Recent Posts

91

NATURAL & ORGANIC BEEKEEPING METHODS / Re: Help! Best natural feeding options

« Last post by Michael Bush on May 07, 2024, 06:03:05 am »

I try to manage them so they won't need to be fed.  Most years I don't feed them at all.  When I do need to feed them, I use white sugar.  Solids are not good for bees.  Brown sugar is not good for bees.  Molasses is not good for bees.  The more refined the better.  I add some ascorbic acid to the syrup to lower the pH and make it keep better.

92

HONEYBEE REMOVAL / Re: Expensive Issue

« Last post by Michael Bush on May 07, 2024, 06:00:44 am »

If you can kill the bees without poisoning them during a dearth, you can bring a few strong hives and get them interested in robbing it out.  Put some honey on the entrance.  Catch a few bees from each hive and put them at the honey.  They would rob things out pretty quickly.

93

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Pics of a Dec. dead out: discussion open??

« Last post by Michael Bush on May 07, 2024, 05:20:29 am »

Maybe it's the Nebraska climate or maybe it's that the bacteria in their gut protects them from Nosema (it does) and I don't treat, but my spore counts ever the USDA APHIS people do them are zero.  That doesn't seem reasonable to me, though.  But they are zero every time.

94

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by Terri Yaki on May 06, 2024, 10:10:13 pm »

Thanks folks. They either left or hunkered down deep inside the hive for the night. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

95

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by Ben Framed on May 06, 2024, 09:50:20 pm »

Now there's about three times as many bees checking out the trap as any other time they were out there. It's like Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds', except it's bees. They hit it hard about 1300 and haven't let up. I don't think they moved in as of yet but it almost looks like it the way they're going in and out. I have my fingers crossed.

Now thats more like it and what I meant in reply #59. Thumbs Up!! Good Luck..

96

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: What did you do in your Apiary/Bee yard today?

« Last post by FatherMichael on May 06, 2024, 07:59:17 pm »

Scoped out a place to put a solar cellular camera.  I've wanted to see what chews on my hives and now have an extra incentive of watching a bait hive and Russian scion, though swarm season is probably over, since I saw our first pod of Kites.

Found a great place in the sun but it will need a post.  Trees have a tendency to shade out the sun. ;-)

My hives are spread apart in the yard, so may need multiple cameras or multiple places to hang a camera depending on the season.

What about a movable tripod that can be task specific?  Hmmm.

97

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by BeeMaster2 on May 06, 2024, 07:49:54 pm »

Terri,
Sounds like you are about to bee the proud owner of a new hive. 😊
Jim Altmiller

98

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by Terri Yaki on May 06, 2024, 07:27:38 pm »

There could be some merit to that!

99

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by Lesgold on May 06, 2024, 05:58:29 pm »

Sounds a bit like ?the watched pot never boils? syndrome. If you want away on holidays for a period of time, you could almost guarantee a swarm would move in during your absence.

100

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching

« Last post by Terri Yaki on May 06, 2024, 03:53:40 pm »

Now there's about three times as many bees checking out the trap as any other time they were out there. It's like Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds', except it's bees. They hit it hard about 1300 and haven't let up. I don't think they moved in as of yet but it almost looks like it the way they're going in and out. I have my fingers crossed.