Bee Keeps?'s

[smokinj]

Watching the thread. My 6 year old son is obsessed with bees. He's been out catching them so he can "get honey for all of us to eat". He doesn't even like honey...just wants to provide for the family. I hate to see that enthusiasm go to waste so I might have to put out a hive next year. My BIL owns the 20 acre field across the street. Going to be permanent clover mix pasture and alfalfa hay so they should have plenty to eat.

Perfect, put a window in there. I had quite a few people set around looking at mine they really are buzy bees.

 

[lukem]

Perfect, put a window in there. I had quite a few people set around looking at mine they really are buzy bees.

You got a print on your hive design? I have some lumber we milled a couple years ago that would be good. I actually have a pile of hedge 1x's that would be cool....and should outlast me.

 

[smokinj]

You got a print on your hive design? I have some lumber we milled a couple years ago that would be good. I actually have a pile of hedge 1x's that would be cool....and should outlast me.

We use this - the slide out cleaning tray. Also I use gutter guard for the bottom. I probably spent 60.00 total but lie you had lots of stuff on hand.

http://www.topbarbees.com/images/stories/pdf/topbar_6b.pdf

 

[firebroad]

You guys and gals are lucky. I really wanted to start keeping bees this spring, but of course it is not allowed in this @#$%& town.

There are a few "stealth" ways to keep bees--if you yard is large and has a few private, sunny areas, a good screen will keep the flight path high, so the bees will not be flying past the neighbors, eliciting screams of "allergies". It is amazing how many people develop this rare condition, brought on by a fear of stinging insects. Also, if you have good immediate neighbors, a pint of honey every year will help keep your hobby under wraps.

 

[mattjm1017]

I Iam running a 1/2 gallon ball jar and a qt jar so 3/4 of a gallon at a time. I Change that out about every 36-48 hrs. Weather been pretty good the last 10 days or so. Ave Probally around 65 days and 40 at nights. I have all 3 holes opened and a nice swarm going all day long. They have produce 4 nice combs and another two small ones.

Once it starts to stay warm all day and night and the nectar flow starts youll be able to stop feeding them. when you start to notice that they aren't taking the sugar water any more they are done and you can stop. I usually stop when I see that a lot of stuff is blooming at that point there should be enough out there for them to take care of themselves. You don't want to feed them to far into the flow so that you don't get that sugar water in your honey.

 

[smokinj]

This week update 1-1/2 gallons of sugar water. (Very cool rainy week) I now have 5 full size combs(As big as they can make it) and 2 more small ones.

 

[Mrs. Krabappel]

You think the queen did not even get out of the queen cage? Any chance you took a pic of those dead bees so we can see if it's your queen? If your qeen dies they'll raise a new queen, but only if you already have eggs laid, which you wouldn't if she died in the cage.

The best way to tell if you have a queen is if you have eggs. I can never see the eggs, so I learned that if I hold up the frame with drawn comb and take pictures I can see them in the pictures, particularly if it was sunny.

The worst time to go in is at night because they are all in there. 10,000-60,000 pissed off gals. Better to go in on a sunny afternoon when the field bees are all gone.

Beesource.com is a great help. Post your questions there. Nice set up. Good luck! It's a bit like playing poker. With your eyes closed.

 

[smokinj]

You think the queen did not even get out of the queen cage? Any chance you took a pic of those dead bees so we can see if it's your queen? If your qeen dies they'll raise a new queen, but only if you already have eggs laid, which you wouldn't if she died in the cage.

The best way to tell if you have a queen is if you have eggs. I can never see the eggs, so I learned that if I hold up the frame with drawn comb and take pictures I can see them in the pictures, particularly if it was sunny.

The worst time to go in is at night because they are all in there. 10,000-60,000 pissed off gals. Better to go in on a sunny afternoon when the field bees are all gone.

Beesource.com is a great help. Post your questions there. Nice set up. Good luck! It's a bit like playing poker. With your eyes closed.

I have two local bee keepers helping me as well. Pretty much at this point they both think shes there just because the active and comb building. I know she went in with the cage opened. The reason I kept thing she was dead was because I thought they where building on the back wall. After a bee keeper showed me I was just looking at the glare on the window I can now see what is going on. 5 really nice big combs. Oh and yea night time is just stupid I now have my suite and smoker! Thank God.

 

[Bocefus78]

I have two local bee keepers helping me as well. Pretty much at this point they both think shes there just because the active and comb building. I know she went in with the cage opened. The reason I kept thing she was dead was because I thought they where building on the back wall. After a bee keeper showed me I was just looking at the glare on the window I can now see what is going on. 5 really nice big combs. Oh and yea night time is just stupid I now have my suite and smoker! Thank God.

Time for an update! How is she (they) doing?

 

[firebroad]

Time for an update! How is she (they) doing?

+1

 

[mattjm1017]

+2 Hows them ladies doing?

 

[smokinj]

Time for an update! How is she (they) doing?

There off the sugar water. They just quite drinking it on there own. Have not look in 10 days or so but last time I check there was 7 big combs and a couple small ones started. Seem to be doing well from what I can tell.

 

[smokinj]

Took a good look today. The combs are now turning gold and I need to put some more top bars in asap!

 

[mattjm1017]

Sounds good make sure you have eggs and larvae in there too. Out of curiosity how many bars have you given them.

 

[smokinj]

Sounds good make sure you have eggs and larvae in there too. Out of curiosity how many bars have you given them.

I think there is 11 in there now. I am using about 1/3 of the hive so far.

 

[mattjm1017]

How about an update how are them lovely ladies doing?

 

[smokinj]

How about an update how are them lovely ladies doing?

Hive looks good and there using about 80 percent of the hive now. Just trying to figure out when I should rob them?

 

[firebroad]

Love to see some pics.

 

[smokinj]

Love to see some pics.

I should be able to takes some through the window. Not sure how the glare will be.

 

[begreen]

I would rob them before the last major flush of food has passed. Typically this would have been about now when I had bees. That way they still have plenty of flowers to store up reserves for the winter.

One very warm year I did rob them twice. Once in June and once in late July. The difference in the honey was amazing. The spring honey was light colored and very floral. The later honey was dark and much stronger tasting. It reminded me of Yucatan honey.

 

[smokinj]

I would rob them before the last major flush of food has passed. Typically this would have been about now when I had bees. That way they still have plenty of flowers to store up reserves for the winter.

One very warm year I did rob them twice. Once in June and once in late July. The difference in the honey was amazing. The spring honey was light colored and very floral. The later honey was dark and much stronger tasting. It reminded me of Yucatan honey.

Sounds like I better get in there soon. The clover at my place is still full bloom. No where else around me do I see it still in bloom.

 

[begreen]

For us, one of the last major crop are the masses of Himalayan blackberries. We have lots of flowers still in the garden, but that is puny next to the enormous volume of blackberries we have out here. Honey bees also love dandelions and I have seen them all over ivy which bloom in fall.

 

[smokinj]

For us, one of the last major crop are the masses of Himalayan blackberries. We have lots of flowers still in the garden, but that is puny next to the enormous volume of blackberries we have out here. Honey bees also love dandelions and I have seen them all over ivy which bloom in fall.

I have never seen clover like this before. It has spread and full bloom now and over an acre of it. Its been in full bloom since the first of May.

 

[begreen]

If unsprayed it sounds like bee heaven.

 

[smokinj]

If unsprayed it sounds like bee heaven.

I just wonder if there causing it to spread like this? No one else around has clover still in bloom.