Winter Hive Activity

Hello !

Sorry about the lack of activity as of late.

Today we are experiencing some reasonable temperatures - in the low 30's instead of single digits like last week.  I was very worried about that cold snap but I have taken precautions.

I usually wrap my hives with the large bubble wrap then finish with a black plastic or tar paper over wrap.  I have several hives in town this year and the large hive is the light-green hive and there are two single story colonies resting on top of this. 

Wrapped Hives

I am also using some leaf bags are extra insulation around the base of this hive.  There is also some pink foam board as well. 

I was working in the yard today when I noticed some of my bees coming out and moving around the small entrance.  One even took flight and quickly headed back in!

It was exciting to see them so active after the really cold weather we had last week.  They are pretty tough and my little bit of insulation must really help them.   

Here is a close up of the gals checking out the weather - outside of the hive.  They did not stay out for long!

Honey House Construction Project

Hello !

I have been working on this construction project for several years now, occasionally working on it as time and money would allow.  During this quiet time in the beekeeper's year I have decided to get after it before the winter sets in.

Installed double doors and house wrap

A good friend of mine  helped me install these double doors for the building.  Most of the components were acquired second hand so the costs were  pretty low on this.  Just time consuming.  I hope to finish the siding before we get the snow here next month.

The Russian Knapweed is still in bloom up here as well.  There was quite a bit of it around the area and beeyard.

Knapweed in the sun

Feeding Trip to the Bee Yard

I use top feeders protected by what I call a 'feeding box'.  This box keeps the jar warm and it makes it possible to feed the hives without having to disturb them very much.  No opening the hives, no smoker and very FAST.  I took me about 5 minutes to feed these 5 hives.

Feeding Quart

The mixture is a 1:1 syrup mix with 8 to 10 drops of these essential oils:  Peppermint, Thyme and Lemongrass.  They LOVE this mixture and will eagerly eat this up unless there is a flow going that they would rather have.

3 Buckfast Colonies with wet supers on.

 These 3 had some 'wet supers' on from the last harvest to help them get a boost before the winter weather begins to set in.  They are all doing pretty well in this spot.

Inside the Feed Box

 Here is an inside view of the 'feeding box'.  I also use a screened vent hole to allow for air movement.   They have propolized it a bit.

Feeding Boxes with no top covers

I have filled each jar and left the top covers off so you can see how it looks.  It was fairly early so I had no 'flyers' or angry bees at all AND I was done in about 3 minutes or so.  Nice, quick and easy. 

Buckfast Queen Introductions and the Alfalfa Bloom

It has been some time since I last posted but that is due to the honey harvesting and many other things that come in the fall.  Beekeeping can get fairly frantic this time of year!

This yard was an excellent producer this year.  The 3 colonies on the left are new queen starts using Buckfast queens from Weaver Apiaries.  I thought I would take a chance with these, even though it is quite late in the year, because they have done so well at my other yard and the alfalfa bloom is on-going here. 

New Colonies Setup

Close up of the new colonies

Here is a close up of these new colonies.  Each of these had 3 frames of capped brood and quite a few nurse and worker bees.  I also placed two full frames of honey on the outside frame slot for them. The colonies on the far right was EXTREMELY angry and 'pissy'.  The would attack me fiercely after I smoked em and gave them a few sprays of syrup mix.  I'm hoping THAT trait will be replaced with the new queen!

Last Years Colonies

These three existing colonies did VERY well at this yard this year.  The hive on the far left was from a daughter queen that I setup from a very productive Russian cross queen that survived and produced for 3 winters!  The two others were very weak at then end of winter and I thought they would die.  The cluster was down to a softball size.  I almost merged the two.  I'm glad I didn't.  They each rebounded and ended up producing about 50 lbs of extra honey.  They have 'wet supers' on them now as a way to supplement their fall feeding and will be removed in a few weeks or so.  

Alfalfa Bloom is STILL on !

My decision to place the new queens replacements here was driven by the on-going bloom and idea that we are going to get a nice little 'mini fall nectar flow' in a week or so.  The farmer has not cut this field yet so I thought I would take advantage of it and give it a shot.  

I am feeding 1:1 syrup with my top feeders though.  I am using 10 drops of   Thyme, Peppermint and  Lemon Grass essential oils as a feed stimulant AND to help with mites.  I will do mite testing next week and plan for treating here fairly soon. 

Final Summer Harvest

Today I made my 'mountain run' and pulled honey from 8 colonies and got 18 boxes off.  It was a beautiful warm clear day and tomorrow it is supposed to hit 95 degrees.  Perfect for extracting!

You can see that my truck was pretty heavy laden with all that honey!

Truck loaded

After I off loaded the honey, there were some drippings on the tool box that the bees wanted to clean up.  these were from my hives in town and perhaps some 'riders' from my mountain yards.  They are very tenacious and do not want to give up the honey easily!

Cleaning up

Harvesting Comb Honey

Several of my colonies were setup to make these and boy did they come out great!  Beautiful and heavy, these  frames were packed  tight. 

Comb Honey

Good Performance with the Buckfast Queens from Weaver Apiaries

Check this out !

I purchased 3 Buckfast Queens from Weaver Apiaries in Texas about 4 weeks ago and just look at that brood!  I was impressed and we are about to have another nectar flow due to some recent rains.  I am eager to document how these work throughout the fall and winter this  year.   

Good Brood Pattern !

Buckfast Queen with Capped Brood

Here is a close up with a view of the Buckfast Queen.  Sorry about the shadow!  I trying to hold the frame and take the picture at the same time!