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Author Topic: I have some strange looking honey  (Read 9087 times)

Offline FlexMedia.tv

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #60 on: May 15, 2019, 08:16:25 pm »
I installed my Package Bees Sunday May 11th. This batch came from our local club order. On a side note, we've been advised to report any problems before 10:00pm tonight because the majority of members had problems with queens being released in the package BEFORE they could remove the cork or candy. Some wanted to mark them. Mine showed up in the cage by herself. I've always had 2 or 3 nurse bees in there with her but my cork this time was half open. They may have ecscaped and my queen was too big? This was different and came with a piece candy to replace the cork. Anyway, I'll see if she is released tonight.

I'll treat for varroa mites this Friday. I just noticed this time, I just have a brood box and a top. All the other years, I don't know why, I install the queen and immediately add a super. I didn't this time. When do I add another super?

Thanks,
Art
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Offline billdean

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #61 on: May 16, 2019, 09:28:18 pm »
When your first hive body is about 80% full or so. Did you install them on new foundation or comb? Is this package a southern or california package?

Offline FlexMedia.tv

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #62 on: May 17, 2019, 12:46:11 am »
When your first hive body is about 80% full or so. Did you install them on new foundation or comb? Is this package a southern or california package?

New install package from SC into new foundation
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Offline billdean

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #63 on: May 17, 2019, 09:18:29 am »
It will be a while before you need to add another brood box. Are you feeding syrup? You need too! In a couple weeks look at it and see how much they've built out, keep notes on how many frames brood it has. It will get weaker,  but by about the 3 or 4 week it should take off good.

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #64 on: May 17, 2019, 10:00:20 am »
It will be a while before you need to add another brood box. Are you feeding syrup?

Hey Bill,
Not this time. I fed syrup all the other years. I do have some drawn frames with honey I froze cuz of the wax moths. I could have put those in there. I can put those in when I add the second brood box right?
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Offline billdean

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #65 on: May 17, 2019, 04:37:50 pm »
For them to build that foundation out they need to have something to eat. I would put on a pint of syrup now. You don't have to feed them syrup for long. There is a little bit of a flow on now. Dandelions, apples, hawthorn. But they need something. A honey frame it you got it would be great too but put it in there now.

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #66 on: May 17, 2019, 07:39:59 pm »
Sorry, I have some Freshmen like questions but do I replace the brood frame with a honey frame or add a Super with a honey frame? I do have a top pale feeder and some bee vitamins I could use...
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Offline billdean

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #67 on: May 17, 2019, 08:56:23 pm »
Just sugar syrup would be fine. Feed through the hole in the inter cover. As far as the honey frame put it in slot 1 or 10 or if you have an 8 frame box slot 1 or 8. Do not add a super. Keep the bees in one box until they have it filled out 80% or so. Their first brood cycle should be about June 1. The next brood box will probably go one shortly before that. Keep an eye on things. It would not hurt to check every 7 or 8 days. With the flow coming on they will need a place to store their food and raise their brood so they could build up a little quicker. You may find they won't take much syrup and that's OK too. Its there if they need if. It doesn't take to much to starve a new package if you are not feeding and you get 3 or 4 days of bad weather. They have no food, no place to store food, so feed until they can get a little organized and start building their home.

Online cao

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #68 on: May 17, 2019, 10:13:09 pm »
I agree with billdean.

Offline FlexMedia.tv

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #69 on: May 18, 2019, 01:44:44 am »
Ok, pail feeder it is with one old honey frame on number 8!
« Last Edit: May 18, 2019, 09:47:32 am by FlexMedia.tv »
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Offline billdean

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #70 on: May 18, 2019, 11:13:31 am »
Flex????you really don't need both. You are not really looking for them to store a lot of sugar water. When starting a package on new foundation you need just enough feed to help them start building comb. Starving bee don't build comb well.  As I said we are coming into a flow now it will probably not take much to help them out. But days like today they probably will not forage much because of the weather. So they need food.  If it were me, I would just install the frame of honey and scratch the capping. As the honey leaks out a little bit the bee will put the honey where they need it. A pail feeder is great in the fall when you are trying to dump a lot of syrup into a hive to bring it up to weight but in the spring this not what you want.

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #71 on: May 18, 2019, 11:21:28 am »
Got it! I?ll place a honey frame in today. I need to look at them anyway. (I also sent you a private message )
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Offline FlexMedia.tv

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #72 on: May 27, 2019, 10:03:27 am »
Anyone wanting to understand nosema, start here:

http://scientificbeekeeping.com/nosema-ceranae/nosema-summaries-updates/

The search to find out if the hive has Noesma is complicated! Have you tried it?
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Offline TheHoneyPump

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #73 on: May 27, 2019, 01:18:02 pm »
The easiest way to correctly inspect, test, and diagnose the pests and diseases of the honey bee is to call on your area apiculture inspector. ..... It it is their job to do so.  They have the expertise, the equipment, and the resources. It is also free to the beekeeper.

Nosema is not difficult to confirm diagnoses.  However it cannot be done without a microscope, some basic sampling procedures, and an eye for what looking at and looking for through the squinty eye though the scope.

When the lid goes back on, the bees will spend the next 3 days undoing most of what the beekeeper just did to them.

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Re: I have some strange looking honey
« Reply #74 on: June 24, 2019, 03:12:23 pm »
So far so good with this package install. Thanks for the advice. I'll start a new thread with the progress.
Regards,
Art
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