This is the view the bees will be getting from their hives. Great source for water. The other hives are at other locations.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Set up for Hives 1, 3 and 4
My father built this stand for hives 1 through 4. Hive 2 is due in next week from California.
Another Feeder
My dad absolutely loves the girls and wants to ensure that no one has a drowning accident while sipping sugar syrup. He lays the material on the floats in the Brush Mountain feeders. It has cut down on the loss of bees significantly. What you see on the right is a pollen patty.
Inspected Hives - April 18th 2010
Hives
1 (2) 3 4 5 6 (remote)
Hives 1, 3, 4, 6 (Carnolians): Queens released and things look fine.
Hive 5 (Carnolian): Queen is doing well. Queen located in bottom brood box and brood pattern is excellent.
Hive (2) (Cordovan): Due in next week April 27.
1 (2) 3 4 5 6 (remote)
Hives 1, 3, 4, 6 (Carnolians): Queens released and things look fine.
Hive 5 (Carnolian): Queen is doing well. Queen located in bottom brood box and brood pattern is excellent.
Hive (2) (Cordovan): Due in next week April 27.
What I have learned in my two years of beekeeping.
What I have learned in my two years of beekeeping.
1. Before you decide to keep bees find someone who actually has/is keeping bees that has agreed to take you under their wing to answer your questions (ALL QUESTIONS) and will take a look at your hive every now and then if you need them to.
Local beekeeping clubs do offer classes at the beginning of the year. Before you sign up for the class and put your money down, be sure that they guarantee you will get a mentor to assist you with your first year of beekeeping. When I signed up with a local beekeeping club in 2008 they allowed more people in the class than mentors could handle. Consequently, the mentors were overwhelmed and couldn't handle the questions of the new beekeepers. This could have been prevented if the club had closed the class after it reached certain number. Fortunately, I had my father to assist me and I know of several members that got discouraged and quit.
2. You must be passsionate about keeping bees. The money, time, and research involved can be overwhelming.
3. Keep a journal. If you are a solitary beekeeper this is essential to learn from your successes and failures.
4. If you don't have the time to keep bees why not financially contribute to an organization(s) that supports beekeeping?
http://www.beeculturemagazine.com/storycms/index.cfm?cat=Story&recordID=608
http://www.helpsavebees.co.uk/bee-intro.html
Help Save the Bees donates all net profits from the sale of products and services, via this website and through other activities, to 'The Bumblebee Conservation Trust' (BBCT), so that they can continue with their invaluable research and conservation work.
5. If you don't have the means or time to keep bees you can:
a. Plant a garden full of flowers that bees love! Invite pollinators to your neighborhood by planting a pollinator friendly habitat in your garden, farm, school, park or just about anywhere!
http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm (Type in your zipcode to find out what plants you can put in your garden for pollinators in your area.
b. Build Mason Bee House. You won't need to install them or feed them. Just build the house and they will come.
How To Build A Mason Bee Block http://vimeo.com/9236864 *very easy --
Make your own solitary bee house http://www.dry-ideas.com/2008/05/make-your-own-solitary-bee-house.html
The list will evolve as time goes on...
1. Before you decide to keep bees find someone who actually has/is keeping bees that has agreed to take you under their wing to answer your questions (ALL QUESTIONS) and will take a look at your hive every now and then if you need them to.
Local beekeeping clubs do offer classes at the beginning of the year. Before you sign up for the class and put your money down, be sure that they guarantee you will get a mentor to assist you with your first year of beekeeping. When I signed up with a local beekeeping club in 2008 they allowed more people in the class than mentors could handle. Consequently, the mentors were overwhelmed and couldn't handle the questions of the new beekeepers. This could have been prevented if the club had closed the class after it reached certain number. Fortunately, I had my father to assist me and I know of several members that got discouraged and quit.
2. You must be passsionate about keeping bees. The money, time, and research involved can be overwhelming.
3. Keep a journal. If you are a solitary beekeeper this is essential to learn from your successes and failures.
4. If you don't have the time to keep bees why not financially contribute to an organization(s) that supports beekeeping?
http://www.beeculturemagazine.com/storycms/index.cfm?cat=Story&recordID=608
http://www.helpsavebees.co.uk/bee-intro.html
Help Save the Bees donates all net profits from the sale of products and services, via this website and through other activities, to 'The Bumblebee Conservation Trust' (BBCT), so that they can continue with their invaluable research and conservation work.
5. If you don't have the means or time to keep bees you can:
a. Plant a garden full of flowers that bees love! Invite pollinators to your neighborhood by planting a pollinator friendly habitat in your garden, farm, school, park or just about anywhere!
http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm (Type in your zipcode to find out what plants you can put in your garden for pollinators in your area.
b. Build Mason Bee House. You won't need to install them or feed them. Just build the house and they will come.
How To Build A Mason Bee Block http://vimeo.com/9236864 *very easy --
Make your own solitary bee house http://www.dry-ideas.com/2008/05/make-your-own-solitary-bee-house.html
The list will evolve as time goes on...
Sunday, April 18, 2010
12 April 2010 - Installation Four Hives
My father and I installed four hives from Georgia (Carnolian) last Monday, 4/12/2010. Sunny day, temps approx 70, no wind. Tomorrow, 4/19/2010 will inspect to see if queen has been released. Next week, two hives coming from California (Cordovan).
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Notes on Sugar Syrup
I am rethinking feeding my bees sugar syrup and will do so only if I have no harvested honey on hand to give my bees. I won't use honey from other apiaries because I don't know the condition of their hives and feel confident giving them honey from my hives. Here is an excerpt from an entomologist regarding sugar syrup (I don't use corn syrup but use white granulated sugar when making sugar syrup).
http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=to-bee-or-not-to-bee-09-08-21
One thing that Reed Johnson found that's in his dissertation, when you feed honeybees honey, they upregulate their cytochrome p450 monooxygenases, these enzymes that process among other things plant chemicals, when you give them sugar, it's nothing. So when you feed them on a sugar diet they are not turning on their chemical processing equipment, so this is something that nobody expected. I mean people aren't used to thinking of honeybees as broad generalists because they'll feed on hundreds of different flowers, but in a way they are dietary super specialists because they feed on this narrow range—they feed on pollen, honey and bee bread. And granted the components can come from all different places, but feeding on nectar or honey derived from nectars [is a] very different proposition from feeding on other types of plant tissue because plants load up their vulnerable tissues with chemicals, you know, natural pesticides, so that insects won't eat them, but they want insects to eat nectar; that's the whole point [of nectar].
http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=to-bee-or-not-to-bee-09-08-21
One thing that Reed Johnson found that's in his dissertation, when you feed honeybees honey, they upregulate their cytochrome p450 monooxygenases, these enzymes that process among other things plant chemicals, when you give them sugar, it's nothing. So when you feed them on a sugar diet they are not turning on their chemical processing equipment, so this is something that nobody expected. I mean people aren't used to thinking of honeybees as broad generalists because they'll feed on hundreds of different flowers, but in a way they are dietary super specialists because they feed on this narrow range—they feed on pollen, honey and bee bread. And granted the components can come from all different places, but feeding on nectar or honey derived from nectars [is a] very different proposition from feeding on other types of plant tissue because plants load up their vulnerable tissues with chemicals, you know, natural pesticides, so that insects won't eat them, but they want insects to eat nectar; that's the whole point [of nectar].
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Pictures of the Cordovans
These are my "blonde bees" from California. I'm very pleased they survived the harsh winter. The queen is marked and is to the left above the hive tool.
First Inspection of 2010 - 7 March 2010 (Sunday)
Today was high 50's, breezy, and sunny.
Approximately 2:30pm my father and I inspected the hives.
Hive #1: Carnolians
Feeders still had sugar syrup on one side. I had also put a comb of honey from last years harvest on the other side, which was all gone. Looks like the bees prefer honey to sugar water. A few dead bees and lots of live bees. The top body was heavy with honey, capped and uncapped. Located the queen in the middle of the top body. Put a little more honey with comb in top feeder.
Hive #2: Cordovans (Blonde Bees)
Top feeder was dry...sugar granuales left but no sugar water at all. Comb honey consumed. There are twice the number of bees in this hive than Hive #1, which explains why the food is gone. Not too much honey in the hives. We found two large hive beetles, which we promptly smashed. Located the queen in the middle medium super. We switched the top large super with the medium super. So the queen is now in the top unless she decides to move down.
We poured all the sugar syrup into both sides of the feeder as emergency feeding and also added honey + comb from last years harvest.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
January 2010 - Planning
The Cordovan and Carniolan bees have survived the winter thus far. It has been a very cold and wet winter. In Dec 2009 we had 26 inches of snow and last night it sleeted. It's suppose to rain through the weekend.
I am surprised that the Cordovan have survived being that they came out of California. They are my favorite. When I take off the top cover they all point their little bottoms at me showing their swords (stingers). I get a laugh out of this that they love their little home so much they will die for it.
My dad has been talking about raising goats, geese, and cows. I would love to have a Highland cow of my own.
Things to do:
inventory wooden ware and get it cleaned up
order more bees
order some chicks
secure an area to keep chickens
hay bales for vegetable seedlings
burn off dead vegetation in garden to get ready for Spring
select vegetables to grow
I am surprised that the Cordovan have survived being that they came out of California. They are my favorite. When I take off the top cover they all point their little bottoms at me showing their swords (stingers). I get a laugh out of this that they love their little home so much they will die for it.
My dad has been talking about raising goats, geese, and cows. I would love to have a Highland cow of my own.
Things to do:
inventory wooden ware and get it cleaned up
order more bees
order some chicks
secure an area to keep chickens
hay bales for vegetable seedlings
burn off dead vegetation in garden to get ready for Spring
select vegetables to grow
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Blizzard of 2009 - Dec 19 2009
Two feet of snow. Drifts up to the entrance. Will need to clear the entrances for ventilation.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Is it a plane? Is it a bird? No...it's a...BEAR!!
An hour after I fed the bees my mom caught this dare devil bear in the tree.
Feeding Bees - Dec 4, 2009
Temps approximately low 60s, sunny, and breezy.
I made a sugar pie for the bees. My intentions were to make sugar candy but the sugar syrup never reached hard ball candy stage and I ended with ewwwy goooey sugar syrup. So I mixed in some comb honey I had from my bees, confectionary sugar, and the sugar syrup. It turned out to be a pie. I put the yummy pies into the hives and girls loved it. Only four hive beetles were located and killed.
The bees appeared to be healthy so it was a good day. Reduced the entrance to prevent mice and other critters from entering the hives.
I made a sugar pie for the bees. My intentions were to make sugar candy but the sugar syrup never reached hard ball candy stage and I ended with ewwwy goooey sugar syrup. So I mixed in some comb honey I had from my bees, confectionary sugar, and the sugar syrup. It turned out to be a pie. I put the yummy pies into the hives and girls loved it. Only four hive beetles were located and killed.
The bees appeared to be healthy so it was a good day. Reduced the entrance to prevent mice and other critters from entering the hives.
Friday, November 13, 2009
My Father's Garden
My dad loves to garden and I suppose it's his Scottish roots and his love for the outdoors. I hope you enjoy the slideshow I've put together. The pictures were taken by my mother and the plants lovingly placed in the soil, nurtured, and tended by my father's hands.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Cordovan Bees Appear to Be Very Robust & Healthy
I am very impressed with the Cordovan Italian bees purchased from (C.F.) Koehnen
http://www.koehnen.com/history.html
The honey product was outstanding and the bees appears to be very healthy and robust. If they over-winter well, I will definitely purchase additional Cordovan Italian bees from them.
Also, am impressed with the equipment from Brushy Mountain and Mann Lake.
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/default.asp
http://www.mannlakeltd.com/
I prefer Brushy Mountain's woodenware design, however, I know that each beekeeper has their own personal tastes. Raising bees is a little like raising children and we have our own style of the care, love, and feeding that we give to each one.
http://www.koehnen.com/history.html
The honey product was outstanding and the bees appears to be very healthy and robust. If they over-winter well, I will definitely purchase additional Cordovan Italian bees from them.
Also, am impressed with the equipment from Brushy Mountain and Mann Lake.
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/default.asp
http://www.mannlakeltd.com/
I prefer Brushy Mountain's woodenware design, however, I know that each beekeeper has their own personal tastes. Raising bees is a little like raising children and we have our own style of the care, love, and feeding that we give to each one.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Plagues of Egypt
Bees on the left are my bees and the one on the right is one of the robbing bees.Monday, August 17th 2009
Hive #4 has had a rough time of it. Laying workers, resolved, fourth installed Queen has survived (Queen Makeda). I inspected the hive and found wax moth infestation, which seemed to have happened overnight. I noticed the hive was very active, more so than usual. I was heading to work and didn't do any investigations but I had a gut feeling that something was wrong. When I arrived home, I put on my suit and that's when I found the hive was being robbed by large bees (see photo) and four frames infested with wax moths. I removed the frames, brushed off the bottom board that was covered with moth or beatle larvae. Then I changed the entrance reducer to allow only one to two bees at a time, wetted a sheet and put it over the hive, draping the sheet to almost the ground. Damage control. I will make replacement frames and figure out what to do with the moths and beatles.
My other three hives are at my parent's place and I keep one hive, Hive #4, in my back yard.
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