What did you do in your Apiary/Bee yard today?

[Terri Yaki]

I went through both hives this morning. The swarm hive is thriving like it's springtime. The top box is 75% or so full and mostly capped and there are three or four frames of capped brood and larvae. Worker bee counts look good to me. These are both deeps and I wonder if that's not enough honey to get them through the winter already.

The small hive in the nuc has been reduced to one box. The queen is laying and there are larvae in there as well. The hive looks clean otherwise but I'll see what it looks like next week. It's still thin on bees and I'm not expecting them to make it.

I really need to video the inspections because I can't remember the details an hour after I'm done.

[Terri Yaki]

Just order one from abroad or I'll happily buy some and send them to you ....at cost.

I tried to order one out of Canada but they won't ship here. There might be a problem shipping chemicals here.

[Ben Framed]

I can't remember the details an hour after I'm done.

Make notes as you inspect. A convenient way to do it is by using a paint pen and make your notes, along with the date on top of the cover.

[The15thMember]

I second that about the notes.  You can't expect yourself to just be able to remember everything.  I use these inspection sheets so I have everything at a glance, which helps to jog my memory for my more detailed notes I write when I get in from the apiary.

[Terri Yaki]

That looks nice and orderly 

[beesnweeds]

Just order one from abroad or I'll happily buy some and send them to you ....at cost.

Unfortunately, even if we could get EFB test kits here it doesn't help much.  We can't get antibiotics here without a vet prescription and trying to find a vet willing to give a script for bees can be hard to find in most locations.  I don't even see one registered with the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium in Pennsylvania.

https://hbvc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=213546&module_id=462728

[Terri Yaki]

Unfortunately, even if we could get EFB test kits here it doesn't help much.  We can't get antibiotics here without a vet prescription and trying to find a vet willing to give a script for bees can be hard to find in most locations.  I don't even see one registered with the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium in Pennsylvania.

https://hbvc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=213546&module_id=462728

Do you know what they anti-biotics are in case we were able to find a vet to prescribe them? And are they approved for use?

[beesnweeds]

I use these inspection sheets.

Nice, those one of the best inspection sheets I've seen.  Some are too much information and others not enough.

[beesnweeds]

Do you know what they anti-biotics are in case we were able to find a vet to prescribe them? And are they approved for use?

Oxytetracycline

[The15thMember]

Nice, those one of the best inspection sheets I've seen.  Some are too much information and others not enough.

I know, I love them!  They are made by Little Giant.  I found them at my local farm store.  I just bought one booklet and saved a blank sheet to copy so I never have to buy them again.   

[Lesgold]

Couldn?t agree more. Some of the booklets that I?ve seen have copious quantities of information and boxes that need to be filled in and much of it is located in various places throughout the hive booklet. What you have there is basically all you need if you are running a few hives and want to keep a track of the hives condition. Thanks for showing us Reagan.

[Terri Yaki]

I made a trial robbing prevention device and placed it on the porch. It's cut from a vinyl fence that I replaced around my pool. The piece is pretty much square and both ends are open. The bees seemed confused when I first put it out and had the whole entrance under cover so I slid it over to the middle of their entrance to help them out and it did. I'm slowly moving it over so they can adjust to the changes. If it works, I'll glue it in place with some chewing gum or something but for right now it's just sitting there. Who knows, maybe they'll glue it in place for me. Do yous think it'll work?

[Salvo]

Hi Folks,

Oxytet here:

https://entirelypetspharmacy.com/oxytet-oxytetracycline-hcl-1772gm.html?msclkid=cc776965c78118cb4b9f0f82acdd293b&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Smart%20Shopping%20All%20Prods&utm_term=2330483615015744&utm_content=Rx%20Products%20only

Sal

[The15thMember]

I think that looks pretty good, Terri.  My only question would be if there are enough holes in it to redirect the robbers attention away from the real entrance.  Don't worry about the bees' confusion, they will figure it out in a few hours.  And yes, they will absolutely stick it down for you in a couple of days.   

[Terri Yaki]

Beats me but I can always drill more holes in it or make one longer if necessary. I didn't wait a couple of hours, I saw them having trouble getting in and acted on it right away.

[beesnweeds]

Hi Folks,

Oxytet here:

Yes, you can order it online, but you still need to input your vet's prescription/information.  They won't send you the oxy without it.

[Terri Yaki]

I know that anti-biotics can be bought at fish stores without 'scripts and preppers know it. When I had fish, I used get Tetracycline for them when they got infected but it looks like that's been discontinued since then. How are anti-biotics applied to bees?

[beesnweeds]

How are anti-biotics applied to bees?

When you could get it in any farm store it was powdered antibiotics that you mix with powdered sugar (Terramycin, Terra Pro) and you would put it on the top bars of the frames.  There's probably a way to grind up fish pills and do the math, but it's hardly worth it.  You could probably get it from a foreign vet supply at a hefty price and questionable quality.  The problems started when it was overused and stopped working.  The best thing you can do is not buy bees, especially nucs.  Keep your colonies strong, overwinter your own nucs, and raise queens.   

[The15thMember]

I know that anti-biotics can be bought at fish stores without 'scripts and preppers know it. When I had fish, I used get Tetracycline for them when they got infected but it looks like that's been discontinued since then. How are anti-biotics applied to bees?

Not anymore.  With the new regulations, all antibiotics require prescription, even veterinary ones.  None are available over the counter anymore, even at pet stores and farm stores. 

[Terri Yaki]

Not anymore.  With the new regulations, all antibiotics require prescription, even veterinary ones.  None are available over the counter anymore, even at pet stores and farm stores.

They just have to ruin everything.