 9 colonies higher off the ground, have a skunk that has been paying me a visit. Did some weed whacking and got things cleaned up.How do you know it's a skunk, Austin?
Post by: Michael Bush on August 03, 2022, 02:14:23 pm
Post by: AustinB on August 03, 2022, 11:20:56 pm
Quote
How do you know it's a skunk, Austin?
I have a trail camera set up. There are lots of skunks in our area unfortunately.
Post by: AustinB on August 03, 2022, 11:27:53 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on August 04, 2022, 02:55:59 pm
Phillip
Post by: Bill Murray on August 06, 2022, 09:07:26 am
Post by: The15thMember on August 06, 2022, 04:54:42 pm
Post by: Lesgold on August 07, 2022, 05:15:37 am
Post by: NigelP on August 07, 2022, 01:22:54 pm
This is my future queen raising stock...so all fingers etc crossed we get them through.
Post by: FloridaGardener on August 07, 2022, 02:29:14 pm
Keep them as large as possible by putting swapping a weak frame from the nuc with a frame of capped brood and/or nurse bees from a larger hive. Pack the box. Or build it up to 7 frames with 3 unbuilt/empties (not drawn comb to guard).
Set the entrance one bee wide and use a robbing screen. Keep a congested entrance. It's not like the bees in that nuc are going anywhere in a hurry during the dearth. Most should be tending brood if you are feeding.
Feed inside an upper rim but do not spill - and no additives in 1:1 except zinc/vitamin C / wisp of salt which helps them brood up.
https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/een.12375
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/eea.12342
Smoke up REALLY well before checking them. Mask their alarm pheremone. I've been checking nucs early evening, because there's less time before nosy neighbors should be in their own hives. If a hubub starts when I inspect, I close up keep a hose handy to spray down the crowd.
Post by: AustinB on August 08, 2022, 07:27:15 am
Austin it's rewarding finding multiple queens in a swarm Congratulations on your find!
Phillip, thanks! It's always fun to find more than one.
Pulled all the summer honey supers yesterday and started spinning them out. Going to pull a few splits off my big colonies this week. Will be time to feed soon.
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on August 08, 2022, 01:19:01 pm
Post by: NigelP on August 08, 2022, 02:33:19 pm
Argh, sorry about your troubles Nigel. I also have troubles with nucs being robbed in summer dearth. I found the only way to stop them from being devastated as "forage" by larger hives, is to:Thanks for the sympathy..these are $250 queens bred for their genetics in isolated mating sations....so can't afford to loose them.
Solution was obvious.....moved all hives from my back yard onto the heather moors (pictures to follow in few days, the moors are looking spectacular).
Brought nucs back to yard, then moved hives....the nucs have now picked up all the hives flying bees and are well sorted.
I'm happy to pay that money for decent bees in the UK as our local mongrel bees are close to useless. Their average yield is around 25lbs per annum. These super bees bring me in around 120lbs plus per hive....which creates its own problems....
Post by: .30WCF on August 08, 2022, 10:35:00 pm
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: AustinB on August 12, 2022, 12:03:10 pm
Post by: The15thMember on August 12, 2022, 06:57:19 pm
Post by: .30WCF on August 12, 2022, 09:29:08 pm
I inspected 4 hives today, which is more than I usually do, but we are going to be busy tomorrow, and the weather was finally nice today. The one hive was extremely challenging to work, and I accidentally dragged some angry workers with me down into the driveway when I left the apiary for a lunch break, and they terrorized some of my sisters. :oops: That same hive also had a frame of drones going, which is really weird for this time of year. I put my last frames of honey above my escape board to pull tomorrow morning. I'm on pace to have a similar harvest to last year. I also found an interesting mushroom in the apiary today, which looked like a tall reddish finger and was attracting flies to it. I looked it up and learned it is called the elegant stinkhorn. :grin:It has been nice here in NC the last couple days.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220813/bbc483036e710084adeb847b0f0311ac.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: BeeMaster2 on August 16, 2022, 05:07:29 am
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Bob Wilson on August 21, 2022, 02:36:56 pm
And my bees didn't do much either.
Post by: Oldbeavo on August 22, 2022, 06:09:02 am
Our first bees will be out of almonds in 8-10 days time and with the hive mats they would smother transporting.
Bees are in good condition and will need to be split in early September for swarm control.
Post by: Bill Murray on August 22, 2022, 09:48:57 pm
I was gone last week with a family issue, witch meant I didnt get all the cells separated out. So I did another round today.
Post by: The15thMember on August 27, 2022, 04:41:50 pm
Post by: AustinB on August 30, 2022, 10:32:32 am
Post by: The15thMember on September 09, 2022, 07:06:32 pm
Post by: Brian MCquilkin on September 11, 2022, 04:42:27 pm
Post by: The15thMember on September 17, 2022, 06:21:46 pm
I tend to get light-headed, and I felt a wave come over me, so I took my water bottle and went and sat down away from the hives for a minute until I didn't feel like I was going to pass out anymore. I had left the hive open of course, and by the time I got back up to the apiary there were a LOT of bees in the air. I managed to get one box inspected, but I was having to move so gingerly because of my back that I couldn't do anything efficiently, and there were hundreds of bees in the air, pinging off my veil and biting and stinging the wrists of my suit, and I realized this was not going to work.
I was worried about lifting the boxes to get the hive back together, and I thought about getting my sister, who was up in the woods cutting branches for her goats, to help me, but I realized this situation would only worsen in the time it would take her to get suited up, and no one but me was going to be able to do this without getting stung like crazy. So, being careful of my back, but not of killing bees, I got the hive back together, and then walked through the underbrush to try and get the bees off my suit enough to get my stuff out of the apiary. Then I walked around in front of the garage until the all the bees got off my suit and I could safely undress. I somehow didn't take any stings to my actual body, but my suit probably took 30. I went and told my sister to stay away from the apiary, then went inside and took a hot shower, which made my back feel a little better.
I left the frames in the one box all separated, and I need to get this hive inspected and down to three boxes for beetle control, so early next week my sister and I will try and tackle them again. She can lift the boxes for me, since she is stronger than I am and not injured, and she can also take my notes for me while I work so I can be in and out of the hive as quickly as possible. I'll wash my suit tomorrow to get all the venom and stings out of it.
So there you have it: my first ever total mess of a beekeeping day. I'm surprised it took me 5 years to have a disaster. I knew I'd have to have one at some point, and today just happened to be the day.
Post by: Ben Framed on September 18, 2022, 02:05:23 am
The grouchy behavior of your bees may be because of a death in your area? Do you have plenty of nectar coming in, or are you feeding your bees at the present time? If not that may be a part of your answer. 🤷🏼♂️
Phillip
Post by: The15thMember on September 18, 2022, 12:58:21 pm
Goodness Reagan, you had a tough bee day for sure. I have experienced both scenarios you are describing. For the back, I laid on a hard surface, drew my knees to my chest with the aid of my hands grasp to my knees and pulled inward while rolling on (or rocking on) my spine 'if you will'. Worked for me.Thanks, Phillip. We don't have much nectar coming in, only pollen. I just finished my OAV treatments and this hive was very irritated every time I treated, so it could be that that has made them a little more sensitive, and they'll settle down once I leave them alone for a few weeks.
The grouchy behavior of your bees may be because of a death in your area? Do you have plenty of nectar coming in, or are you feeding your bees at the present time? If not that may be a part of your answer. 🤷🏼♂️
Phillip
Post by: Michael Bush on September 19, 2022, 08:20:53 am
Post by: The15thMember on September 19, 2022, 02:08:35 pm
If you need to walk away fairly quickly it's still best to throw a cover on the open hive and another on any boxes you have stacked off of the hive.I will definitely do that in the future when something like this happens. That surely contributed to how upset they were when I returned.
Post by: The15thMember on September 19, 2022, 07:04:05 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on September 19, 2022, 11:35:56 pm
Phillip
Post by: The15thMember on September 20, 2022, 12:10:37 am
No fun when they are in a mood. Did you try the 'Jim Altmiller method' of smoking the bees?I actually always use the Altmiller method. My timing could have been a little off today though. My watch died recently, and I haven?t gotten around to trying to fix it yet, and I forgot about needing a watch today until it was too late. Next time I check in on them, hopefully I?ll have it fixed and if not, I?ll borrow one from someone.
Phillip
Post by: TheHoneyPump on September 20, 2022, 01:11:44 am
Went back later and confronted bear in person.
Post by: The15thMember on October 03, 2022, 06:49:59 pm
Picked up hives eaten by bear.What!! :shocked: How did I miss this post?! What happened then??!!
Went back later and confronted bear in person.
Post by: BeeMaster2 on October 03, 2022, 11:14:46 pm
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Bill Murray on October 04, 2022, 09:28:49 pm
Post by: G3farms on October 04, 2022, 09:45:55 pm
Did the first round last week and was surprised to find two shallow supers with capped comb honey, Just about sold it all out already.
Post by: Lesgold on October 05, 2022, 05:16:14 pm
Post by: TheHoneyPump on October 06, 2022, 12:08:15 pm
We came to an agreement that the bear would never ever return.Picked up hives eaten by bear.What!! :shocked: How did I miss this post?! What happened then??!!
Went back later and confronted bear in person.
Post by: BeeMaster2 on October 06, 2022, 01:35:17 pm
🤣🤣🤣We came to an agreement that the bear would never ever return.Picked up hives eaten by bear.What!! :shocked: How did I miss this post?! What happened then??!!
Went back later and confronted bear in person.
Post by: Bob Wilson on October 06, 2022, 01:39:09 pm
Post by: Bob Wilson on October 06, 2022, 01:43:56 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on October 06, 2022, 05:08:20 pm
HoneyPump... i would have paid money to see that conversation between you and the bear.
So would I !
However, I would bet Mr HoneyPump did not spend much time in 'debate' with Mr Bear :shocked: :cheesy: lol...
Post by: G3farms on October 08, 2022, 08:55:31 pm
Post by: The15thMember on October 08, 2022, 09:13:08 pm
Post by: Bill Murray on October 11, 2022, 09:24:27 am
Post by: cao on October 11, 2022, 01:39:31 pm
Post by: paus on October 11, 2022, 04:00:27 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on October 11, 2022, 11:49:19 pm
Phillip
Post by: Lesgold on October 31, 2022, 04:51:17 am
It was too large for a single box so I nestled a double up against the swarm and cut away the branches they were swinging on. Didn?t worry about a bait frame as a cold front with rain was just about to hit. The bees started marching into the hive very quickly. In about 5 minutes, over half of the bees had marched in.
I will pick them up and move them early tomorrow before they start flying.
Post by: Ben Framed on October 31, 2022, 06:17:06 am
Phillip
Post by: NigelP on October 31, 2022, 09:45:23 am
Looks like you got home just at the right time!
Phillip
Or too late if you are into swarm prevention :grin:
Post by: Ben Framed on October 31, 2022, 10:59:49 am
Quote
Or too late if you are into swarm prevention :grin:
True! :cheesy:
Post by: Lesgold on October 31, 2022, 04:54:59 pm
Post by: The15thMember on November 05, 2022, 01:43:04 pm
Post by: The15thMember on November 08, 2022, 06:51:47 pm
Post by: Lesgold on November 09, 2022, 03:42:45 am
Post by: The15thMember on December 03, 2022, 07:06:11 pm
Post by: Bob Wilson on December 08, 2022, 01:17:22 pm
What beek doesn't talking about bees?
Post by: The15thMember on December 08, 2022, 02:15:20 pm
I gave a bee presentation at the local county extension agency for a home school association.Sounds fun, Bob. What ages of kids were there?
What beek doesn't talking about bees?
Post by: The15thMember on December 09, 2022, 03:31:42 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on December 09, 2022, 03:36:44 pm
Phillip
Post by: The15thMember on December 09, 2022, 04:12:34 pm
Good for you Member. Have pictures?Sure do.
Phillip
Post by: Ben Framed on December 09, 2022, 04:38:51 pm
Phillip
Post by: The15thMember on December 09, 2022, 04:56:42 pm
Reagan hats off to you! Those are nice!:embarassed: Thanks, I had a lot of fun making them!
Phillip
Post by: Lesgold on December 12, 2022, 11:03:59 pm
Post by: Oldbeavo on December 16, 2022, 05:02:17 pm
Is your small hive small enough to pack into a 5 frame nuc.
We winter nucs very successfully overwinter
Or packout their hive with blocks/sheets of polystyrene to reduce their volume. they stay in all winter and in spring when you find them throwing bits out you know they need more room. Our blocks are 65mm thick and replace 2 frames in the hive,
Post by: TheHoneyPump on December 16, 2022, 05:44:59 pm
https://beecounted.org/hive/summary/z58o
Post by: The15thMember on December 16, 2022, 06:34:08 pm
15thMaybe, although it's kind of too late now. I don't actually have any nuc boxes, I usually use a foam divider board to make the space in a big hive body smaller when I need fewer frames. I thought about doing that, but I only realized their population was so low on my last inspection of the year, after they had already sealed up their cracks good with propolis, so I figured that too much room well-sealed was better than the right amount of room but drafty.
Is your small hive small enough to pack into a 5 frame nuc.
We winter nucs very successfully overwinter
Or packout their hive with blocks/sheets of polystyrene to reduce their volume. they stay in all winter and in spring when you find them throwing bits out you know they need more room. Our blocks are 65mm thick and replace 2 frames in the hive,
Post by: The15thMember on December 17, 2022, 07:32:35 pm
Well, it's 100% too late now. I found them dead today. Not really surprising. I unfortunately treated them with OAV before I realized they were dead, so I did waste 2 grams of OA. On the plus side, when I took the hive apart, I was able to see that my OAV spread isn't coating the whole interior of the hive, which isn't ideal. I'm not sure if it's my wand or if I just need to use a little more OA. I also found a burn mark on the slatted rack from my wand, so I'll be more mindful about that in the future. I had one more hive to treat when my battery, like my hive, died. I wasn't aware it was so low, so I'll have to charge it before I can treat that last colony.15thMaybe, although it's kind of too late now. I don't actually have any nuc boxes, I usually use a foam divider board to make the space in a big hive body smaller when I need fewer frames. I thought about doing that, but I only realized their population was so low on my last inspection of the year, after they had already sealed up their cracks good with propolis, so I figured that too much room well-sealed was better than the right amount of room but drafty.
Is your small hive small enough to pack into a 5 frame nuc.
We winter nucs very successfully overwinter
Or packout their hive with blocks/sheets of polystyrene to reduce their volume. they stay in all winter and in spring when you find them throwing bits out you know they need more room. Our blocks are 65mm thick and replace 2 frames in the hive,
Post by: TheHoneyPump on December 19, 2022, 03:45:18 pm
https://youtu.be/fLexgOxsZu0
Post by: Ben Framed on December 19, 2022, 07:01:09 pm
.
Post by: The15thMember on December 19, 2022, 08:06:37 pm
https://youtu.be/hOOHeOgavYEI LOVE Johnny Horton!
.
30 below and blowing snow. Nothing that can be done in the beeyard. Soooooo ..Bruno Mars I can take or leave. :grin:
https://youtu.be/fLexgOxsZu0
Post by: TheHoneyPump on December 19, 2022, 08:11:06 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on December 19, 2022, 08:17:39 pm
Post by: The15thMember on December 19, 2022, 08:23:15 pm
Am not much of a Mars fan myself. But that specific tune does capture the ambition level and couch surfing that was going on here today ;)Sounds like a good day of vegging!
Post by: The15thMember on December 21, 2022, 04:26:29 pm
Post by: Michael Bush on December 23, 2022, 07:54:29 am
Post by: Ben Framed on December 23, 2022, 08:00:04 am
Phillip
Post by: The15thMember on December 23, 2022, 12:02:40 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 23, 2022, 02:06:06 pm
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Lesgold on December 26, 2022, 03:37:35 am
36 years years of teaching woodwork without a single incident and then one mistake ended up costing me my middle finger. We are never too old to stop learning.
Post by: Ben Framed on December 26, 2022, 04:19:09 am
Phillip
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 26, 2022, 04:50:48 am
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Lesgold on December 26, 2022, 04:53:29 am
Post by: NigelP on December 26, 2022, 05:05:49 am
Post by: The15thMember on December 26, 2022, 01:09:05 pm
Post by: saltybluegrass on December 26, 2022, 06:41:53 pm
Nothing but warmer temps here on out
Post by: Ben Framed on December 26, 2022, 07:09:23 pm
Phillip
Post by: Michael Bush on December 27, 2022, 08:24:49 am
Post by: saltybluegrass on December 27, 2022, 03:15:13 pm
After three days of no activity, they are making up for it today. Tons of activity to be seen
Post by: Pittwater Pete on December 28, 2022, 01:40:25 am
Best regards and good healing.
Pete.
Post by: saltybluegrass on December 28, 2022, 03:21:23 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on December 28, 2022, 07:33:08 pm
Phillip
Post by: The15thMember on December 28, 2022, 07:35:31 pm
https://youtube.com/shorts/lwSnszkHul0?feature=shareJust be careful putting open food out like that, Salty. If you are in a dearth, it'll draw in robbers. Even with a nectar flow, it's a good idea to feed a good ways away from the hives. If you feed right at your hives, the bees that aren't yours will tell their sisters about it, and when you remove the food, they'll try to rob your hives since they are zeroed in on that spot.
We also finally had some warmer weather today; it got all the way to 50F and sunny. All my hives were flying except one, and I checked and they are alive too, so no one succumbed to the cold. I hefted and checked moistures quilts while I was out there.
Post by: saltybluegrass on December 29, 2022, 11:17:01 am
Post by: The15thMember on January 18, 2023, 07:33:01 pm
Post by: .30WCF on January 18, 2023, 10:18:05 pm
Was working on making a jig for safely cutting timber for bee frames. Unfortunately I had a bit of a mishap and had an argument with the bench saw. Won?t be able to count to ten anymore but I should be good with fractions. 9.25 will be my best count. I should be under the knife tomorrow morning.How?s that healing up?
36 years years of teaching woodwork without a single incident and then one mistake ended up costing me my middle finger. We are never too old to stop learning.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Lesgold on January 18, 2023, 10:43:57 pm
Post by: AustinB on January 26, 2023, 10:34:50 pm
Going well. The minor cuts on a finger and thumb are healing well. The doctor who sewed up the stump of my finger did a great job. I invited her to wrap next years Christmas presents with those skills. About 2 1/2 weeks before I can get back into doing any work. The experts want my finger to heal over so there is no chance of infection. Sitting around is a pain but I?ve been playing with ideas for wax candles, lip balms etc so there is plenty of activity on the go at the moment. Just need to be careful in the use of the left hand.
Sorry about your finger Les, I am glad it's healing and that it wasn't worse.
Post by: NigelP on January 27, 2023, 10:08:39 am
#
(https://i.ibb.co/FqKZt22/bottlersmall.jpg)
Post by: Ben Framed on January 27, 2023, 10:35:46 am
Post by: Bob Wilson on January 27, 2023, 11:42:39 am
Post by: The15thMember on January 27, 2023, 01:17:39 pm
Post by: Lesgold on January 27, 2023, 06:00:45 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on January 27, 2023, 08:28:21 pm
"I always love the colour of your soft set."
Les, I agreed! Nigel you do a great job on the soft-set as seen. I have not dealt with soft-set, therefore I did not realize it could be bottled in the neat way that you have demonstrated as in your picture. I was thinking it might be to thick. No doubt you are putting out a 'top quality' soft-set product! If you were in my area I would buy some if you had enough available! I bet it is sooo good!
Phillip
Post by: NigelP on January 28, 2023, 05:07:21 am
If I try making soft set in our summer the temp is 25-26C and the soft set is much darker and not quite as smooth.
(https://i.ibb.co/QJT4rrw/cream2.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/mJVtzwS/cream1.jpg)
Post by: Lesgold on January 29, 2023, 05:25:23 pm
Post by: NigelP on January 31, 2023, 12:59:42 pm
(https://i.ibb.co/b3D8gBN/boilersmall1.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/ZG6n3dX/boilersmall2.jpg)
Holds about 100 liters of water and boy does it clean up queen excluders and frames.
Below is before and after dipping half of a queen excluder, literally took seconds to melt the wax off. Managed to finish off cleaning all my heather frames, that was 30 supers in total and around 25 queen excluders...all before lunch!
(https://i.ibb.co/Jy1ssjy/boilersmall3.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/QXJtBZh/boilersmall4.jpg)
Post by: Lesgold on January 31, 2023, 03:49:37 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on January 31, 2023, 11:20:46 pm
Phillip
Post by: NigelP on February 01, 2023, 04:16:19 am
Post by: BeeMaster2 on February 01, 2023, 05:13:25 am
When you melt wax and propolis in water the wax is on top and then right below it is the propolis. If you remember from the old skep videos, the senior beekeeper would sit down with the blocks of wax and shave the dark layer of propolis from the bottom of the wax.
If you had enough of it to you might bee able to remelt it and spoon off the wax until you had only propolis.
One way to clean propolis is to melt it in alcohol. Filter it with fine cloth and then dry it out, leaving behind only pure propolis. I have done this, it took a long time to dry out.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Lesgold on February 01, 2023, 02:43:13 pm
Post by: beesnweeds on February 04, 2023, 09:24:24 am
Post by: Ben Framed on February 04, 2023, 10:25:55 am
Phillip
Post by: paus on February 04, 2023, 10:54:29 am
Post by: paus on February 04, 2023, 07:06:10 pm
Post by: Michael Bush on February 06, 2023, 08:11:16 am
Post by: Bob Wilson on February 06, 2023, 09:09:12 am
Post by: JurassicApiary on February 06, 2023, 12:54:05 pm
Wishing you all (especially beesnweeds in frozen NY) warm weather and happy bees!
Matthew
Post by: The15thMember on February 06, 2023, 05:27:00 pm
Post by: NigelP on February 09, 2023, 02:29:39 pm
I checked a couple of hives where I'd added about a kg of fondant 7 days ago that they really didn't need (insurance as expensive queens).
All gobbled down.
So added more.
Post by: G3farms on February 09, 2023, 08:55:20 pm
I did do the third round of winter patties the other day and a chunk of pollen patty for all.
So far got 31 hives coming out of winter, fingers crossed to keep them all till blooms pop.
A pretty mild winter here so far, with the exception of about 3 or 4 days that never got above 20*F (no need for you northerners to laugh), was about 67*F today. I look for a bunch of swarms this spring followed by a bunch of cut outs LOL.
Post by: salvo on February 10, 2023, 05:03:32 pm
South-east Massachusetts here.
Last Saturday, Feb 4, 2023: Low of -10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Today: 64 degrees Fahrenheit from 10 AM til about 3 PM.
Bees out, looking for something to do. Rolling and picking through my compost, paying close attention to the wood ashes and coffee grounds, harassing the birds at the feeder, and checking out whatever in the garage (door was open for me all day).
I pulled mouse guards and cleaned the BBs. I put some olde comb chunks with honey out to keep them occupied and away from the garage. They end up in the windows.
It has been overly warm here this winter, and forecast is pretty much the same.
OA vap later this month. Today could have been a good day though, but it was supposed to rain. I wasn't prepared.
Sal
Post by: AustinB on February 14, 2023, 04:58:33 pm
Post by: The15thMember on February 16, 2023, 05:18:57 pm
Post by: Lesgold on February 16, 2023, 06:22:04 pm
Post by: The15thMember on February 18, 2023, 01:41:13 pm
Post by: G3farms on February 18, 2023, 06:37:26 pm
Big frost this morning and has finally make it to 50* F.
Had to put feed on several of them along with a little pollen.
Got 31 hives still, will see what happens in the next month or two.
Post by: The15thMember on February 20, 2023, 08:50:31 pm
Post by: Michael Bush on February 21, 2023, 06:23:16 am
Post by: Lesgold on February 22, 2023, 05:40:49 pm
Just working through the process of streaming a few frames from a couple of dead out hives. The hives swarmed earlier in the season and the new queens obviously didn?t make it back from mating flights. It has been a job that I?ve meant to get around to but it?s been too hot to get a fire started. Wax moth and beetles had a play with these hives so they were a bit of a mess. Steamed 20 frames yesterday afternoon which resulted in a bit of wax recovered. Will finish the job later today. The frames are now clean and the wax will need to be melted and strained. I will expect to get just over 2kg of clean wax from the 20 frames. Steaming gives a good wax recovery from old frames.
Post by: AustinB on February 24, 2023, 11:58:51 am
Post by: The15thMember on February 25, 2023, 03:47:52 pm
Post by: Bob Wilson on February 25, 2023, 09:03:36 pm
Post by: The15thMember on February 25, 2023, 10:24:14 pm
I need to set my swarm traps out, but they are leaking some. So, I am making some aluminum caps for them from sheet aluminum from Home DepotI really need to do that to my wooden migratory covers before they get so rotten that it's not worth it anymore. :grin:
Post by: Bob Wilson on February 25, 2023, 10:47:49 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on February 26, 2023, 12:11:08 am
Thanks,
Phillip
Post by: The15thMember on February 26, 2023, 05:01:19 pm
If you'll don't mind telling me, what did y'all make the failing migratory tops out of? (what material)I purchased most of mine, so I'm assuming they are just pine. I do have one that my sister made for me out of plywood when I was having an equipment emergency, but it's quite warped, so I don't use it unless I have to. Although one of my store-bought ones is getting pretty warped too. My telescoping tops have held up much better, which I credit mostly to them being metal topped.
Thanks,
Phillip
Post by: yes2matt on February 26, 2023, 06:46:32 pm
for the small, queenright, "upstairs" colony I wanted frame feeders but they're like $25 a piece (WHaT?) so I got a squeeze squirt bottle and used it to fill drawn comb with 2:1 syrup for a "frame feeder" a deep comb holds almost a quart. I figure it's just in case, the bees will clean it out and the queen will lay it up and I'll use the extra brood for my cut comb producers.
I'm not sure what to think of the mean bees. I get in there and about 15 minutes later it's time to go. And they chase. But there's thirty pounds of new capped honey on that hive and it's not March yet. It's worth it? I debate.
Post by: Bob Wilson on February 26, 2023, 10:53:24 pm
I believe I made my swarm boxes from 23/32 bcx plywood (made with water resistant adhesive), NOT ccx pressure treated plywood, which is poisonous.
They are 5 years old and not made very well. The degradation at the top is partly my fault.
Post by: Ben Framed on February 26, 2023, 11:24:10 pm
Phillip
Post by: Michael Bush on February 27, 2023, 06:10:57 am
Post by: cao on February 27, 2023, 11:26:55 am
Post by: Occam on February 27, 2023, 08:24:16 pm
Post by: saltybluegrass on March 01, 2023, 06:08:35 pm
All I did was enjoy watching the bees flying about when I got home from work. Both of my hives busy, especially my Lang hive. Bunched up around the top entrance. 73 today, lows around 50, repeat tomorrow.Why won?t my phones pictures fit in these posts?
How did you get the pic in here.?
That?s why I post videos because the dang pictures don?t work.
Anyway my girls are enjoying some of the heaviest pollen of the season but the neighbors favorite approach to the first blooms of dandelion is call the poison sprayers to kill them
So I?m watching for any poison problems
But honestly the few lizards and birds eating the small amount of entrance bees isn?t bad at all
Post by: The15thMember on March 01, 2023, 06:31:50 pm
Why won?t my phones pictures fit in these posts?You just need to resize them. Check out this thread. https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=51631.msg499186#msg499186
How did you get the pic in here.?
That?s why I post videos because the dang pictures don?t work.
Post by: Michael Bush on March 02, 2023, 08:02:50 am
Post by: jimineycricket on March 02, 2023, 10:05:07 am
Had three inches of new snow this morning.
Post by: The15thMember on March 04, 2023, 07:03:24 pm
Post by: The15thMember on March 06, 2023, 09:34:28 pm
Post by: TheHoneyPump on March 06, 2023, 11:00:26 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230307/403d059918bdd042a97bd060b83323fa.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230307/9956ae1125bbdc0acca76f6f621337ae.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Bill Murray on March 06, 2023, 11:24:54 pm
Post by: saltybluegrass on March 08, 2023, 11:21:02 am
Got my first sting of the season today. One of the bees from my mean hive nailed me in the arm when I went over there to look at them. I put my propolis salve on it as an experiment, and it's really helping with the swelling and redness, although it's still very tender.Don?t laugh but I?ve been so bored lately, I?m welcoming a sting just to feel alive again!!!
I wander over by the boxes and put my finger down on the landing board but no avail. They must like me
Post by: Michael Bush on March 08, 2023, 11:24:37 am
Plantain is the cure.
Post by: Ben Framed on March 08, 2023, 12:10:08 pm
"saltybluegrass"
"Don't laugh but I've been so bored lately, I'm welcoming a sting just to feel alive again!!!
I wander over by the boxes and put my finger down on the landing board but no avail. They must like me."
That was funny Salty! Thanks for the smile! Hang in there friend, those girls may show some temper yet... 😊
Phillip
Post by: Michael Bush on March 08, 2023, 12:44:14 pm
Post by: The15thMember on March 08, 2023, 12:54:49 pm
Post by: Michael Bush on March 08, 2023, 01:33:28 pm
Post by: The15thMember on March 08, 2023, 02:23:16 pm
Generally Plantain grows anywhere the soil is packed and that is almost always on the path to, if not in, the apiary...My apiary is on the edge of a forested hill, so the soil is not really packed, since the ground is very leaf-covered, even on the path. We do have plantain grow in our driveway, but I'm a little trepidatious (is that a word?), I have trepidations about putting something in my mouth or on a break in the skin that the car has been running over and/or the dogs may have peed on. :oops:
Post by: Lesgold on March 10, 2023, 07:27:11 pm
Frames are held in a jig so that the engraver burns the pattern in the correct location.
It?s nothing special but it works.
Cheers
Les
Post by: The15thMember on March 11, 2023, 07:00:12 pm
Post by: Lesgold on March 12, 2023, 12:03:22 am
Post by: Bill Murray on March 12, 2023, 01:24:11 pm
Post by: The15thMember on March 12, 2023, 05:01:03 pm
Yesterday was an interesting day. Marley and I marked new queens, moved virgins into mating nucs, pulled our bees out of trees, and pulled mated queens out of hives and nuked them to keep those hives from swarming. Im going to say shes good for me. A virgin queen flys off she says I guess we don?t have to worry about putting her in a nuc do we, We watch the bees fly up into a tree, she says I guess we should have looked at them last weekend instead of doing what we did. We get in a queenless hive and I get stung to pieces, she says you know, probably should have put your gloves on . And at the end of a 10 hr day without lunch she says with a big old smile on her face, grandpa we had a really good day today, I had a lot of fun. . I cant even get aggravated with a trooper like that around me. Waxing plastic foundations and dipping old painted boxes today, should be out working bees but ran out of ready wooden-ware.That's so cool, Bill. It sounds like beekeeping is a real passion for her.
Post by: Bill Murray on March 12, 2023, 06:19:36 pm
Gonna try a pic.
Well didnt work keeps coming out sideways. Thought I had this must have forgot.
Post by: The15thMember on March 23, 2023, 10:09:50 pm
I plan to assassinate the mean hive's queen, then systematically eliminate her offspring. Eventually support for her government will die out, and I will then install a young puppet ruler of my choosing, who will be accepted by the remaining populace without resistance in their desperation for a stable society. Hopefully the new queen will govern the colony more to my liking. :cool:
Post by: Bill Murray on March 23, 2023, 11:04:50 pm
Haha I like that.
Post by: The15thMember on March 24, 2023, 07:20:21 pm
Also everyone's sugar rolls came back either 0 or 1 mite, so my winter OAV treatments clearly worked.
Post by: Bill Murray on March 24, 2023, 11:40:53 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 25, 2023, 01:39:06 am
Jim Altmiller
Post by: The15thMember on March 27, 2023, 07:37:05 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 27, 2023, 07:49:09 pm
Not to change the subject but why am I seeing double locations??
Robo corrected it. It was just an error in the code.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: G3farms on March 27, 2023, 09:44:28 pm
finished pulling the feeder shims on hives and added queen excluders and honey super to the hives that are boiling over.
Some hives were just starting to build comb in the feeder shims, so a little bonus was some tasty honey, some was just starting to be capped, it is time.
note..........dogwoods are blooming, first ones I saw were saturday........hint hint
Post by: cao on March 27, 2023, 10:21:03 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 28, 2023, 03:45:28 am
I also cleaned up another 6 boxes of frames and removed all wax and plastic foundation.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Occam on March 28, 2023, 10:39:15 pm
Post by: The15thMember on March 28, 2023, 10:59:52 pm
Couple days late but unfortunately cleaned out the log hive, dead out. I think I'm going to convert it into a swarm trap on my property and just move any bees that move in to a Lang hive. I had a lot of fun building it but unfortunately it was rather difficult to manage given that not one thing on it is standard size. So I'm going to put in a couple cross bars and set some Lang frames in for them to start on if they move in. Seems like a better use for it and it's a pretty ideal volume for a swarm trap, basically 1.5 deeps equivalent volume.Well, it was an interesting experiment anyway. I bet it'll make a great swarm trap.
Post by: Occam on March 28, 2023, 11:24:09 pm
Couple days late but unfortunately cleaned out the log hive, dead out. I think I'm going to convert it into a swarm trap on my property and just move any bees that move in to a Lang hive. I had a lot of fun building it but unfortunately it was rather difficult to manage given that not one thing on it is standard size. So I'm going to put in a couple cross bars and set some Lang frames in for them to start on if they move in. Seems like a better use for it and it's a pretty ideal volume for a swarm trap, basically 1.5 deeps equivalent volume.Well, it was an interesting experiment anyway. I bet it'll make a great swarm trap.
Right. Live and learn. It's a part of nature, at once both beautiful and brutal
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 29, 2023, 06:53:59 am
Bee sure to put it next to a tree trunk. I find that bees goto swarm traps that are strapped to a tree much more often than the ones out in the sun.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Ben Framed on March 29, 2023, 09:45:13 am
I'll second that. I even once had a swarm enter a stored empty hive, inside a closed 'dark' garage.
Phillip
Post by: Occam on March 29, 2023, 10:50:27 pm
Post by: Michael Bush on March 31, 2023, 07:40:15 am
Post by: Bob Wilson on March 31, 2023, 11:26:18 pm
1. Paper combined a swarm into the Layen's hive, which was queenless.
2. Started pulling capped brood frames from nucs into production hives.
3. Three days ago I marked a queen, and for the first time she flew away instead of heading back inside the colony. But checking today, I found she returned, with the pretty red dot on her back. I started marking queens whenever I run across them. Most of them are marked, some this year, some yellow from last year.
Post by: Bill Murray on April 01, 2023, 09:40:25 pm
Post by: Occam on April 02, 2023, 12:06:31 am
Post by: The15thMember on April 02, 2023, 12:44:08 pm
Post by: Bob Wilson on April 02, 2023, 09:08:31 pm
Post by: cao on April 02, 2023, 09:52:04 pm
Post by: Michael Bush on April 03, 2023, 06:30:08 am
https://bushfarms.com/beesqueenflying.htm
Post by: Occam on April 03, 2023, 08:29:10 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 03, 2023, 09:27:01 pm
If bees are bearding, add some insulation under the roof. Makes a big difference.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Occam on April 03, 2023, 10:57:43 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 04, 2023, 06:52:13 am
Jim Altmiller
Post by: The15thMember on April 15, 2023, 07:05:07 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on April 15, 2023, 11:15:09 pm
Post by: The15thMember on April 21, 2023, 07:03:26 pm
Post by: .30WCF on April 22, 2023, 12:26:18 am
This is the top box of five mediums. Actually kind of hoping it kills the queens so I don?t have to deal with swarms for a bit. Just joking, or am I? It?s good temps for formic, so I should be good. I actually added it last Friday, and it?s been below 80.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230422/6a28c360948258b6c00d862e4704ce31.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on April 22, 2023, 01:34:56 pm
Formic pro day for spring.Holy cow! I've got a couple colonies in 4 8-frame mediums, but 5 already, and that full of bees!
This is the top box of five mediums. Actually kind of hoping it kills the queens so I don?t have to deal with swarms for a bit. Just joking, or am I? It?s good temps for formic, so I should be good. I actually added it last Friday, and it?s been below 80.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230422/6a28c360948258b6c00d862e4704ce31.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 23, 2023, 06:11:20 pm
This is the first step. I?m 3d printing it right now. Once complete, Bill Murray will use these stamps to make molds and then we will do the final casting in brass.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Bill Murray on April 24, 2023, 12:29:20 am
Last year I had them in a double deep. they swarmed multiple times and never touched the jars. This year I made them queenless, in a single 8 frame deep and viola. Drawing like crazy in the jars.
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 24, 2023, 01:10:34 am
Jim Altmiller
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 25, 2023, 09:32:09 am
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Ben Framed on April 27, 2023, 03:44:25 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 27, 2023, 06:58:25 pm
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Occam on April 27, 2023, 08:50:48 pm
I got off work a little early and found I had a little spare time when I got home so I stained one of my horizontal hives with deck stain finally. Happened upon a gallon of Cabot stain that was mistinted at Lowes for 10 bucks, figured it was good enough.
Unfortunately I've been extremely busy with other aspects of life and missed my chance to split my lang hive and they swarmed on me. Hopefully I had someone call me about an established hive about an hour and a half from me that's in the wall of a house they're getting ready to tear down and they'd like me to come do a cut out. Hopefully I'll be able to get them in a few weeks, I'm tied up the next couple weekends
Post by: The15thMember on April 29, 2023, 06:19:14 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 29, 2023, 08:09:27 pm
That hive that you heard the queen piping, I would check it tomorrow. Put your ear on the box and listen and see how many different queens that you can hear. They each have different sounds. If you hear more than one, do a full inspection for queen cells. Have a dozen queen cages ready. Smoke lightly so that you don?t disturb the bees keeping the queens in their cells. Remove one frame at a time for the same reason.
Let us know what you find.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: The15thMember on April 29, 2023, 08:32:29 pm
Reagan,I reduced the queen cells in this hive after they swarmed and left them with two. They then swarmed again this week with one of those virgins, so presuming I didn't miss any QCs, there aren't any other queens in there. Virgins still pipe even if they have no challengers, right?
That hive that you heard the queen piping, I would check it tomorrow. Put your ear on the box and listen and see how many different queens that you can hear. They each have different sounds. If you hear more than one, do a full inspection for queen cells. Have a dozen queen cages ready. Smoke lightly so that you don?t disturb the bees keeping the queens in their cells. Remove one frame at a time for the same reason.
Let us know what you find.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 30, 2023, 09:58:19 am
See if you can hear two different queens.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: The15thMember on April 30, 2023, 02:26:06 pm
My experience has been, if I hear queens piping, there is more than one queen in the hive. And I reduce them down to one.I went out and listened to the hive, and I don't hear anything today. Perhaps they fought it out yesterday evening.
See if you can hear two different queens.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Michael Bush on May 01, 2023, 07:11:29 am
Post by: Bob Wilson on May 01, 2023, 07:48:28 am
The boys watch the girls while the girls watch the boys who watch the girls go by...
This morning I am watching the bird eat the bees while the cat watches the bird watching the bees go by.
Post by: Ben Framed on May 02, 2023, 11:52:29 am
Quote
This morning I am watching the bird eat the bees while the cat watches the bird watching the bees go by.
:grin:
Post by: Occam on May 07, 2023, 05:36:00 pm
This begs a question in retrospect however...I use a top entrance on my hive, not bottom. With her trapped on the bottom can you forsee any problems? She couldn't swarm now, not that I think they will. Can a virgin queen pass through an excluder?
Post by: Ben Framed on May 07, 2023, 05:59:33 pm
Phillip
Post by: Occam on May 07, 2023, 06:14:37 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on May 07, 2023, 06:21:08 pm
Yes, they swarmed a few weeks ago
I have noticed when I have had swarms it takes a bit for them to rebound from the loss of the bees. The strength of the hive, along with the local flow dictates wax build up etc.
While inspecting your hive did you notice how many frames had eggs, larvae, pollen and honey etc? As well as nurse bees to cover? I am thinking it may be the loss of the workforce due to the swarm which may be what has retarded production in this hive?
Phillip
Post by: Occam on May 07, 2023, 07:16:15 pm
Yes, they swarmed a few weeks ago
I have noticed when I have had swarms it takes a bit for them to rebound from the loss of the bees. The strength of the hive, along with the local flow dictates wax build up etc.
While inspecting your hive did you notice how many frames had eggs, larvae, pollen and honey etc? As well as nurse bees to cover? I am thinking it may be the loss of the workforce due to the swarm which may be what has retarded production in this hive?
It could be but those frames were there all last year. They built out the top box last year just fine, but barely went into the lower box. They had the small amount started when I looked today, i only ever peeked into it from above last year and could see they hadnt builtnit out. We had a poor flow last year, sobi chaljed it up to that.
I'm actually starting to question whether they swarmed. I never saw the swarm, but the activity changed significantly, they had been bearding when it was low 80s then stopped suddenly when the Temps were the same. My queen wasn't marked when I bought the nuc and I never marked her.
As for brood/eggs, the frames were looking really good actually, there were 3 frames of mostly capped brood, 4 of mixed eggs, larva, and capped, and a couple of resources. No fault in her laying, which is what's making me question the swarming. With the different stages the hive would have had to have swarmed earlier than I was thinking I'm pretty sure
Post by: Ben Framed on May 07, 2023, 08:22:23 pm
Phillip
Post by: BeeMaster2 on May 08, 2023, 12:55:54 am
You say :
As for brood/eggs, the frames were looking really good actually, there were 3 frames of mostly capped brood, 4 of mixed eggs, larva, and capped, and a couple of resources. No fault in her laying, which is what's making me question the swarming. With the different stages the hive would have had to have swarmed earlier than I was thinking I'm pretty sure
If this was right after you thought they swarmed, then they didn?t swarm. Usually the bees put the queen on a diet to drop her to flying weight and she slows down her laying. Once she leaves, in three days, there won?t bee any eggs at all.
How many days after they slowed down did you inspect this hive?
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Occam on May 08, 2023, 09:01:15 am
Occam,
You say :
As for brood/eggs, the frames were looking really good actually, there were 3 frames of mostly capped brood, 4 of mixed eggs, larva, and capped, and a couple of resources. No fault in her laying, which is what's making me question the swarming. With the different stages the hive would have had to have swarmed earlier than I was thinking I'm pretty sure
If this was right after you thought they swarmed, then they didn?t swarm. Usually the bees put the queen on a diet to drop her to flying weight and she slows down her laying. Once she leaves, in three days, there won?t bee any eggs at all.
How many days after they slowed down did you inspect this hive?
Jim Altmiller
Yeah that's why I'm thinking they didn't swarm, or they swarmed much earlier than I thought. I started suspecting they swarmed 2 maybe 3 weeks ago looking at the calendar. The strength of the current population plus the egg/brood status makes me think I was wrong.
Post by: Ben Framed on May 10, 2023, 02:09:30 am
Post by: The15thMember on May 11, 2023, 02:20:07 pm
Post by: Occam on May 11, 2023, 07:28:30 pm
I got a bunch of hives inspected yesterday. I saved the mean ones for last. When I was working their neighbors, they weren't bumping me, so I had hope that things had started to settle down in there now that they have a new queen laying. Nope. Stung twice and had to run for my life to get in the house without a smoker to disguise me. They are still chasing my family around the yard this morning. I really hope they settle down soon. :sad:
That doesn't sound like a good time at all
Post by: The15thMember on May 13, 2023, 04:02:43 pm
Post by: .30WCF on May 16, 2023, 11:29:22 pm
I?ve got hives five boxes deep loaded with honey and when I ran out of mediums, I topped a couple with deeps.
Sunday I checked them. Nose high, fully capped, 80+ lb deeps. Needless to say I didn?t put them back in order. I need to pull honey this weekend.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on May 19, 2023, 07:36:07 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on May 19, 2023, 07:38:44 pm
I had my Dad with me in the apiary for the first time ever today. I had planned to inspect just one hive with him, but he enjoyed it so much, he stayed for another! :happy:
That is awesome! Welcome to Beekeeping Reagans' Dad!
Phillip
Post by: rast on May 19, 2023, 09:14:11 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on May 20, 2023, 02:36:57 am
Phillip
Post by: The15thMember on July 01, 2023, 04:50:39 pm
Post by: animal on July 01, 2023, 06:07:47 pm
the nuc had been sitting on a bench I built 20 years ago out of spare decking boards. The seat lifts up and is compartment for junk. They had started going into there through gaps in the wood to build comb.... subtle hint they wanted more space, and I was too slow, I guess :cheesy:
Post by: Michael Bush on July 03, 2023, 06:42:52 am
Post by: Ben Framed on July 03, 2023, 01:49:47 pm
I still haven't tried them, but I am told that soybeans as well as cotton provides a good source for bees to gather. I might need to move a few hives to such places 'just to see' what is what for myself.. (which would provide me an additional flow that I have not taken advantage of here.)
Phillip
Post by: Michael Bush on July 03, 2023, 02:53:35 pm
Don't know. The main flow seems to start about when the yellow sweet clover blooms, but there doesn't seem to be enough sweet clover to account for the flow. Soy beans are probably blooming soon. I need to go out and look. Right now a lot of different things are blooming. The milkweed, some wild mustard still (it started months ago), dandelions (it just rained), white dutch clover, chicory, cone flowers of various sorts, elderberry (has been blooming a while and is just starting to peter out), my American Chestnuts, a lot of other wild flowers, many of which I don't know the names, but there are a lot of any given one. They've been gaining weight since about the middle of May.
Post by: Bob Wilson on July 03, 2023, 11:12:28 pm
Post by: beesnweeds on July 04, 2023, 10:23:09 am
Post by: AustinB on July 06, 2023, 10:47:44 am
Post by: The15thMember on July 07, 2023, 05:43:31 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on July 07, 2023, 05:45:39 pm
Post by: Occam on July 09, 2023, 07:40:26 pm
Other hive was full so I put on a super with foundationless. Again depending on weather depends on whether they'll need to build comb on them or not. We've had unseasonably cool weather (mostly 80s and low 90s) and rain every other day so I'm hoping the flow has another lease on life for a couple weeks more if this continues. We'll see I suppose.
Post by: NigelP on July 10, 2023, 09:00:07 am
Several newly mated queens in Nucs, which makes up for the incredibly poor mating success we had in June heatwave we had in the UK Interestingly it would appear that if temps inside a hive get to 42C then the drones ejaculated themselevs to death, which is a possible reason for the June non matings in the heatwave we had over here in the UK.
https://www.beeculture.com/42c-drone-honey-bees-ejaculate-themselves-to-death/
Post by: Bill Murray on July 12, 2023, 12:27:24 am
Post by: cao on July 23, 2023, 10:29:41 am
Post by: The15thMember on July 28, 2023, 07:34:26 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on July 30, 2023, 12:55:34 pm
I put my first round of sourwood above my triangle escape board today. I also found two hives with REALLY high mite counts and some bees with deformed wings. I'm going to get FormicPro on them as soon as I can get my hands on some.
I hope you have a good crop of Sourwood Reagan. I don't have to tell 'you' be careful with the temperatures and timing of you treatment. As "Van from Arkansas" (Mr Van) use to say; those "ding dang mites!"
Wishing you success of both the sourwood crop, and mite kill..
Phillip
Post by: The15thMember on July 30, 2023, 01:06:15 pm
I hope you have a good crop of Sourwood Reagan. I don't have to tell 'you' be careful with the temperatures and timing of you treatment. As "Van from Arkansas" (Mr Van) use to say; those "ding dang mites!"We do have some cooler temps coming up this week, thankfully. It is extremely hot here this weekend, and very humid. Ideally, it would be a little cooler, but as bad as these colonies' counts were and with the possibility of DWV, I kind of have to take the risk.
Post by: Ben Framed on July 30, 2023, 01:50:43 pm
Thanks,
Phillip
Post by: The15thMember on July 30, 2023, 05:34:36 pm
Let us know the details of the circumstances when you do treat please. Temperature and amount of time the treatment is allowed to stay in place the resulting queen situation etc. I am still learning.. lolSure thing, I'll keep you posted.
Thanks,
Phillip
Post by: Ben Framed on July 30, 2023, 11:40:06 pm
Post by: The15thMember on August 05, 2023, 07:26:13 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on August 05, 2023, 11:31:13 pm
I posted the following video on another topic recently Titled: "Comb Honey (How Tum Durham Does It)" I am placing the method that Tim used below for the convenience of those who might be interested. Notice he did not have the blower vamped up to maximum capacity. I rather doubt that bees were injured at the rate of capacity he used...
https://youtu.be/idG9_DFnz_k
Post by: The15thMember on August 06, 2023, 01:09:48 am
Instead of an escape board, have you tried the 'blower method' of removing bees from the supers?I've never tried it, but I have seen people do it before. I really don't mind the wait of the escape board, it's just that today it was a lot of lifting, since the one hive was 7 boxes tall, my tallest hive ever. They should be down to 4 boxes by tomorrow. :happy: This is the hive with the really cross-combed super, so it might not have been a good application for the blower anyway.
I posted the following video on another topic recently Titled: "Comb Honey (How Tum Durham Does It)" I am placing the method that Tim used below for the convenience of those who might be interested. Notice he did not have the blower up vamped up to maximum capacity. I rather doubt that bees were injured at the rate of capacity he used...
https://youtu.be/idG9_DFnz_k
Post by: BeeMaster2 on August 06, 2023, 01:07:57 pm
I use BeeQuick. It is very effective, smells nice and doesn?t bother the bees when used properly. Most of the time most of the bees move down in five to seven minutes. I usually have two fume boards on hives at a time to speed super removal up. If there are bees remaining I use a blower to remove the them.
When the bees do not move out of a super it usually means there is brood on some of the frames.
This method is much faster than using escape boards and safer. I cannot use them because of SHBs.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: cao on August 07, 2023, 12:16:06 am
Post by: BeeMaster2 on August 09, 2023, 05:01:32 pm
I have tried pulling frames one at a time. My wife likes to do it that way to make sure we don?t take brood into the house. The problem is if there are any commercial hives within a few miles, the robbing gets really bad. I try to wait until they all leave. This year there is one commercial beekeeper about a mile from here that still hasn?t moved his hives. They are dying off one after another. Last I looked I think he only has three hives left alive. He did the same thing last year.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Lesgold on August 19, 2023, 05:48:24 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on August 20, 2023, 02:47:17 am
Quote
What would you guys do?
Depends; What is the season there? Is it warm enough for beetles to lay and reproduce? If so most likely your hive is totally infested with SHB eggs since you are seeing heaps of beetles and few bees. If this is the case, when the beetle eggs begin hatching, there will most likely be more beetle larva than you will be able to count.
Under these circumstances, I would bank the queen, freeze all frames in this colony, (in order to kill any beetle larvae and eggs, including any beetles which are on these frames or hiding in the cells ); Regroup when your Spring arrives by borrowing a few resource frames from your other hives to create a new hive, giving the banked queen a new lease on 'colonization-hive' life lol; That is if the queen is of prime age for such.
If she is old, I would simply extinguish her.. I would still freeze the frames for future resources and reuse when and where needed..
Phillip
Post by: cao on August 20, 2023, 11:04:07 am
Post by: Lesgold on August 20, 2023, 06:53:54 pm
Post by: Lesgold on August 20, 2023, 11:43:19 pm
Post by: The15thMember on August 26, 2023, 07:07:54 pm
Post by: The15thMember on September 30, 2023, 06:23:28 pm
Post by: Lesgold on October 07, 2023, 02:17:58 am
Post by: The15thMember on October 28, 2023, 02:34:36 pm
Post by: The15thMember on November 03, 2023, 06:03:49 pm
Post by: salvo on November 03, 2023, 06:29:51 pm
Off with the robbing screens.
Scrape out the dead. Not much. We had mid/low 30's the past two nights. About 47 today. Hive in the woods, in the sun, out flying.
On with the mouse guards
Sal
Post by: The15thMember on November 21, 2023, 03:59:22 pm
Post by: The15thMember on December 03, 2023, 03:44:14 pm
Post by: cao on December 04, 2023, 01:42:18 pm
Post by: The15thMember on December 04, 2023, 03:13:14 pm
Post by: Lesgold on December 04, 2023, 09:26:04 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on December 05, 2023, 10:35:39 pm
Phillip
Post by: Lesgold on December 06, 2023, 12:56:12 am
The latest map shows the varroa about 160 miles away (in a straight line or as we say, as the crow flies) Max is about 280 miles away from his nearest cluster of varroa. It won?t take long before it hits us. If left to move naturally, it could take a year or two. Human error could put it in our hives within weeks.
On another point, I was out testing out a metal detector to make sure that it was working before selling it. While I was out in the bush, I found a patch of leptospermum in flower (what you guys know as Manuka) Wish it was a bit closer to my bees as they are struggling a bit at the moment.
Post by: Terri Yaki on December 09, 2023, 06:20:39 pm
Post by: The15thMember on January 08, 2024, 02:06:30 pm
Post by: AustinB on January 09, 2024, 09:45:58 am
Post by: Ben Framed on January 09, 2024, 10:18:26 am
Phillip
Post by: AustinB on January 09, 2024, 02:35:56 pm
Hi Austin, I?ve missed you input lately. It?s good seeing more of your good posts this morning!
Phillip
Thank you! Work and life have been a bit hectic lately. I've been missing the good discussions
Post by: The15thMember on February 03, 2024, 05:23:50 pm
Post by: Bill Murray on February 03, 2024, 07:49:00 pm
Post by: cao on February 05, 2024, 02:28:50 am
This has been my second trip there. And planning on going again to fill my truck with more deep frames. There is two skids full that have my name on them.
This guy at one time was running around 1000 hives. There is a lot of equipment just sitting in the field. I really don't need any of it, but I hate to see the stuff just sitting there rotting away.
Post by: Occam on February 05, 2024, 12:59:06 pm
This guy at one time was running around 1000 hives. There is a lot of equipment just sitting in the field. I really don't need any of it, but I hate to see the stuff just sitting there rotting away.
Be a fun project using what wood is still salvageable to clean up and build some bookcases or other furniture from
Post by: The15thMember on February 07, 2024, 05:35:18 pm
Post by: The15thMember on February 08, 2024, 05:04:24 pm
Post by: cao on February 09, 2024, 12:36:11 am
Post by: Lesgold on February 16, 2024, 02:57:49 am
Post by: Michael Bush on February 16, 2024, 06:21:35 am
Post by: Terri Yaki on February 16, 2024, 10:12:18 am
Post by: BeeMaster2 on February 16, 2024, 10:21:20 am
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Terri Yaki on February 16, 2024, 10:28:36 am
Post by: Michael Bush on February 16, 2024, 12:03:32 pm
Exactly. It pretty much covered the entire floor...
Post by: Salvo on February 16, 2024, 12:34:01 pm
A *little bit of liquid*.
Great Molasses Flood, disaster in Boston that occurred after a storage tank collapsed on January 15, 1919, sending more than two million gallons (eight million litres) of molasses flowing through the city?s North End. The deluge caused extensive damage and killed 21 people.
Sal
Post by: max2 on February 16, 2024, 05:40:52 pm
I went to move a bucket of honey from the warming unit and the handle broke at the housing. A shed floor covered in honey was the result. Scraped most of it up and put it outside on large tub lids for the bees to clean up. Mopped the floor and closed the shed door as the bees were becoming interested in my sweet offerings. Threw the shovel outside and the bees cleaned it up in about 20 minutes. As I had to clean up the mess in bare feet, I also got stung in between my toes when walking back to the house after completing the job. Knew I should have stayed in bed today.What a mes, so sorry to hear.
We all had it happen at some time.
Some months ago we had our stall just about set up - but the pins not in place to keep the marquee steady - when a strong gust blew the marquee over....hitting the table with all the jars of honey...these falling on the ground.
Cleaning up the broken glass mixed with honey at a market was an experince i will not forget.
It just about made us change to plastic jars.
Post by: The15thMember on February 21, 2024, 05:39:55 pm
Post by: Bill Murray on February 21, 2024, 08:51:01 pm
Post by: The15thMember on February 21, 2024, 11:30:19 pm
Member, are you feeding them?The hive with the dysentery? Yes, they have been eating sugar balls since December.
Post by: NigelP on February 23, 2024, 03:33:47 pm
Bought a wonderful bit of kit a couple of years ago, an old Polish Potato Boiler. Takes a couple of hours to get to a boil (large volume of water). But cleaned 26 supers worth of frames of all residual wax in around 2 hours. My old method of scrape and scrape took around 10 days at 2 hours per day. Also cleans queen excluders in seconds....
(https://i.ibb.co/b3D8gBN/boilersmall1.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/ZG6n3dX/boilersmall2.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/QXJtBZh/boilersmall4.jpg)
Post by: The15thMember on March 02, 2024, 06:00:50 pm
Post by: little john on March 04, 2024, 05:38:46 am
Nice cold day here in the UK. Ideal to clean the wax off my heather super frames. For those that don't extract heather honey you need to cut the super out of the frame to press the honey out [...]
No heather in this locale (which is a great pity), but whatever the bees bring in often produces a thick honey which then sets solid on standing:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/81/e2/5jDso4oX_o.jpg)
If left over 12 months it can set brick-hard. No taste of OSR, which is the obvious candidate.
For our State-side friends - conditions in the UK have fluctuated wildly thus far this Winter from shirt-sleeve weather to some rather nasty frosts and a few days of snow - the only constant being RAIN - and plenty of that ! (UK farmers are around 4 weeks behind because of flooding)
Yesterday saw me checking on the small jars of fondant I place over the Crown Board holes as 'fuel gauge' indicators of remaining stores, which experience has shown they only wolf-down when stores are low - they just pick at it otherwise.
3 were empty, all the others were ok. On good days there's pollen coming in, so the season's set to start anytime soon ...
LJ
Post by: NigelP on March 04, 2024, 07:50:39 am
Post by: Ben Framed on March 04, 2024, 08:30:00 am
Phillip
Post by: Michael Bush on March 04, 2024, 08:57:43 am
Post by: Ben Framed on March 04, 2024, 09:24:37 am
Pardon my not knowing, what is OSR?
Phillip
Oil Seed Rape. aka Canola.
Thanks
Post by: Bill Murray on March 04, 2024, 09:46:30 am
Post by: little john on March 04, 2024, 09:54:39 am
I don't think you have OSR honey there as OSR sets white and looks a like a bucket full of lard.
For sure. It's taste reminds me of Plasticine (for the younger generation - that was a kind of Blue-Tack modelling clay - came in several colours, which always became a dull grey with continued use). I thought that honey possibly might contain a fair percentage of OSR, as there are precious few other crops in this area which produce useful amounts of nectar - it's very much 'Cabbage and Potato' country.
LJ
Post by: Occam on March 11, 2024, 11:35:12 am
Post by: Lesgold on March 11, 2024, 10:26:04 pm
Post by: The15thMember on March 12, 2024, 06:49:33 pm
Post by: Terri Yaki on March 12, 2024, 07:09:36 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 12, 2024, 07:51:27 pm
Royal Jelly does not turn bees into queens. Giving 3 day old larvae pollen bread turns the larvae into a worker. Any larvae that has not been fed pollen bread can bee made into a queen. If the bees make emergency queens from a worker cell, they will float the larvae to the edge of the cell with Royal Jelly and build the cell vertically. Swarm cells are normally built on the button surface and are built vertically.
All bees are fed Royal Jelly for the first three days AFTER it hatches. Eggs hatch 3 days after being laid.
That means the bees have 5/6 days after loosing a queen to make new ones.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Terri Yaki on March 12, 2024, 09:00:57 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 12, 2024, 09:56:21 pm
As long as the female larvae is fed a constant diet of Royal Jelly it turns into a queen.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Michael Bush on March 13, 2024, 05:27:31 am
Post by: Terri Yaki on March 13, 2024, 08:50:18 am
It's going to bee in the 70s here today and I'll bee looking for my neighbor's bees to see if they're coming this far yet.
Post by: Michael Bush on March 13, 2024, 09:08:54 am
I'm not sure what you're envisioning, but yes. Queen rearers trick the bees into making a lot of queens. Huber did a lot of experiments with royal jelly and larva. Some scientists have fed royal jelly to diploid drones to get them to maturity, since the bees will just remove them.
Post by: beesonhay465 on March 13, 2024, 02:48:12 pm
Post by: MJHellmann on March 14, 2024, 05:06:28 pm
Post by: The15thMember on March 14, 2024, 05:19:41 pm
Post by: Terri Yaki on March 14, 2024, 06:24:14 pm
I set up and leveled my hives! Soon to be first time beekeeper here. Just learned that I need to elevate my hives more, so back at it soon. I'm sure I'll make plenty more mistakes, but I'm super excited!!!Nice graphics on the boxes. Good luck.
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 14, 2024, 10:24:25 pm
Welcome to Beemaster.
Being in Ohio, you probably have skunks in your area. You want the hives high enough that the skunks have to raise their bellies off the ground. This allows the bees to sting them in the belly and run them off.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Ben Framed on March 15, 2024, 03:02:55 pm
It was a beautiful day a couple days ago and I decided to do some inspections. I was parked, had everything laid out at the back of my truck with my focus on what was coming up. About that time a unexpected vehicle pulled in the front wising to pass by. It was on a small narrow private lane seldomly used. Naturally I did not wish to block the way and all my attention was now on moving out of the way. Obligingly I hopped into the truck and put her in reverses, I felt a crunch and immediately thought of my smoker!
Yep! Its amazing what a 350 dully can do to a little stainless steel smoker! :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :cheesy:
Phillip
PS my new one is due to arrive today!
Post by: Lesgold on March 15, 2024, 10:20:13 pm
Post by: Terri Yaki on March 15, 2024, 11:02:38 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on March 16, 2024, 02:07:32 am
Bad luck Phillip. Hope you bought an Aussie smoker that is truck proof😝😝😝😝😝😝
Dog-gone Les! I wish I had know! An indestructible Aussie smoker is just what I need! However my new Amazon smoker came in today. It looks almost like my Man Lake smoker (which was no match for the truck) lol..... Ill just have to be more careful! lol :cheesy: :wink:
Phillip
Post by: Ben Framed on March 16, 2024, 02:08:52 am
All of those smokers look exactly the same to me, do they all come out of the same factory?
I don't know Terri. I bet you can guess where this one was made! :shocked: :grin:
Phillip
Post by: Terri Yaki on March 16, 2024, 09:54:05 am
I don't know Terri. I bet you can guess where this one was made! :shocked: :grin:I already know it's not made down under. :cool:
Phillip
My neighbor texted me and reports that his uncle/mentor is coming over today to peek inside the hives so I'll go down there and take a lesson. We had a couple of days around 70 but we're into a cooling trend and today we're looking at about 55 or so. I've been watching for bees in the air but haven't seen any up this far yet. I'm seeing pictures on Reddit and fakebook of folks who are catching swarms in the south and I'm getting kind of antsy. For the next week, they're predicting highs in the 40s but after that, we should get a steady warming trend. Next class is Tuesday and the itinerary is lifecycles and duties of the bees, I'm looking forward to it.
Post by: Ben Framed on March 16, 2024, 10:27:19 am
I don't know Terri. I bet you can guess where this one was made! :shocked: :grin:I already know it's not made down under. :cool:
Phillip
My neighbor texted me and reports that his uncle/mentor is coming over today to peek inside the hives so I'll go down there and take a lesson. We had a couple of days around 70 but we're into a cooling trend and today we're looking at about 55 or so. I've been watching for bees in the air but haven't seen any up this far yet. I'm seeing pictures on Reddit and fakebook of folks who are catching swarms in the south and I'm getting kind of antsy. For the next week, they're predicting highs in the 40s but after that, we should get a steady warming trend. Next class is Tuesday and the itinerary is lifecycles and duties of the bees, I'm looking forward to it.
So far so good. :wink: You have eliminated one of 195 recognized countries where it could have been made. lol :cheesy: Of course China is the answer... I found on a sticker.
I enjoy hearing of folks bee adventures, especially new beekeepers as well as soon to be beekeepers as yourself. Keep the reports of your adventures coming!
Thumbs up!
Phillip
Post by: cao on March 16, 2024, 01:26:50 pm
Post by: The15thMember on March 16, 2024, 05:38:26 pm
Post by: Terri Yaki on March 16, 2024, 10:12:37 pm
Post by: The15thMember on March 17, 2024, 12:02:54 am
Post by: Terri Yaki on March 17, 2024, 09:57:23 am
Post by: Terri Yaki on March 18, 2024, 09:03:59 am
Post by: The15thMember on March 18, 2024, 10:55:55 am
Post by: Occam on March 18, 2024, 11:03:46 am
One hive had 3 frames of resources, 4 brood, and a few mixed. Overall looking pretty good. Lots of drone comb but no walking drones yet. Second box on that hive had a little resources left in it and several partially formed frames of comb they were building last year. No white comb yet this year although I imagine it will start soon, I did see festooning on a foundationless frame. No swarm cells yet but not much room in the heavy box so I moved a couple frames around opening the brood nest with some foundationless. Queen (yellow dot) has a very solid pattern, saw all stages of eggs and larvae
Second hive is small, but they started winter small with only 5 frames. They're in a long langstroth hive, so I had the follower board against them all winter. A piece of starter strip had fallen out of a frame and the comb was attached at the bottom to another frame. Somehow I missed gluing that strip I guess and the comb they built was too heavy. I pulled that failed piece out and put in some sugar as they're a little light on resources and nectar is barely present right now. Queen (no dot, she's from a late swarm last year and I never marked her) has a good pattern as well. A little drone comb but no walking drones
Post by: Ben Framed on March 18, 2024, 11:53:34 am
I have made the same mistake of missing glue on a strip with the same results !
Phillip
Post by: Terri Yaki on March 18, 2024, 12:09:43 pm
Post by: The15thMember on March 18, 2024, 12:40:45 pm
Post by: Michael Bush on March 18, 2024, 01:09:33 pm
Post by: The15thMember on March 18, 2024, 01:28:17 pm
"The 15th Member's" answer is precisely correct on all counts.Wow! Thanks, Michael. :embarassed:
Post by: cao on March 21, 2024, 12:57:41 am
Post by: Michael Bush on March 21, 2024, 06:00:22 am
Which she covered somewhat with:
>I will often see an abundance of drones hanging around colonies with queen cells, because they are attracted to the virgins' pheromones.
I will add that queenless hives even without cells will attract drones and they will not be kicked out. And, also I agree, there may not even be a reason, it may just be genetic variability that causes one colony to kick them out when another is welcoming them still.
Post by: Ben Framed on March 21, 2024, 08:49:13 am
Laying Worker hives, 'queenless hives', produce drones. I am supposing it would be natural that they would accept them as well?
Post by: Michael Bush on March 21, 2024, 10:43:06 am
Yes.
Post by: Ben Framed on March 25, 2024, 11:46:12 pm
>I am supposing it would be natural that they would accept them as well?
Yes.
👍🏻
Thanks Mr Bush....
Post by: The15thMember on March 27, 2024, 07:59:30 pm
Post by: .30WCF on April 01, 2024, 11:26:01 pm
I didn?t really go deep into the double red hive. I opened it and know enough to know that they are full to the top from fall still, and if I get time, I should split them. I?m sure they are well on their way to swarming. A couple cracks and peeks, and that hive is overflowing.
The tripple white medium had a queen x left on it from last year. There was some bees in the top three boxes tending the comb, but fairly light. The bottom two boxes were busting and like all the other hives, full of brood. I moved the excluder up one box there to give them a little room to expand.
Over all, I need to probably go back and split the three hives.
I didn?t actually split the first one. I just stole from it. It could afford it, and I didn?t look for the queen. I just took bees and QCs and put them in the nuc. The hive will still swarm if I don?t go find the queen and give her the boot or split it again.
I was in a rush cause I had some phone interviews to conduct. I opened the third hive with 10 minutes to spare until my first phone call.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240402/3464e1f35823dcb73b08c118ddfa53d4.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Ben Framed on April 02, 2024, 12:15:34 am
Post by: .30WCF on April 02, 2024, 09:02:55 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240402/d0207ecee4c718a3cf2cc1a9071e76fc.jpg)
Before
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240402/86ae00f43526ca42e18a20f845f83152.jpg)
After
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240402/36693110190dc77c12e1a8b6a7484db9.jpg)
So, I mixed them up again today. I took five more frames of bees and brood out of the blue/white/blue hive and dropped them on top of the teal nuc I made yesterday from the bearded hive. Yesterday there was two reds and one yellow on that hive. That hive got a blue box of open air stored comb from last year.
I took the two red boxes and one yellow of bees and brood from what is now blue/white/blue, and put them on the yellow bottom board that held two empty blue/yellow boxes directly over the right side cinder blocks. That hive is now full of bees and brood and 2 QCs. I topped it off with a second yellow box of drawn comb.
The other half of the bees, brood and QCs that went to the orange box on the teal hive started another nuc on the far right in a yellow medium that?s stacked on time empt nuc boxes.
I stored all my drawn comb from last year?s extractions in the tall stack of boxes on the right side of the stand. It?s a couple boxes of comb, then a gap from a screen bottom board, then more boxes with drawn comb. I never put a lid on that. It probably sat like that since Sept/Oct last year. A bit of mold on some of it, but the bees needed some distractions anyways.
And I was going to cut back this year. Ha.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: FatherMichael on April 04, 2024, 07:03:28 pm
Trimmed branches through the woods and shrubs to make more room for the truck.
This was after moving the hive in my backyard out to the farm on Tuesday because it was getting too aggressive.
Post by: Ben Framed on April 04, 2024, 08:51:36 pm
Phillip
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 04, 2024, 10:00:25 pm
Jim Altmiller
Post by: FatherMichael on April 05, 2024, 02:38:58 pm
It'll be a while before the Mesquite bloom. But Horehound is starting.
Post by: FatherMichael on April 05, 2024, 07:00:15 pm
The one hive there now is aggressive. The property is posted but I needed to make the gate more secure so no-one gets hurt trying to go down to the creek to fish or drink!
Post by: .30WCF on April 05, 2024, 10:04:41 pm
Put a new chain and lock on the gate to my borrowed 5 acre bee yard.Stomp the queen. In a few weeks you?ll be glad you did. I?ve done that a few times.
The one hive there now is aggressive. The property is posted but I needed to make the gate more secure so no-one gets hurt trying to go down to the creek to fish or drink!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Ben Framed on April 05, 2024, 10:13:34 pm
Put a new chain and lock on the gate to my borrowed 5 acre bee yard.Stomp the queen. In a few weeks you?ll be glad you did. I?ve done that a few times.
The one hive there now is aggressive. The property is posted but I needed to make the gate more secure so no-one gets hurt trying to go down to the creek to fish or drink!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Keep in mind that Father Michael lives in Snyder, Texas, a place where a large percentage of wild bee populations are partially Africanized.
Post by: .30WCF on April 05, 2024, 11:15:47 pm
Ahh, then a store bought queen. I?ll put one of mine in the mail.Put a new chain and lock on the gate to my borrowed 5 acre bee yard.Stomp the queen. In a few weeks you?ll be glad you did. I?ve done that a few times.
The one hive there now is aggressive. The property is posted but I needed to make the gate more secure so no-one gets hurt trying to go down to the creek to fish or drink!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Keep in mind that Father Michael lives in Snyder, Texas, a place where a large percentage of wild bee populations are partially Africanized.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: FatherMichael on April 06, 2024, 09:11:18 am
Yes, I need to re-queen.
Post by: Ben Framed on April 06, 2024, 09:22:27 am
What I?m getting to is if I lived in such an area, I would wear the complete suit, and not worry about the viciousness, if I wanted to keep bees .
In the meantime; Maybe 30WFC is serious and will send you one of his queens. . Being from North Carolina, perhaps she will be gentle in nature.
Phillip
Post by: .30WCF on April 06, 2024, 10:53:06 am
Shoot me a PM and I can grab one in a few days when it warms back up.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: FatherMichael on April 06, 2024, 11:50:32 am
I would. I seem to have the problem of always being over run with more bees than I want. Brood breaks and requeening gives me a break.
Shoot me a PM and I can grab one in a few days when it warms back up.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Wow! Thanks, .30!
Post by: FatherMichael on April 06, 2024, 06:32:14 pm
What I?m getting to is if I lived in such an area, I would wear the complete suit, and not worry about the viciousness, if I wanted to keep bees .
Phillip
Ayup, that is what I'll have to do in the immediate next stages of caring for this hive.
Had five hives going into 2023. Four at the farm died. Only this one at the house that I moved to the farm this week survived.
I had never lost even one hive before. Losing four was a gut check.
Will have two be a better manager.
Post by: .30WCF on April 06, 2024, 09:06:07 pm
No problem. Glad to see if it helps. Just let me know.I would. I seem to have the problem of always being over run with more bees than I want. Brood breaks and requeening gives me a break.
Shoot me a PM and I can grab one in a few days when it warms back up.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Wow! Thanks, .30!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 07, 2024, 05:16:25 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on April 08, 2024, 02:22:12 am
What I do when I move a Nuc, just for precaution, is this, I?ll use either door screen or number eight hardware cloth on the full bottom entry, (for ventilation ), cut a piece out to fit, then I will place this screen in position and staple it in place with T-50 staples. Then add the ratchet strap, or I will staple the top and bottom to the box. This has always worked for me.
I will add; Before I transfer a nuc into a full 10 frame box, I will first release the nuc in its new location for a day or two, usually 2 , giving them plenty of time to orient and get use to their new location and surroundings, letting them settle in, then transfer. This works well for me.
Phillip
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 08, 2024, 07:02:15 am
Post by: Caashenb on April 08, 2024, 08:53:20 pm
Post by: FatherMichael on April 08, 2024, 08:54:59 pm
Subgrade foundation of Quickcrete with 8x8x16 blocks and top level of 4" cap.
Post by: Ben Framed on April 09, 2024, 12:20:13 am
I have been lurking here quite awhile. This weekend I moved to swarm traps to the yard and checked on a nuc I split from a crowded colony last weekend. Check my traps that are still out and have three more to relocate next weekend.(http://)
Thanks for coming out from your lurking , lol, by posting your thoughts. How is that split coming along?
Phillip
Post by: Caashenb on April 09, 2024, 07:18:25 am
Post by: Ben Framed on April 09, 2024, 07:36:06 am
Phillip
Post by: .30WCF on April 09, 2024, 05:19:45 pm
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Ben Framed on April 09, 2024, 06:01:34 pm
Post by: .30WCF on April 09, 2024, 06:04:33 pm
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: .30WCF on April 09, 2024, 06:11:00 pm
30 feet above the burn pile. They like that limb for some reason.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240409/dbe49ef7fffd0f4e952b7a335396b18c.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240409/da9fdda98e5035cf3cf521cd1abc2164.jpg)
Staged up a nuc to dump the bucket into. Then slide them into place.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240409/ef74ef95ff71afb7c5f25e0ad681e0c6.jpg)
Got em.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240409/92127251a33d917698e773b3c7cf63f2.jpg)
Used more of the comb that?s just been stored outside in stacks of empty supers with no bottom board or lids.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240409/f5c6e1d19f20ee99e5b47d1869bbbef6.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: beesnweeds on April 09, 2024, 07:17:12 pm
It?s like an Easter Egg hunt.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Instead of hoping you can find and catch your swarms you can toss a rope over the branch and pull up a Russian scion or an old brood frame with a roof on it. That way you can just lower them into a box.
Post by: .30WCF on April 09, 2024, 09:05:37 pm
Yep. They flew back up. I parked the nuc box up in the tree touching the swarm for the nite. Maybe they will go in. If not, I?ll see about grabbing some brood frames tomorrow.It?s like an Easter Egg hunt.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Instead of hoping you can find and catch your swarms you can toss a rope over the branch and pull up a Russian scion or an old brood frame with a roof on it. That way you can just lower them into a box.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: .30WCF on April 11, 2024, 02:16:13 pm
Full swarm sat on the lid for two and a half days. The last day and a half had a brood frame added.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240411/ad670562269e95068af89c77e915e609.jpg)
Small bundle of bees still on the branch, probably have a virgin Q in there.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240411/45b6c411e753c2e293007a9a1ac718bc.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240411/906bf9fc88c362725becae3eeaee6227.jpg)
Added a second deep nuc with two frames of drawn comb and three foundation frames, changed lids to a single feeder lid and topped them with a mason jar of 2:1.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240411/40b1e5ba3844b4e49b1aadfb03ac0ba1.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 11, 2024, 04:32:45 pm
Post by: .30WCF on April 11, 2024, 04:33:21 pm
The one I been trying to get the last couple days is still in the double nuc on the end. Lots of activity around all hives and they are still just circling and landing on that new branch about 10-12? away from where the other swarm landed.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240411/007c825172d47e30095a4224cdc75aa5.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240411/a20072cdf28aa4adac73c389f047ad33.jpg)
You can see the new swarm over the burn pile, and the rope is still up from this morning just to the right. These ones are a little lower.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240411/601127cc317e6e3a6eb4eb420ea60f2e.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: .30WCF on April 11, 2024, 04:39:19 pm
Won't mayhem and murder ensue with those nurse bees in there?They came from a queenless hive I split last week and were raising a couple queen cells. I took a frame that didn?t have any QCs on it. They should be fine.
I also have swapped queens from hive to hive a few times just to give a weak hive a better laying queen. (As in catch both queens and drop them right into the other queen?s hive right in the top bars. They just walk in like they own the place.) They just want a laying queen. Virgins and banked queens are a different game.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on April 11, 2024, 04:45:33 pm
Won't mayhem and murder ensue with those nurse bees in there?Nurse bees are more loyal to babies than they are to queens. So usually, especially during a flow when everyone isn't in maximum protection mode, nurse bees can be moved between hives with minimal fighting.
Post by: .30WCF on April 11, 2024, 05:33:06 pm
Is smarter than the last one.
Had to dig deep in drawn comb bank to get some nice mediums for this nuc.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240411/85e097e50f7c11b9d62ff7c3f4e08a57.jpg)
Strapped it to some concrete float handles and wedged it in the fork of the branches. Odds are I didn?t smash the queen.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240411/90a8e56d745fc4b1c80a8ba9aa0e3715.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240411/862902d9798a763a0d466726cd60b5eb.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: FatherMichael on April 11, 2024, 07:36:30 pm
Post by: .30WCF on April 13, 2024, 12:32:33 pm
I pulled the nuc down and only a few bees were in the box on the brood frame.
This morning it took about 5-6 times of rattling the pole bucket on the bottom of the branch and dumping them in, then they started marching in. I set them up under the tree for now until they all go in, and then I?ll move them sometime. It looks promising right now. Only a handful are clinging onto the tree branch now.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240413/6721ffe2f84c5db613316d050295f132.jpg)
[MEDIA=youtube]mVWbHR9va1I[/MEDIA]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 13, 2024, 02:39:53 pm
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 13, 2024, 11:45:04 pm
I added frames to 3 hives that were swarms and starting to grow. Originally they only had enough drawn frames that they could cover. The rest were empty frames.
I took the swarm trap hive that was in the barn apart. I had put a twenty old black wax frames in it to see how it would work out. They only used the best of the frames and left most of them un touched or only used a part of the frame. They did build new comb under the bottom frames and Judy rubber banded them in empty frames. I replaced most of the frames wit good drawn wax. This should enable them to start growing much faster with all of the brood together instead of spread all over the hive with comb they wouldn?t use between the small bits of brood.
I won?t use more that one old frame in swarm traps any more. If I think a swarm is ready to move in I won?t hesitate to use a box full of good drawn wax.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Ben Framed on April 14, 2024, 07:17:00 am
Quote
If I think a swarm is ready to move in I won?t hesitate to use a box full of good drawn wax.
Jim Altmiller
I am responding with my opinion for the sake of newer beekeepers who wish to try trapping for swarms, of course this is just my opinion and works well for me..
Same here Jim, the more drawn comb in the catch box the better in my opinion during swarming 'season'.. And if not 'all drawn out comb' (which I prefer), at least some drawn out comb with added frames 'with' foundation.
Never wide open spaces such as foundation less frames (just my personal opinion and many may disagree). By using a full box of drawn comb, we will eliminate the chance of cross combing or wonky comb, which can happen when we leave wide open spaces in a catch box with the use of foundation-less frames, as many prefer ..
This older brood comb not only helps in attracting bees to our traps, but also gives us more time to deal with them once they arrive. They come loaded with honey, and the queen will soon begin laying, usually within 3 days when we provide brood comb in our traps. as bees will make short order of setting up housekeeping when they reach their new home and immediately become 'busy as bees'.
Some say that the bees will be less likely to choose a place packed with drawn comb, as they calculate less space 'themselves'. Bees know their business and requirements, and in my experience adding framed comb is beneficial. Some use 5 frame nucs for catch boxes, Personally I prefer a 10 frame box deep for a catch box such as Ed in Louisiana uses, and he is a swarm catching machine :shocked: :cheesy:lol. A few seconds of this video may be an eyeopener for some..
https://youtu.be/OZUiHstirFs?t=230
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 14, 2024, 08:56:54 am
After about three moderately decent days last week, we had relentless winds and heavy rains for three or four days so there has been no activity around my trap. And I was supposed to get my nuc yesterday but that was delayed to today because of the winds. We have a full week of good swarm weather on deck so hopefully, I'll get lucky.
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 14, 2024, 09:13:04 am
In my experience a good swarm will build nice straight comb in this set up. Most of my drawn foundation less frames are from swarms. If I?m looking for a large swarm, I use at least two medium boxes or more.
Jim Altmiller
Post by: Ben Framed on April 14, 2024, 12:07:14 pm
If I?m setting a swarm trap without swarming going on I will put one old frame on one side and the rest are empty frames with a wood stick in the top slot. I wax the stick with freshly melted wax.
In my experience a good swarm will build nice straight comb in this set up. Most of my drawn foundation less frames are from swarms. If I?m looking for a large swarm, I use at least two medium boxes or more.
Jim Altmiller
In your case I agree with you Jim especially if the traps are on our own property, with no immediate moving of the trap required, or at least not far, thus no worries of collapsed comb. Your method works just fine when a trap is in our own location.... Plus you have the advantage of new comb in that hive for a new beginning for the bees.. Thought it can and does occasionally happen, most of the time cross comb will not be a problem.
Different circumstances may sometimes require different methods for best results. For example during a hard swarming season some may have catch boxes miles away from their apiary, at locations where known cutouts have been done in the past, (swarming bees seem to love old cut out locations), in such a case, new white foundationless soft comb, without that provided foundation for support in the frames, may be a problem during transport because of the weight of the fresh nectar the bees might have loaded into this new comb. (and in peak swarm season during a heavy flow, it don't take long for that brand new come to become heavy).
I made this mistake, (once) of transporting a nuc with new foundationless soft white comb from one location to another. When I got home after driving down some rough Mississippi roads, some of the new fresh white comb had collapsed, and what a mess... lol..
Now had that box been on the property that I had intended to be their home, that foundation-less frame set up would have been just fine. I am not trying to change minds and habits, just hopefully showing different circumstances sometimes fare better with different methods... .
Post by: Caashenb on April 14, 2024, 06:51:25 pm
Just my thoughts on the previous posts I have started using all frames with foundation in my swarm traps. My first two years I used open frames but with temps in the 90's on these fine Louisiana back roads I had to much of it collapse on me. Since I have started use frames with foundation I have not seen any difference in outcome, using four traps I usually catch 10 to 15 each year.
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 14, 2024, 09:22:50 pm
Post by: Ben Framed on April 14, 2024, 09:39:22 pm
Being the flow is ready to start I doubt you will need to feed if there was plenty of stores your nuc. Also in my area I have to be extra careful with feeding pollen patties because of Small Hive Beetles. In your part of the country they may not be such a problem? Here, back when I use to feed pollen substitute, I open fed.
Congratulations on the bees Terri!
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 14, 2024, 10:28:08 pm
Post by: Lesgold on April 14, 2024, 10:36:06 pm
Post by: Bob Wilson on April 14, 2024, 11:45:35 pm
2. Built another 15 frames from scrap lumber.
3. Jammed a pine needle underneath my finger nail while lighting the smoker.
Post by: .30WCF on April 14, 2024, 11:48:19 pm
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: The15thMember on April 15, 2024, 12:36:05 am
So...should I feed them pollen and/or syrup?As Phillip said, it depends on your flows. If you have nectar and pollen coming in right now, then no need to feed.
And I went outside about 2000 and smelt a polecat out there. Is it going to bother my hive?
What I have been told is that the skunks rap on the hive to disturb the bees and they come out and get eaten. Putting the hive up makes the skunk stand up, revealing his hairless belly, which is vulnerable to stings. My hive sits high enough to accomplish that. A couple of months ago, he cropdusted us for a week or more straight. I don't have much against skunks but that one alone is reason enough to move him out of here.We have skunks and I've never had trouble with them, but I know people sometimes do. The height sounds like a good deterrent though.
I inspected several colonies yesterday, including one where I was looking for a new laying queen, who I found, and she is the darkest queen I've ever seen! She's so pretty and so black that she's barely even striped! I'll have to get a picture of her. I named her Tiana after the main character in Princess and the Frog.
Post by: Ben Framed on April 15, 2024, 08:27:20 am
Quote
What I have been told is that the skunks rap on the hive to disturb the bees and they come out and get eaten. Putting the hive up makes the skunk stand up, revealing his hairless belly, which is vulnerable to stings.
Yes, I have heard that too. I?m not so sure about that. lol I have a border collie who is many times larger than a skunk yet black-and-white in color. He never bothers the bees. If he happens to tagalong while I am opening a box, they will get him and he has hair everywhere lol. They don?t seem to be particular about where they sting him. They light and start working their way down to the skin and then zap :-) I would suspect they would do the same to skunk? hair on the belly or not? 🤷🏻♂️😊
Post by: Michael Bush on April 15, 2024, 09:19:07 am
Close. They scratch on the front of the hive (as evidenced by the scratches), then they catch the guard bee that flies out between their paws, then they roll it in the grass and get it to sting the grass, then they pop it in their mouth and suck the juice out of it and after they have a mouthful, they spit them out. If the entrance is high enough to expose their throat they won't do this. If the ground had things that make the rolling part difficult (some staked out chicken wire or paver blocks etc.) it will stop them.
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 15, 2024, 09:39:19 am
Post by: Ben Framed on April 15, 2024, 11:06:07 am
Quote
The queen was in the process of laying eggs when we transferred her over and it seems like she was undeterred by the disturbance.
Congratulations Terri on your first hive. I hope it fairs well!! Personally I would wait a week before going back in. Did you transfer them over to your 10 frame set up?
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 15, 2024, 12:35:37 pm
Congratulations Terri on your first hive. I hope it fairs well!! Personally I would wait a week before going back in. Did you transfer them over to your 10 frame set up?Thanks. They were in a medium nuc so I took a ten frame medium with me and put them straight into that there. I figured that they'd prefer that over two moves in a short period of time, plus I didn't have to shell out for their nuc box. I had two ratchet straps to keep things battened down and they worked fine, along with my driving skills.
Orientation is over and they are taking care of business bringing in pollen. It looks like a brown to burnt orange and I don't know where they're getting it from. I gave them a little less than a pint of 1:1 syrup and I'll see if they take it. I don't know if it's true but I heard it's helpful when they're building out comb and I have five empty frames for them to work on. If I don't see it going down, I'll pull it out. The seller reported that they were a healthy and productive hive but I don't know them well enough to rely on their word. Indications are good though. These hives have doors on the sides that come off for viewing but all you can see is the end frame on one side. At least I can open the top up and check the syrup without removing their top.
Oh, and my poor neighbor's been getting nothing but bad breaks lately. His last surviving out of seven hives seems to have gone queenless. Just a couple of weeks ago they inspected it and it had everything going for it. Lots of brood, lots of stored honey. He's going to try and get a queen ASAP to try and rescue them. If I had a full and healthy hive, I could cut him some eggs but I don't so I can't.
Post by: NigelP on April 16, 2024, 04:07:35 am
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 16, 2024, 08:38:49 am
You could possibly cut out a small section of comb with eggs for him, which won't have a major impact on your new hive. I do this quite frequently when requeening and it seems to work well.I was wondering about something like that. Thanks, I'll look into that. Could a few eggs possible be picked out with a dental pic and placed into his comb?
Post by: Ben Framed on April 16, 2024, 10:01:12 am
Phillip
Post by: Michael Bush on April 16, 2024, 10:24:46 am
Post by: Ben Framed on April 16, 2024, 10:42:04 am
If only a few eggs are intended to be moved, then I would think Nigel?s way would be the answer.
Post by: .30WCF on April 16, 2024, 11:18:58 am
No harm in trying if you have the time and patience. Thats how we learn things.You could possibly cut out a small section of comb with eggs for him, which won't have a major impact on your new hive. I do this quite frequently when requeening and it seems to work well.I was wondering about something like that. Thanks, I'll look into that. Could a few eggs possible be picked out with a dental pic and placed into his comb?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: NigelP on April 16, 2024, 11:41:11 am
Good idea Nigel. How do you place this small piece into your hive in need??I make plastic triangular template (margarine tub or similar) and use it to cut out a piece with eggs in from donor hive. Take a frame from recipient hive, take same template and cut identical piece out of frame and replace with your cut out bit with eggs. If its too loose half a cocktail stick will keep it in place. Major problem is wires in frame but I simply cut these.....could also use a cookie cutter at a pinch
Phillip
This way it is easy to see that any queen cells here have been drawn from eggs, not 4 day larva, as can be the case.
It also means you can donate eggs to three or four hives/nucs from one frame of your "good" queens and not really weaken the hive.
For requeening bad girl hives you simply destroy any queen cells that are not on you implanted triangle of eggs.
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 16, 2024, 02:24:08 pm
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 16, 2024, 03:54:37 pm
Post by: The15thMember on April 16, 2024, 04:32:15 pm
I don't know if they're a gentle crew or if it's normal but I can sit on the wall right next to the hive and supervise them without getting harassed.It's very normal, especially for a hive this small. As long as you stay out of the flight zone, most hives will just go about their work and ignore you.
Post by: Michael Bush on April 17, 2024, 07:27:02 am
No. No harm. But I don't see any way it can succeed.
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 17, 2024, 07:49:12 am
>No harm in trying if you have the time and patience. Thats how we learn things.What do you see as the failure point(s)? If I ever decide to give it a go, I'd keep them in mind. BTW, I'm known to do things umm...errr....eeeehhh...differently than other people. :cool: I hear, "That's not exactly how I would do that", a lot.
No. No harm. But I don't see any way it can succeed.
Post by: Ben Framed on April 17, 2024, 08:08:37 am
You could possibly cut out a small section of comb with eggs for him, which won't have a major impact on your new hive. I do this quite frequently when requeening and it seems to work well.I was wondering about something like that. Thanks, I'll look into that. Could a few eggs possible be picked out with a dental pic and placed into his comb?
Not quite like NigelP method; I learned this from a Fellow in another country a few years ago.
Here is the original post.
A unique way to develop queens.
<<on: April 24, 2020, 02:06:10 pm >>
With the recent talk of queen rearing and grafting, I have decided to share the following. I am learning form a fellow in the middle east, (Turkey), that raises queens differently from anyone that I have studied anywhere in the world. Translation of languages on google sure helps! What he does is place the queen in a queen excluder cage that holds an empty brood frame. placing this right back in the hive. When the larva is the right age, and all will be the same age in each area, he removes this frame, cuts a long strip of this comb with the contained larva, shaves off a small portion of the comb face, leaving the larva automatically in a shallower cup than was original. Then, cuts these into one pieces cups separating them , placing them in a Nicot holding holder, (The pale yellow cell cup block), (the one that you would normally place the little hard pale brown cell cups in), securing these on the bar lined up as a normal nicot go round. Then he places a drop of wet wax to make sure the cups are bonded in place, then adding this set up to his cell builder, and the results are astonishing! The larva are never disturbed.
Phillip
https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=53547.msg483414#msg483414
Post by: Michael Bush on April 17, 2024, 08:21:50 am
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 17, 2024, 09:29:26 am
Post by: Salvo on April 17, 2024, 12:07:33 pm
I bought two 25 pound bags of sugar today, for the house, the bees and the hummingbirds.
Walmart. $19.97 each bag.
Last time I remember getting it I was looking for forty-seven cents a pound. My, how time flys.
Well, everyone in the chain got a raise.
Sal
Post by: The15thMember on April 18, 2024, 02:45:45 pm
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 18, 2024, 04:57:41 pm
Post by: FatherMichael on April 18, 2024, 05:55:21 pm
I just deleted the last couple of posts. Please keep political talk out of the bee sections. Feel free to discuss further in the Coffee House.
I apologize.
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 18, 2024, 06:27:59 pm
Post by: Salvo on April 18, 2024, 06:29:50 pm
Mea maxima Culpa.
For each of you, your penance; Please say three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys .
Go forth and sin no more. Per omnia secula seculorum.
Salvatore
Post by: Salvo on April 19, 2024, 02:54:49 am
Sitting back, sitting here waiting on a call from the Wilbanks Apiary trailer.
My club has around 900 packages getting dropped off within the hour.
This is more fun than waiting til the last minute to file your taxes.
Funny, the average age of the members who show up for the unloading is around 67 yo. Canes, walkers knee braces,..... I'm getting too short to work inside the trailer! The feeble and the feeble minded.
Sitting back, sitting here waiting on a call.
Sal
Post by: Ben Framed on April 19, 2024, 06:56:06 am
Phillip
Post by: Ben Framed on April 19, 2024, 07:34:39 am
Took down three swarm traps and moved bees to bee yard, have one more to do in the morning. Put on some supers and checked on others.
Just my thoughts on the previous posts I have started using all frames with foundation in my swarm traps. My first two years I used open frames but with temps in the 90's on these fine Louisiana back roads I had to much of it collapse on me. Since I have started use frames with foundation I have not seen any difference in outcome, using four traps I usually catch 10 to 15 each year.
Thanks for the information Caashenb. .
Post by: Terri Yaki on April 19, 2024, 10:30:10 am
Hi Folks,At 0154? God bless you.
Sitting back, sitting here waiting on a call from the Wilbanks Apiary trailer.
My club has around 900 packages getting dropped off within the hour.
This is more fun than waiting til the last minute to file your taxes.
Funny, the average age of the members who show up for the unloading is around 67 yo. Canes, walkers knee braces,..... I'm getting too short to work inside the trailer! The feeble and the feeble minded.
Sitting back, sitting here waiting on a call.
Sal
Post by: Salvo on April 19, 2024, 11:01:59 am
Trailer rolled in at 0256.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/428594386540310/?s=group_other&__cft__[0]=AZXJklC8dbV-cTP0TVou9z4Wav-d9zD3AxI7NGbmBTDkXZHxpIhrNipblXipXYbIXBxg-HBJpMTc7nU-LnwDQHR8cEa2P0mahIwKX8Lz68xQcJJlGz4ygGciZsOKYLVwZLcR9fFOOcQlSLbfVoEM8KzGWleHQSXM3TNq19K8HjrnYpcYqnaMDqrkgs5myNyl60B3yH2trbGbtfo8Qk0dP-pyNzfaM2VRJxjeoXJZHSTPXQ&__tn__=H-R
Usually, it takes about 45 minutes for us to unload and broom clean the trailer. Today about 35 minutes. I think the trailer holds a few less than 1,000 packages, all strapped in, amazingly. Nothing moves, all boxes connected to each other. HVAC. Lotta heat generated by these bees. We'll keep them cool and ventilated for pick-up Saturday (tomorrow) from 8 AM to maybe 1 PM.
We have a lot of members, 700+. And about 80 new Bee School people. They have first crack at packages.
https://www.facebook.com/100094078868185/videos/1225153115530503/
https://www.facebook.com/100094078868185/videos/1093425265076427/
Sal