Jan 27 2018
I can hear buzzing in my big hive but not much in my small hive - just a random bee or two.
But this happened another winter where I thought I had lost a hive and somehow it resurrected itself as the temperatures warmed up,
Stay tuned!
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Monday, January 22, 2018
HAPPY NEW YEAR! They're still alive
January 19, 2018
I checked my hives and they are both buzzing - surprising, given the arctic chill which descended upon us for what seemed like weeks.
But activity in both hives - hang in there girls, February is just around the corner.
More info (credit to Jim Kloek of Nature's Nectar):
Netflix has a good documentary series called Rotten.
The first episode is about honeybees. They talk about the struggles of a beekeeper, adulterated honey and how it happened and the theft of several thousand beehives over four years.
I checked my hives and they are both buzzing - surprising, given the arctic chill which descended upon us for what seemed like weeks.
But activity in both hives - hang in there girls, February is just around the corner.
More info (credit to Jim Kloek of Nature's Nectar):
Netflix has a good documentary series called Rotten.
The first episode is about honeybees. They talk about the struggles of a beekeeper, adulterated honey and how it happened and the theft of several thousand beehives over four years.
With the warmer weather the bees can move their cluster easily and hopefully re-position slightly on a fresh frame of honey.
There should be no brood in a colony right now.
Bees will be going on cleansing flights during warm weather. It is a good time to see if your hive(s) are alive. There will be bees dying in the snow. This is normal.
If you don't see bees on cleansing flights, it doesn't mean that the hive is dead. If a colony was very heavy with honey especially a three deep hive, the bees could still be down deep in the box and can't break cluster to get out. You can rap on the side of the hive and listen for a buzz. If you get physical with the hive, a beesuit may be in order. An interloper could fly out and give you some payback for the disturbance.
Not seeing cleansing flights is not a huge problem at the moment. As time goes on, the cluster will shift into the top box and cleansing flights will be more frequent with the warmer February weather.
There should be no brood in a colony right now.
Bees will be going on cleansing flights during warm weather. It is a good time to see if your hive(s) are alive. There will be bees dying in the snow. This is normal.
If you don't see bees on cleansing flights, it doesn't mean that the hive is dead. If a colony was very heavy with honey especially a three deep hive, the bees could still be down deep in the box and can't break cluster to get out. You can rap on the side of the hive and listen for a buzz. If you get physical with the hive, a beesuit may be in order. An interloper could fly out and give you some payback for the disturbance.
Not seeing cleansing flights is not a huge problem at the moment. As time goes on, the cluster will shift into the top box and cleansing flights will be more frequent with the warmer February weather.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Corks out
November 11 - Veterans Day - I removed the corks from the hives and a couple of bees came out to see what I was up to. We'll see how this winter goes - it's been unseasonably cold already.
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Buttoned up
November 1, 2017
My hives are covered, the feeders are off. The mouse guards are on and it's game on for winter - keep warm and sated dear worker bees.
My hives are covered, the feeders are off. The mouse guards are on and it's game on for winter - keep warm and sated dear worker bees.
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Monday, October 16, 2017
Put feeder boxes on
October 16, 2017
returned from Europe today and decided to feed the bees
put the bottom boards in 1/2 way and the mouse guards on
all went well, no stings!
Today October 17, I checked in the feeder boxes and the bees were taking down the syrup!
Another warm day over 70 degrees, will be up to 80 by Friday.
October 24, still taking syrup but not as voraciously (2:1 sugar:water)
returned from Europe today and decided to feed the bees
put the bottom boards in 1/2 way and the mouse guards on
all went well, no stings!
Today October 17, I checked in the feeder boxes and the bees were taking down the syrup!
Another warm day over 70 degrees, will be up to 80 by Friday.
October 24, still taking syrup but not as voraciously (2:1 sugar:water)
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Over 90 degrees and they're bearding
It's really warm today - humid and over 90 - so I checked the hives around 7pm and they were both bearding up the front of the hives.
Tomorrow is supposed to be just as bad.
Tomorrow is supposed to be just as bad.
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