Recent Posts

1

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Winter clusters

« Last post by Ben Framed on December 07, 2023, 10:45:26 am »

This research is of little value to us here in the Subtropics but brings up vital decisions for beekeepers in cold climates
Research challenges widespread belief that honeybees naturally insulate their colonies against cold (phys.org)

"Michael Bush"
Ventilation in general is a good thing if you don't get too much.

Good point Max.. We have members here from the Tropics to the far North and location will dictate practices, needs, and results depending on the beekeepers location..

I would think in Michael Bushs' case, considering 'his' location (Nebraska), "too much" ventilation in 'Winter' would 'absolutely' be relevant and a reality. 

'Location' plays a part in beekeeping...  A rule to follow for a beekeeper in 'one area or location', may not produce the same results or be an absolute rule for beekeepers in other varying locations and circumstances, so the rule for one may not apply to another as a result.
 
Elisha Gallop from Wisconsin is a good example. His location and the effects of Winter 'thereof' on bees are interesting and show his attentiveness to detail of results for 'his location'. His knowledge gained and shared through observation and 'his experience', are commendable for 'his needs' as well as many others..


Phillip







 

2

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Honey extraction: Tangential vs radia - which one is " better"?

« Last post by Michael Bush on December 07, 2023, 08:46:44 am »

If the comb has a yellow cast to it, it extracts just fine.  Some people go out of their way to make sure they NEVER have cocoons in the comb they are extracting so the greater wax moths won't eat it.

3

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Honey extraction: Tangential vs radia - which one is " better"?

« Last post by Acebird on December 07, 2023, 08:31:10 am »

>Assuming it did not have a round of brood in it.

By definition, that is not new comb.

And unless you are producing comb honey it doesn't make sense to extract from new comb so you should discourage it.

4

FARMING & COUNTRY LIFE / Re: Any Luck With This Seasons Deer Hunting?

« Last post by gww on December 06, 2023, 04:10:09 pm »

My granddaughter got it on the last day of season in the afternoon.  Now they did extend the chance to kill does for three more days and did have a second youth season coming up but mostly everybody is done.

5

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Honey extraction: Tangential vs radia - which one is " better"?

« Last post by Michael Bush on December 06, 2023, 11:48:16 am »

>Assuming it did not have a round of brood in it.

By definition, that is not new comb.

6

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Honey extraction: Tangential vs radia - which one is " better"?

« Last post by Acebird on December 06, 2023, 08:44:04 am »

Any new comb is going to fail. 

Assuming it did not have a round of brood in it.

7

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Reading list

« Last post by Michael Bush on December 06, 2023, 06:12:43 am »

Also, I suppose I should point out that there is a biography of Huber.  All of these, the two volumes, the letters and the biography are in the currently available Bicentennial edition.

8

THE CONSTITUTION / Re: Propaganda

« Last post by Michael Bush on December 06, 2023, 06:05:52 am »

Since pistols exist for .22 LR it is considered pistol ammo.  When I was 20 I was married with two kids and I could buy a .22 rifle, but I couldn't buy ammo for it.

Illinois passed a law way back in the late 60's that you had to have a background check and a card from the state to buy ammo.

9

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Winter clusters

« Last post by Michael Bush on December 06, 2023, 06:01:23 am »

Ventilation in general is a good thing if you don't get too much.  I have upper entrances and that seems to work well for me.

Elisha Gallop was the editor of the American Bee Journal for many years and he said this:

    "I had a neighbor who used the common box hive; he had a two inch hole in the top which he left open all winter; the hives setting on top of hemlock stumps without any protection, summer or winter, except something to keep the rain out and snow from beating into the top of the hive. he plastered up tight all around the bottom of the hive for winter. his bees wintered well, and would every season swarm from two to three weeks earlier than mine; scarcely any of them would come out on the snow until the weather was warm enough for them to get back into the hive.

    "Since then I have observed that whenever I have found a swarm in the woods where the hollow was below the entrance, the comb was always bright and clean, and the bees were always in the best condition; no dead bees in the bottom of the log; and on the contrary when I have found a tree where the entrance was below the hollow, there was always more or less mouldy comb, dead bees.

    "Again if you see a box hive with a crack in it from top to bottom large enough to put your fingers in, the bees are all right in nine cases out of ten. The conclusion I have come to is this, that with upward ventilation without any current of air from the bottom of the hive, your bees will winter well without any cobs."--Elishia Gallup, The American Bee Journal 1867, Volume 3, Number 8 pg 153

10

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

« Last post by Lesgold on December 06, 2023, 12:56:12 am »

Hi Phillip,

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.