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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching
« Last post by FatherMichael on Today at 01:42:35 pm »
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I plan to check frequently.
If you have your trap within WIFI range, I'd get a camera set up so you don't have to check and won't miss any action. Mine lets me know anytime a bee comes onto the scene (which hasn't happened today) and I can open up the app and watch without having to run out there. I got it tuned pretty good now and am not getting any false alarms. Just bees and cats.

Thanks for the suggestion.  I just ordered a cellular game trail camera.  It will be connected to my T-mobile iPhone.  Moultrie has a turn-key camera and cellular service.  Ordered the lithium battery version instead of the solar powered one because with the battery I can move it around, strap it to tree trunks or fence posts, and keep it better hidden - on a post in the open is too obvious.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQDFKBDS/?coliid=IZ8FMFYILJ3T8&colid=26FGO2OFAJU8J&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it
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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.
A hand full of t-posts. Most antique/junk shops will have old tripods, but you could probably get them plenty cheap on Amazon and never leave the house too.


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Thanks so much for your reply! Yes, I was most interested in what to supplement bees' foraging with when getting a new colony established since honey stores will be empty (first hive!), and then of course it's also important to think ahead to potential food shortages for them as well. I'm fortunate enough to have about 100 jars of quality honey I helped to harvest myself from healthy bees last summer, so although it's not still capped in a frame I do believe it's a safe source of nutrition.

I was just reading that raw sugars contain elements that are undigestible to bees, so it's best to stick with white pure cane sugar (organic, if possible) in an ideal world. I'm not sure if anyone here can corroborate that or offer more insight into types of sugars when needed, but this is already very helpful.



I?m a little confused. You said in your first post, your first hive, yet you say you have about a hundred jars of honey you obtained from healthy bees last season?

This time of year is flow season in my area. I realize you are in Germany and the situation there may be different than here, perhaps your flow has ended?

Did you obtain this colony by swarm? If so they should have brought along enough honey to keep them going unless you have had some sort of bad weather conditions? Or this is a late swarm for your location?  I ask this as you said honey stores will be empty.

Now; if you obtain this colony via package, this may be another situation altogether. In that case I wound feed sugar water until you get them on their feet, (white; pure cane sugar) while you might keep, sell, or give the honey to friends. Honey is much more valuable than sugar. Plus humans will receive the bounty from the previous years share of the (excess) harvest.

Phillip

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I tried to tell her, but sometimes you have to work through it to understand.
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CRAFTING CORNER / Re: Creamed honey advice
« Last post by Bill Murray on Today at 10:27:28 am »
So Nigel My assumptions The machine mixes the seed into the honey. and then the creaming takes place in the jar or tub, without the froth because it will still be in the machine. correct?
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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching
« Last post by Terri Yaki on Today at 10:15:43 am »
And so far today, activity is light again. There was a post on NextDoor here recently that someone scored a swarm with a marked queen in it.
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Because we are so wet here, I would dump 5 lbs of dry sugar on the deep side of the inner cover for winter.  It served two purposes.  1. It was emergency food and 2. it absorbed moisture.  It started out dry and ended up more like a candy board.
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HONEYBEE REMOVAL / Re: Expensive Issue
« Last post by Bill Murray on Today at 10:03:59 am »
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There are also the "special" customers

And these are growing every year.
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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Swarm Catching
« Last post by Bill Murray on Today at 09:59:41 am »
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When I see a monster swarm with a great queen in a tree I failed.

Thank you beesnweeds if everyone understood this statement they would; have stronger hives, make more honey, and have in general helthier hives of bees.
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