The bee keeper diaries

[Iowanian]

It's a great time to buy stock in eppy pens.

This thread is a repository for bee keepers or those interested.

A couple of years ago, a couple of friends an my brother started puttering with honey bees. I didn't buy off because, well, I've never been a big fan of bees or getting stung by them. Last summer I tagged along a couple of times to check their hives and to remove honey bees from a house, public building and an old garage.

I realized at the end of the summer when I was helping them process some, that it's actually pretty interesting, and fits into my expanding "grow my own" logic. I'm not full blown hippy but I see a lot of logic in the self sustaining food thing and I'm doing some of that too.

That said, this thread is about bees, honey bees, bee keeping and bee fighting war stories.

I'm taking the leap and plan to get 2-3 hives this spring and maybe build some bee swarm traps to make it cheaper or to make a few bucks.

Join me and I'll share the real life lessons of an ameture bee keeper. I'm sure I'm going to learn some things the hard way.

[redfan]

In.
3 hives wintering now. I checked them Monday when it was nice, looking good.
Starting my 3rd year.

[Chief Pote]

In.
Several signs in the neighborhood that read "Local Honey For Sale", been meaning to stop and she what she looks like. :D

[Iowanian]

Last year I think my people got overzealous in removal projects. Some of them are easy and some apparently were a real pain....including one guy taking 50 stings and a doctor trip.

This year I think the plan is to back off of cutting bees out of houses, unless they are being torn down and trying to catch some swarms.

Myself and the others are looking for boxes if anyone knows someone who has some laying around and available.

I'm not going to pretend I know more than I do in this thread...I'm a virgin for the most part. I do have the luxury of friends with a couple of years experience to help me start, and I'm thinking about taking a class starting soon.

Other than being hot, sticky, messy and painful, the limited number of times I helped them get bees last year were pretty good rushes.

I'm here to learn as I go, if you have the knowledge and experience....teach us, starting with the basics.

[Dartgod]

https://youtu.be/dU97w2DH5mc

[HonestChieffan]

I loves me some great honey. Best I ever had was Yellow Starthistle honey from Northern California. Worst I ever had I enjoyed tremendously. Im allergic to bee stings.

[stumppy]

I loves me some great honey. Best I ever had was Yellow Starthistle honey from Northern California. Worst I ever had I enjoyed tremendously. Im allergic to bee stings.

So you're saying honey is like pussy ? I had some yellow starthistle one time (it certainly felt like it) and the worst I ever had was wonderful.
Apologize for the derail.

[Iowanian]

I've been watching quite a few YouTube videos of beginner tips, mistakes, bee traps etc...but most of them seem to be in the south where things are different.

I would appreciate hearing some stories and lessons from those of you with some experience.

[KS Smitty]

Good luck Iowanian. Local honey is an excellent allergy preventative. We sell a lot of local honey, $20.00 for a quart. We also have a supplier that uses the racks where you can harvest the honey still in the comb (12.99 for 8 oz), very popular with the customers but much more labor intensive than spinning the honey out of the other type racks and he almost always runs out before the next harvest.

[Rain Man]

Bees give me hives.

[stumppy]

Have any of you used this type of hive ? I remember seeing some tv show about the guys who invented it. It looked and sounded like if was way better than the regular hives.
I think it was called the Easy Flow.

[KS Smitty]

I've been watching quite a few YouTube videos of beginner tips, mistakes, bee traps etc...but most of them seem to be in the south where things are different.

I would appreciate hearing some stories and lessons from those of you with some experience.

Have you checked with your local extension office? We have a community college (non-accredited local interest type stuff) that offers beekeeping classes in the evenings.

[lewdog]

I now buy all my honey on the side of the road by my house, from a Mexican guy and his wife.

The shit is so fucking legit. It's crazy how much better it is than store bought honey.

[Buehler445]

Talk to farmers around you. Figure out if they spray for corn borer beetle. That insecticide is hard on bees and it has to be aerially applied so it can move some.

Are you going to plant a pollinator plot? If not I would. The best guys I know that deal in the specialty seed is Green Cover Seed in Bladen NE. greencoverseed.com

[redfan]

I started off with a single pkg of Italians. Not too bright, you should always start 2-3.
The chances of a single pkg hive making it through the winter are significantly lower than having multiple hives. I got lucky with a mild winter.
I didn't take any honey from the hive that year.

I got 2 more pkg Italians last year, and those hives got a boost because I took some frames of capped honey and brood from the primary hive.
The same friggin day I installed those packages the primary hive swarmed. I was able to catch the swarm in a spare deep I had.
Thank god I had some spare lids and bottom boards, because it swarmed again the next day.
I caught that swarm as well. Yay me, I'm a real damn beekeeper now!!

So, that's five hives rolling now. I really went through the sugar this summer.
Feed the 2 package hives, feed the swarm hives a 1:1 sugar syrup.
I put a super on it at the beginning of the summer, but otherwise the Primary hive is own its own.
It should be strong enough and there is good forage for them.

Fast forward through the summer and both pkgs and primary look great.
Swarm hives are a little slower to draw out frames, but that's to be expected because they didn't get any drawn frames to start with.

I went on vacation for one damn week and I'm pretty sure one of the swarm hives swarmed when I was gone. I didn't immediately notice when I got back, so I think everything is ok. Everything is not ok. Wax moths have moved in and set up shop. The wax moths start doing their thing (killing the hive) for a while until I do an inspection and find hardly any bees but tons of wax moths and small hive beetle. ****, that swarm hive is a total loss. Scape off all the comb from the frames (1 deep fully drawn) and shove it in the freezer to kill the wax moth, SHB plus their eggs and larvae. I'll render the wax some day with all of the other old comb and nasty stuff.

By this time, main nectar flow is done. I go out to the apiary one day and it is full on robbing of the remaining swarm hive.
Bees are buzzing loudly as they bounce off each other and wrestle at the hive entrance. They are putting up a good fight, but it's just a matter of time before they are overrun.
The swarm hive is much weaker than the 3 pkg hives. I put on a robbing screen, but it is too late, the bees won't stop at this point.
I bite the bullet and take apart the hive. I was able to save about 8.5 frames of honey so not a total loss.

I had those 8+ frames and the full super from the primary hive to extract. I didn't take any honey from the 2 pkg hives.

I plan on doing some splits of the 2 pkg hives, and I'd bet on some more swarms as well. I just hope I have enough woodware. Shit starts adding up.

Good luck!!

[dmahurin]

Ive bought a top bar hive and plan on buying bees this spring to try it out. Ive got a pretty good size garden, Ive built a large chicken coop and have chickens going on 3 years now and I figure it's time to start a new self sustaining project.

[Frazod]

I certainly wish everybody who does this the best of luck. I keep hearing stories about how bees are dying off everywhere, and that's bad news for everything else.

[Iowanian]

The guys I'm learning from have had mixed results. One of them lost 4-5 hives at his house this winter but the rest are good in other locations. I think he is blaming the adjacent farm spraying insecticide late in the season.


I'm not a notable hippy but I do believe the bee death is a real thing. Pollinators are vital and if more guys like me try to raise a few hives it will help.

It surely won't hurt my orchard either.

[HonestChieffan]

I thought if you feed them sugar water the honey will get all crystalized and nasty. Fact or fiction?

[stumppy]

The guys I'm learning from have had mixed results. One of them lost 4-5 hives at his house this winter but the rest are good in other locations. I think he is blaming the adjacent farm spraying insecticide late in the season.


I'm not a notable hippy but I do believe the bee death is a real thing. Pollinators are vital and if more guys like me try to raise a few hives it will help.

It surely won't hurt my orchard either.

Didn't they figure out the colony collapse problem was mostly related to some kind of mites ?

[Fat Elvis]

I'd be real interested in learning more about beekeeping. We have some pasture land; I've thought about putting some hives out there. I know we'd have to fence them off real good to keep the cattle out. Just curious if there is any money in it to make it worthwhile.

[Buehler445]

The guys I'm learning from have had mixed results. One of them lost 4-5 hives at his house this winter but the rest are good in other locations. I think he is blaming the adjacent farm spraying insecticide late in the season.


I'm not a notable hippy but I do believe the bee death is a real thing. Pollinators are vital and if more guys like me try to raise a few hives it will help.

It surely won't hurt my orchard either.

Bee numbers are definitely down. But there is a lot of factors. At gets blamed for a shitton of it but objectively nothing has changed in at to promote large scale bee death. But a neighbor spraying definitely could have nuked your local colony.

But the whole talc/seed treatment thing is a joke. Vacuum planters have been on the market forever as has seed treatment. In terms of applied insecticides, the total volume of insecticides applied is minuscule since BT corn was commercially available.

But I'd talk to your neighbors. See if you can get a courtesy call when he is flying insecticide on.

[redfan]

I thought if you feed them sugar water the honey will get all crystalized and nasty. Fact or fiction?

Fiction

[KS Smitty]

I thought if you feed them sugar water the honey will get all crystalized and nasty. Fact or fiction?

Honey gets crystallized due to temperature change for the most part. Setting the honey jar in a pan of very hot water will bring it back to a liquid, you don't want to overheat the honey as that kills a lot of the good properties that folks buy local honey for. A drawback, IMO, in using sugar water is you lose the allergy-releiving properties of local honey if they aren't pollinating the flowers/weeds that are causing the allergies.

[Iowanian]

No turning back now.

Last night I bought 3 hives and a few extra boxes from someone who didn't want to do this anymore, along with a bonafide bee hat, gloves, smoker and tools for less than half of retail...got a good deal.

For year one I play to buy 2 nucs and keep the 3rd and try to catch a swarm.


Probably a good time to invest in epi-pen stocks.

[Squalor2]

No turning back now.

Last night I bought 3 hives and a few extra boxes from someone who didn't want to do this anymore, along with a bonafide bee hat, gloves, smoker and tools for less than half of retail...got a good deal.

For year one I play to buy 2 nukes and keep the 3rd and try to catch a swarm.


Probably a good time to invest in epic pen stocks.


good luck. my hive died when i bought one without a queen.

[HonestChieffan]

I just finished planting a 2 acre pollinator planting on the farm. I figure I have the space and the bees and butterflies can benefit. We are converting another 11 acres from fescue to Native Warm Season Grasses for the wildlife benefits.

Guess deep down all of we farm types are pretty green...

[Squalor2]

[QUOTE=HonestChieffan;12766022]I just finished planting a 2 acre pollinator planting on the farm. I figure I have the space and the bees and butterflies can benefit. We are converting another 11 acres from fescue to Native Warm Season Grasses for the wildlife benefits.

Guess deep down all of we farm types are pretty green...[/QUOTE

looks good on paper. get paid and never make anything. that is your pretty green.

[ptlyon]

Looks good Iowa - love what you're doing up there

[Buehler445]

I just finished planting a 2 acre pollinator planting on the farm. I figure I have the space and the bees and butterflies can benefit. We are converting another 11 acres from fescue to Native Warm Season Grasses for the wildlife benefits.

Guess deep down all of we farm types are pretty green...

Just keep the pig weeds out. I hate pigweeds.

[POND_OF_RED]

That could get really expensive. I'd wait until the EpiPen patent runs out in 2025 so you're not spending around 1,000 bucks each time you need a new pen.

[Iowanian]

I'm pretty much joking about that. I took more than 30 stings from yellow jackets at the end of the summer. I puked and felt crappy but didn't die....


I'm hoping by going this way(used hives) that actually have most of the frames full of comb, some have quite a bit of honey and pollen, I'll have a head start and a decent chance of actually getting some honey in year one.

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/ce/ceb35d244ba2cbec0098d83cdbdecde9048cbd7d01d923f7be2cb52252cd3441.jpg

[Iowanian]

A little last minute arts and crafts. I'm getting bee nukes Saturday.


Also found a tree with a large hive about 15' up in a limb. Don't know what I'm doing other than watching some YouTube videos but I'm going to put up a ladder stand and try to trap that colony. Maybe grab some pics and lessons learned along the way. If anyone has done that I d be open to advice.

[Groves]

I run vertical top bar hives. Caught 3 swarms in the last few weeks.

[Groves]

Also found a tree with a large hive about 15' up in a limb. Don't know what I'm doing other than watching some YouTube videos but I'm going to put up a ladder stand and try to trap that colony. Maybe grab some pics and lessons learned along the way. If anyone has done that I d be open to advice.

Cut outs are bad enough. Trap outs are even worse imo. Very low chance at getting the queen. Time consuming to boot. Might as well let it thrive and catch its swarms.

[stumppy]

A little last minute arts and crafts. I'm getting bee nukes Saturday.


Also found a tree with a large hive about 15' up in a limb. Don't know what I'm doing other than watching some YouTube videos but I'm going to put up a ladder stand and try to trap that colony. Maybe grab some pics and lessons learned along the way. If anyone has done that I d be open to advice.

Oh boy, please please get a video of you doing this. I have a feeling you'll bring more laughs to the planet than any poster in history. :D

[mdchiefsfan]

Oh boy, please please get a video of you doing this. I have a feeling you'll bring more laughs to the planet than any poster in history. :D

ROFL

[Rasputin]

<a href="http://photobucket.com/images/BEES%20GIF" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g332/namebuzztumblr/Oprahs-Bees.gif" border="0" alt="BEES GIF photo: Oprah Bees! Oprahs-Bees.gif"/></a>


(how has this not bee posted yet?)

[Iowanian]

Cut outs are bad enough. Trap outs are even worse imo. Very low chance at getting the queen. Time consuming to boot. Might as well let it thrive and catch its swarms.

I've helped with a couple of cutouts last year and they do suck, especially overhead. We did one in an old garage that was about eye level down and it was easy.

We've found another one in an old camper that should be a saw, remove and smash thing so that should be easy as these go.

The tree thing is more complicated. It's in a very large tree that is sentimental to the family, but the hive is near their house/small kids and they want the bees gone. They'd rather we try to get them than poison them.

My thought is we'll wrap it in screen and funnel them out, put a ladder stand next to it with a nuc box and put a frame or two and see what happens. I can get a frame or two with some brood and if the queen doesn't come out, maybe they can make a queen. Then foam the hole shut in the tree.

My guess is a live cam of my bee keeping would be pretty popular online....if there is anyone destined for disaster, it's probably me. Hell, I got stung 30-40 times the last time I mowed the yard last fall BEFORE I got my first honey bee.

[Iowanian]

I run vertical top bar hives. Caught 3 swarms in the last few weeks.

Do you vacuum your swarms are shake them into a box/bag?

Do you find most of your swarms by people just knowing you keep bees or do you advertise?


I'm here to learn as much or more than sharing my pending three stooges of bee keeping history.

[Pennywise]

My first experience seeing someone have a seizure was because of honey.

I worked in a feed store over a summer in high school. We had a local person that sold it and brought in some jars and free samples for customers.

I was there by myself over lunch and this hot chick comes in and takes a sample. All's good for a while and then she hits the deck and starts convulsing violently like she was being electrocuted.

Then the boss shows back up while she's breakdancing and calls the ambulance and later asks me why I didn't grab her tits when I had the chance.

[kevonm]

Good luck Iowanian. Local honey is an excellent allergy preventative. We sell a lot of local honey, $20.00 for a quart. We also have a supplier that uses the racks where you can harvest the honey still in the comb (12.99 for 8 oz), very popular with the customers but much more labor intensive than spinning the honey out of the other type racks and he almost always runs out before the next harvest.


I love honey, but there is no scientific evidence to support the allergy claims

[Iowanian]

So today was interesting.
I helped with a tree cutout. We had heard about it from the owner of the timber and I was able to find it by listening, you could hear the dull roar. It went really well and took a couple of hours, and we found the queen.

Not bad for my first time.

Yes, I have some video if I can figure out how to get them off of my phone.

[Iowanian]

.i have some video clips of vacuuming bees, inside the hive, and a bee hatching but I can't get them to share for the life of me.

[lewdog]

Dang this is awesome stuff!

I'm ordering some jars of honey when it's ready. Thanks!

[Iowanian]

Well, that didn't take long.
I received my first call yesterday for a swarm. Bees were boiling in their yard and balling in a tree. I was there with my bother within half an hour...which didn't make brideowanian happy because I was preparing to host a party in 3 hrs....

By the time we got there, the owner had called again and he bees were relocating to a bush on the ground....much better than 15 feet above the ground. Everything didn't go perfectly, Jt we were able to gather the majority of the bees into a nut box, and had them in a new hive in my bee yard in an hour and a half.

After some discussion about seeing it done, I saw my brother take off a glove and stick his hand completely into the swarm. I'm not there yet.

[KS Smitty]

Wow, bee thieves.

A report right after it happened:
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-stolen-bees-northern-california-20170120-story.html

Update from May 16:
http://www.kfbb.com/story/35446097/stolen-bees-make-it-home

[Iowanian]

I've heard several times to not keep hives visible from the road because people will steal them. I guess if you figure a value of $300/hive and a hundred bucks and not considering the value of honey if it isn't there.


On a positive note...bees are swarming and we nabbed 2 more easy swarms in the past day and found a cemetery with a bee tree issue.

I've filled what I have and need to buy some more parts. I now understand how it happens....

[Iowanian]

I did another tree cutout last Friday. A storm knocked a tree down on a house and a power line and they couldn't fix power and remove tree until bees were gone. Got 1 sting on the thumb trying to take a pic....but other than that it was easy.

I learned of another tree near me that's had a known honey been hive since 1990. We'll probably try to get it cut out sometime this week when time and weather allow. I'm getting more of a charge out of doing this stuff than I ever figured I would.

[seclark]

sounds cool, iowa...pics are great, too.
sec

[Iowanian]

We had calls for 2 swarms tonight gut and went to get them. The one I went to grab seemed easy enough...they were in a pine tree about 5' off the ground and seemed docile. Got them in the box and with the exception of a sting on the back, I literally drank a beer and watched them go into the box.

Dropped the, off at the bee yard of choice...everything was fine and then after checking s couple of boxes d cited to leave. Not exactly sure what happened but when I was taking off m Oompa Loompa suit some bees gave you the shoe you have been praying for on video...but it wasn't on video. I took a hit to th chin, a couple on the nose, one on the on the neck

The landowner texted an hour after I left and said a swarm flew over the house, so I think they flew away.

As a consolation prize I am giving you this picture of my finger in a bee hole.

[ghak99]

Bees have always been interesting to me, but I've never taken the plunge into playing with them.

Have an old farmall H in a fence row that has a hole in the side of its rear tire. It's been occupied for at least three years now. A hickory tree in my father's back yard has a hole about 20' up that has been occupied for several years as well. Both hives work the clover field between the two when it's in bloom and it's quite interesting just to sit and watch how deliberately they come and go.

[Buzz]

Why the fuck would you poke the bear?

[Iowanian]

Why the **** would you poke the bear?

Men who wouldn't wear a romper might ask....why wouldn't you?


Sometimes when a kid learns to ride a bike, the ride over jumps because th have seen people with years of experience do it. It feels cool to do it at the time, but you know you're going to land on your chin sometime.

[Buzz]

Men who wouldn't wear a romper might ask....why wouldn't you?


Sometimes when a kid learns to ride a bike, the ride over jumps because th have seen people with years of experience do it. It feels cool to do it at the time, but you know you're going to land on your chin sometime.


Good luck with that, let me know when you start selling honey.

[vailpass]

That's fucking cool.

[SAUTO]

Yeah, I have a problem with always poking the bear.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Honey is supposed to be a really healthy food. Some antibiotic properties as well as cardiovascular health. I was reading the other day there is a honey that comes out of a particular bee in Brazil that cures cancer.

[Hoopsdoc]

Bees have always been interesting to me, but I've never taken the plunge into playing with them.

Have an old farmall H in a fence row that has a hole in the side of its rear tire. It's been occupied for at least three years now. A hickory tree in my father's back yard has a hole about 20' up that has been occupied for several years as well. Both hives work the clover field between the two when it's in bloom and it's quite interesting just to sit and watch how deliberately they come and go.

The old old house I grew up in had a pretty large hive under the eaves in the rear. Dad wouldn't allow anyone to mess with it and that hive was still there when we moved out.

We kids just learned not to play near it but they never bothered us at all.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

The old old house I grew up in had a pretty large hive under the eaves in the rear. Dad wouldn't allow anyone to mess with it and that hive was still there when we moved out.

We kids just learned not to play near it but they never bothered us at all.

Yeah, well, maybe those weren't pimples you were always broke out with.

[Iowanian]

Mixed bag today. Raced a rain storm to grab a swarm this morning that was low to the ground. Checked my hives for the first time this year and they seem to be doing ok.

On the way from my brothers house I saw a swarm in a neighbors tree. I went back for it a little later and it was probably the event some of you have been waiting for...I spread out a tarp under the swarm, cut some limbs from below it. I tossed a weighted rope over the limb and tugged. Yeah...I pulled a rope on a limb with 5lbs of bees directly above my head. About half of they dropped basically how I wanted but far too many went airborne.

So...there I was, in a bee suit and rubber boots, climbing 20' up a pasture scrub tree and hanging on a limb....cutting a 5-6" limb with a folding saw....with bees th at were already mad from shaking them. I got the limb dropped and bees shook off and thought I had most of them in the box....and then I looked up....obviously missed the queen as I noticed the bees boiling out of my box and flying 30' up the tree into a fork I had no chance of shaking them out of.....it was a hot, sweaty, painful...dismal failure.

I atrapped a box into the tree and left to see what would happen.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

I can see where this could be addicting. Hard to believe there are so many bee swarms you are finding. really cool.

[Iowanian]

They are going nuts right now. I literally saw the last one hanging in a tree from the road. We have some cutouts to do lined up...an old camper, a big hollow tree, a tree too high off the ground to be fun and maybe a house or two. I want to avoid houses that aren't being torn down.

I'd you had told me a year ago I would be doing this I'd have said you were nuts. It is addicting...maybe it's an adrenaline thing...but it's strangely calming to just watch them.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Well yeah, something that could ultimately Kill you yet you can lasoo it in and contain it. I think its awesome.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MU1eoXYN2Rc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Iowanian]

Business is boomin in the bee business lately. Had a couple of swarm calls yesterday and 2 calls for swarms and a cutout today. Wasn't able to do all of them because if the holiday.

This morning something cool happened. I was attending a Memorial Day event at a local cemetery. Just before the 21 gun salute a couple of ladies approached and said there was a bee issue. I had seen a cedar tree with a hive in it 30-40 yards away when we arrived but this was near the speakers and honor guard. There wasn't much to do but after the salute and prayers I walked over in time to see bee swarm boiling out of another cedar tree and they were swarming all around the honor guard...I mean a shitload of bees surrounding these guys who stayed at parade rest. One of them was an old bee keeper and told them to be still....and I pointed to some tombstones near them with a prediction.....the swarm gathered on one of the oldest veterans graves in the cemetery a couple of hundred yards from where my grandpa rests. I left to get my stuff and returned with my daughter to gather the swarm and bring them home.


If this isn't interesting I can not share more, I just thought some of you might like this stuff.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Keep the stories coming , but you know we're all waiting for the attack video where you're running around flailing about. It's good to hear there are so many hives around. I remember several years back the news reporting the Bee population was dying off. fake news I guess.

[Iowanian]

I think worldwide and nationwide bee death is a real thing. The guys who are helping me all lost several colonies this winter.


I also think we all know that I'm going to get my ass handed to me at some point...and we also know that my history here is to share th agony of defeat as well as the thrill of victory.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

I think worldwide and nationwide bee death is a real thing. The guys who are helping me all lost several colonies this winter.


I also think we all know that I'm going to get my ass handed to me at some point...and we also know that my history here is to share th agony of defeat as well as the thrill of victory.

www.lidcam.com :D

[Buzz]

I think worldwide and nationwide bee death is a real thing. The guys who are helping me all lost several colonies this winter.


I also think we all know that I'm going to get my ass handed to me at some point...and we also know that my history here is to share th agony of defeat as well as the thrill of victory.



I just know when I was 2 or 3 years old, I got stung on the thumb and according to my parents almost died. They rushed me to the emergency room with my eyes rolling back in my head. I haven't been stung by a bee but have been nailed by a hornet and a yellow jacket since, so maybe it was just the young age, still, I try to avoid them.

[redfan]

I think worldwide and nationwide bee death is a real thing. The guys who are helping me all lost several colonies this winter.


I also think we all know that I'm going to get my ass handed to me at some point...and we also know that my history here is to share th agony of defeat as well as the thrill of victory.

Oh, it's real all right.
I lost the 3 remaining hives I had wintered. I'm fairly certain it was varroa.
I was able to salvage the honey, but the hives themselves are a total loss.

I started 2 pkg hives this April, and they seem strong. These are the most chill bees I've worked with, I don't even wear my suit most of the time.

Sounds like you've really got it rolling up there, Iowanian. Enjoy the ride and don't forget to do a mite check!

[Buehler445]

I think worldwide and nationwide bee death is a real thing. The guys who are helping me all lost several colonies this winter.


I also think we all know that I'm going to get my ass handed to me at some point...and we also know that my history here is to share th agony of defeat as well as the thrill of victory.

They died over the winter?

My understanding was they die during the year. People were blaming it on insecticide treated corn where the insecticide would get on the talc and get airborne through the vacuum system. (Even though vacuum planters have been around for 30 years and this is a new phenomenon).

[mlyonsd]

This thread came in very useful. I was just in Florida helping my daughter and SIL paint their new house. They had just taken possession and didn't notice a giant hive in one of their plum trees.

A quick Google search turned up a group of local beekeepers that relocates bees for free.

Thank you sir.

[ghak99]

I walked by that old tractor with the hive in the rear tire yesterday and thought of this thread and you poking the bear. The whole back tire was one giant swarm of bees that acted like they was looking for some dummy to come play with them. LMAO

Also noticed they're constantly pulling water from a stock tank that's up on top the hill in the shade. Guess the fresh rural water is better than the pond they have to fly by to get to it??

[Iowanian]

Is it honey bees for sure?

They're pulling water to cool the hive.


I've got 5 of my own now. One of my nudes and one of the swarms are my strongest hives. I have a honey Super on one, 2 boxes on three and one of the swarms is a little behind. I'm on track to have honey this year so that's good. Work has been crazy and I'm gone a lot but I've got to get three more cutouts done by July if I'm going to do it.

[Iowanian]

This thread came in very useful. I was just in Florida helping my daughter and SIL paint their new house. They had just taken possession and didn't notice a giant hive in one of their plum trees.

A quick Google search turned up a group of local beekeepers that relocates bees for free.

Thank you sir.

Of course they came and picked up the swarm....swarms in trees are really easy to get if they are close to ground. It's like you told them there was a hundred dollar bill hanging there to pick up.

Glad it worked out.

[WilliamTheIrish]

This thread is awesome. While I don't have the space for bees, I do have a fledgling butterfly garden that seems to be coming along.

But this intrigues the hell out of me. I like the idea of trying to something positive and garnering honey in return.

Well done, IWN

[ghak99]

Is it honey bees for sure?

They're pulling water to cool the hive.


I've got 5 of my own now. One of my nudes and one of the swarms are my strongest hives. I have a honey Super on one, 2 boxes on three and one of the swarms is a little behind. I'm on track to have honey this year so that's good. Work has been crazy and I'm gone a lot but I've got to get three more cutouts done by July if I'm going to do it.

They're definitely honey bees. I put a board in the tank so the bees who end up falling in can crawl out easier. Seems to have helped as I haven't seen any dead floaters since throwing the board in there. Helps the retarded squirrels get out of the tank too.

I've also noticed when the cows go down and stand around the hive in the shade the bees work their face and eyes. The cows act like they are benefiting from it in some way. I guess the bees would keep the biting flies away??

[Iowanian]

Pure speculation but maybe there is pollen on the hair of their faces from grazing?

Never noticed it before and have no answer other than that guess

[Dave Lane]

This has probably been mentioned but the flow hive system almost fished me in again. I raised bees in Overland Park at 12ish and was completely fascinating to me. Well until I got stung 26 times trying to take a super off on a hot muggy day without enough smoke.

Ran for 2 blocks. Damn bonnet came untucked then sleeves, then started running and everything came undone.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

We need an update. You been stung yet ?

[Iowanian]

You all probably wish I had a go pro last night.
It's the temperature of hell in iowania right now...I've been gone and noticed my bees were bearded up pretty bad on the outside of a couple of hives. That's not uncommon if it's hot.

I decided to be nice...I took a bucket of water down and filled a small water thing with some rocks in it 10' in front of the hives. I was feeling brave and wasn't wearing any protective stuff. I'm looking at these bees and how hot they are and decide I should crack the tops on a couple of the hives to allow some air flow.

I take 1 step towards them and immediately get my ass kicked. I was hit 5-6 times before I even knew I was in a fight. It was like a gang initiation.

During the past couple of weeks we did 2 cutouts, one ironically in my parents home. Never had bees before this year. Both of those cutouts ran away within a day.

Just got a call about another one from a dozer guy who was getting his ass kicked by a tree of bees. I think I'm ducking out of that one for another obligation, but at least it's hot enough to grill meat on the driveway...without a bee suit....and bees that are grouchy as hell due to the heat and their tree being knocked over.


I'm still enjoying it and I'm lucky that I don't swell when I get stung. My brother got stung on the lip the other day and looked like Mush mouth from the cosby kids about 5 minutes later. The hot dry weather here has really hurt honey production. The white clover is stunted and not blooming so everyone has less than they had hoped. If I had to guess, right now I probably have 5 honey supers full. I think you figure about 3-4 gallons per super, so I should realistically have 15 gallons plus this year, and if we get some rain hopefully that much more. We'll see.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

If you will start a gofundme we'll get the go pro for you. LOL.

[Dartgod]

During the past couple of weeks we did 2 cutouts, one ironically in my parents home. Never had bees before this year. Both of those cutouts ran away within a day.

What does this mean?

[Stewie]

I was talking with a bee-keeping friend of mine about the decline of managed colonies due to mites, pesticides or other problems. He suggested that it may actually be "intense" bee keeping/farming. Much like the intense farming in agriculture that led to changes decades ago, it might be the same thing.

[redfan]

I was talking with a bee-keeping friend of mine about the decline of managed colonies due to mites, pesticides or other problems. He suggested that it may actually be "intense" bee keeping/farming. Much like the intense farming in agriculture that led to changes decades ago, it might be the same thing.

There are more managed hives now than when the start of colony collapse disorder was first described ten years ago. Because of better techniques in pest control and bee rearing/queen production, we have more honeybees now than ever before. Things are def looking up.

[redfan]

There is a new breed of bees that has been developed by Purdue university that are varroa mite resistant. They're called "anklebiter" because they bite the legs off the mites.

[Buehler445]

Every time you post about Iowa it amazes me how wet it is there.

How is the corn oooking there? Can you make pictures of burned up corn go viral so the price will go up? I don't have enough hedged.

[Iowanian]

What does this mean?

A swarm of bees found a hole under the roof vent cap and built a hive in the sophet.
We had to tear off some of the trim and the sophet to remove the hive and the bees. There have never been bees in their home before. Ironic they move in when brother and I start doing this.

The bees from that removal flew away the next day from their new hive location. We probably missed or killed the queen. I checked today and the bees are all gone from their home. I'll throw up some pics to show you more.

The week before that we cut a hive out of an old pop up camper. We put that comb in frames and moved the, to a new location and hive. All of those bees swarmed away the next day too. Not sure why. It sure makes all of the work to do it wasted.

[Iowanian]

Every time you post about Iowa it amazes me how wet it is there.

How is the corn oooking there? Can you make pictures of burned up corn go viral so the price will go up? I don't have enough hedged.


Northern Iowa is getting pounded by rain, hail and wind. Flooding in some areas. We are in a pretty bad drought in my area. Rains keep missing us by 30 miles

[Iowanian]

There is a new breed of bees that has been developed by Purdue university that are varroa mite resistant. They're called "anklebiter" because they bite the legs off the mites.


That's interesting. I have one hive with hive beetles. I haven't treated them but smash as many beetles as I can when I open it. I named that hive after a local welfare apartment complex because none of those bastards are working during the day and have bed bugs. They're mean too. If they make it through winter I'll pinch that queen in the spring.

[Buehler445]

Northern Iowa is getting pounded by rain, hail and wind. Flooding in some areas. We are in a pretty bad drought in my area. Rains keep missing us by 30 miles

I know the feeling man except typically they're missing me by 300 miles. Hopefully you'll catch one.

[redfan]

That's interesting. I have one hive with hive beetles. I haven't treated them but smash as many beetles as I can when I open it. I named that hive after a local welfare apartment complex because none of those bastards are working during the day and have bed bugs. They're mean too. If they make it through winter I'll pinch that queen in the spring.

I love smashing those little ****ers!
Small hive beetles usu aren't a problem in a strong hive. They're considered a secondary pest, and a lot of beeks (like myself) don't do anything to control.
Personally, I've never lost a hive to SHB. They've been in every hive I've had, but the bees seem to keep them in check. The bees push them into the upper portions of the hive (inner cover and the gaps between the hive body and frames) and I've not had them in the honeycomb.
Earlier this year I tried Swiffer sheets, but it caught more bees than SHB. I do not recommend.

[Iowanian]

Planning on pulling honey boxes Labor Day weekend. It's been so dry and production has really been slow. I added boxes to a couple of hives 2 weeks ago that don't even have any comb drawn yet. Right now it's looking like I'll have around 200-250lbs of honey this year. I guess that isn't bad for year one but I was hoping for more.

I haven't dug deep into them in over a month and I'm thinking about it. One of my pals on the bee team checked his yesterday and has five dead or dying hives right now. Not sure why, but some have suggested fungicides on corn?

I guess I'm lucky so dpfar when I'm getting stung, I don't swell too bad....but my brother gets one and looks like things are broken. This is his hand from one shot to a finger, and since I know you're all here for the blood and guts I'll share......but I can't share the pic of his lip when he got stung there....looked like mush mouth from the Cosby show about 2 minutes later.

[allen_kcCard]

What is pulling boxes? Taking them apart to extract the honey? What happens with the bees over winter?

[stumppy]

Planning on pulling honey boxes Labor Day weekend. It's been so dry and production has really been slow. I added boxes to a couple of hives 2 weeks ago that don't even have any comb drawn yet. Right now it's looking like I'll have around 200-250lbs of honey this year. I guess that isn't bad for year one but I was hoping for more.

I haven't dug deep into them in over a month and I'm thinking about it. One of my pals on the bee team checked his yesterday and has five dead or dying hives right now. Not sure why, but some have suggested fungicides on corn?

I guess I'm lucky so dpfar when I'm getting stung, I don't swell too bad....but my brother gets one and looks like things are broken. This is his hand from one shot to a finger, and since I know you're all here for the blood and guts I'll share......but I can't share the pic of his lip when he got stung there....looked like mush mouth from the Cosby show about 2 minutes later.

Ouch!

Tell your brother to buy some jeans that fit. :D

[Buehler445]

Planning on pulling honey boxes Labor Day weekend. It's been so dry and production has really been slow. I added boxes to a couple of hives 2 weeks ago that don't even have any comb drawn yet. Right now it's looking like I'll have around 200-250lbs of honey this year. I guess that isn't bad for year one but I was hoping for more.

I haven't dug deep into them in over a month and I'm thinking about it. One of my pals on the bee team checked his yesterday and has five dead or dying hives right now. Not sure why, but some have suggested fungicides on corn?

I guess I'm lucky so dpfar when I'm getting stung, I don't swell too bad....but my brother gets one and looks like things are broken. This is his hand from one shot to a finger, and since I know you're all here for the blood and guts I'll share......but I can't share the pic of his lip when he got stung there....looked like mush mouth from the Cosby show about 2 minutes later.

More likkely miticide for spider mites or insecticide for corn rootworm beetles in corn or aphids in beans.

[Iowanian]

What is pulling boxes? Taking them apart to extract the honey? What happens with the bees over winter?


Basics. There are what are "deep supers" and mediums/honey supers.

In the Midwest, you typically need 2 deeps with 10 frames each for the bees to live. The bottom one is typically where the queen lays most of the eggs and the second you want to see full of capped honey going into winter. They build their hives in a shape and usually have honey in the top.

We let them fill 2 deeps, and then when they are about 70-80% full you add a honey super. They are more like 6 1/2" deep with 10 frames. ( in the type of hives I have). When the honey Super is 80% full of capped honey you add another.....and hopefully another. All hives of bees are different and I don't know why. I have some I got the first day and one hive has 3 honey supers full and the other might fill one.

Each of the honey super stars will weigh probably 40lbs. A gallon of honey is 12lbs

So, when I said pull the boxes, I was referring to taking the honey supers, blowing the bees out and harvesting honey. In Iowa we do that before the golden rod blooms because that pollen makes the honey taste like shit.

I will document and share the harvesting process around Labor Day.

[Iowanian]

More likkely miticide for spider mites or insecticide for corn rootworm beetles in corn or aphids in beans.

No idea what happened but there have been crop dusters in the area this month. All I know at this point is that his bees were fine a couple of eeeks ago and now 5 hives are basically dead. They also happen to be the purchased bees and the wild catches are doing ok.

We are learning that wild bees seem to be tougher.



If anyone else is doing this I'd sure like to see pics of your setup.

[Buehler445]

No idea what happened but there have been crop dusters in the area this month. All I know at this point is that his bees were fine a couple of eeeks ago and now 5 hives are basically dead. They also happen to be the purchased bees and the wild catches are doing ok.

We are learning that wild bees seem to be tougher.



If anyone else is doing this I'd sure like to see pics of your setup.

Insecticide and miticide are made to kill bugs. I wouldn't know how a fungicide could affect bee physiology but I'm no entomologist.

[Buehler445]

Makes sense that wild bees would be tougher. If they're from the area they've had ancillary exposure to pesticides and disease in the area.

[srvy]

Ouch!

Tell your brother to buy some jeans that fit. :D

Hope he wasnt on the shitter for that pic.ROFL

[Iowanian]

Today is the day.

I'm taking off in a while to go loot some honey. I'm sure they'll be unhappy about it, but I'll have some pics to share of the process at the end of the weekend.

[Buehler445]

Don't die about it.

[Iowanian]

This weekend I was reminded of an old MadTV skit.....Lowered expectations.

We sang that theme a few times as we gathered the honey supers from our hives.
I had hopes and expectations for 20-25 gallons from my five, first year hives. The final tally from my first year of bee keeping was a little under 10 gallons. Some people don't get any from a first year hive, and we experience a drought that burned out the white clover and dandelions which is a major source of honey, so I should probably be happy to have any at all.

I know you're all watching for the crashes....I only took a couple of half stings through the gloves and on my taint when I squatted down one smashed one. The wreck of the weekend was my brother again, who got stung in the eye lid. We had to pull the stinger with pliers, and I'm not going to lie....I'm guessing it hurt like a sonnabitch.

The basic process. We take th hive tops off, replace it with a different type of lid that has a few spritzes of a substance that smells like almond extract that bees hate. Most of the bees leave that Super. After a few minutes we pop the Super off and place it on a stand and use a battery powered blower to blow bees out of the box and frames. We do this because you don't want a bunch of pissed off bees in your shop when you extract.

Once we do that, we take the boxes of frames to my buddies shop which is a nice setup. We use a leaf blower to blast as many of the remaining bees from the box as we can and take them indoors. When you're done with s load, a truck is almost unapproachable due to th volume of lost, confused and angry bees.

Once inside we use hot knifes to scrape the wax caps from the frames of capped honey. This is the uncapping process and there are other ways including using something that looks like a comb. The wax has to be removed to get the honey out. Then we put the frames into a machine that spins the honey out of the comb...we run that honey into a filter and then into buckets. You have to filter to get the pieces of wax and comb out of the honey, as well as bee legs and hive beetles and other chunks of things you don't want.

We put the honey into buckets for storage and then it can be bottled at a later time.

Year one....I learned a lot. So far I've enjoyed doing it, like spending time with our small bee team and it provides a great conversation topic in both my business and personal life.

This year we totaled around 975lbs of honey as a group.

I'll share a few pics for those that like them.

[Iowanian]

There is a lot more to the process. Wax needs to be melted and cleaned, and making sure the bees are healthy going into winter.

Financially, bee keeping year one is an ass kicking, but hobbies cost money and this one at least gives something back to our family and friends and has potential to pay off going forward. I've already decided I won't buy more bee nucs. I'll capture swarms and maybe a few cutouts. I think wild bees are tougher.

After some discussion, I will probably add a couple of hives next year and I'm thinking more about a top bar hive so I can get some comb and honey. Seems to be demand for that


Pics aren't uploading so I may have to resize and add later.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Very interesting!

[Buehler445]

This weekend I was reminded of an old MadTV skit.....Lowered expectations.

We sang that theme a few times as we gathered the honey supers from our hives.
I had hopes and expectations for 20-25 gallons from my five, first year hives. The final tally from my first year of bee keeping was a little under 10 gallons. Some people don't get any from a first year hive, and we experience a drought that burned out the white clover and dandelions which is a major source of honey, so I should probably be happy to have any at all.

I know you're all watching for the crashes....I only took a couple of half stings through the gloves and on my taint when I squatted down one smashed one. The wreck of the weekend was my brother again, who got stung in the eye lid. We had to pull the stinger with pliers, and I'm not going to lie....I'm guessing it hurt like a sonnabitch.

The basic process. We take th hive tops off, replace it with a different type of lid that has a few spritzer of a substance that smells like almond extract that bees hate. Most other leave that Super. After a few minutes we pop the Super off and place it on a stand and use a batter powered blower to blow bees out of the box and frames. We do this because you don't want a bunch of oissed off bees when you extract.

Once we do that, we take the boxes of frames to my buddies shop which is a nice setup. We use a leaf blower to blast as many of the remaining bees from the box as we can and take them indoors. When you're done with s load, a truck is almost unapproachable due to th volume of lost, confused and angry bees.

Once inside we use hot knifes to scrape the wax caps from the frames of capped honey. This is the uncapping process and there are other ways including using something that looks like a comb. The wax has to be removed to get the honey out. Then we put the frames into s machine that spins the honey out of the comb...we run that honey into a filter and into buckets. You have to filter to get the pieces of wax and comb out of the honey, as well as bee legs and hive beetles and other chunks of things you don't want.

We put the honey into buckets for storage and then it can be bottled at a later time.

Year one....I learned a lot. So far I've enjoyed doing it, like spending time with our small bee team and it provides a great conversation topic in both my business and personal life.

This year we totaled around 975lbs of honey as a group.

I'll share a few pics for those that like them.

That is damned interesting. Nobody has ever told me how that stuff works. Partially nobody here does it. And if your drought will adversely affect bee production, it would be a joke around here. Thanks for posting.

And HOLY MOTHER FUCK. Anything you have to pull out of me with pliers I am not interested in. And sorry about your Taint man, LOL.

[Iowanian]

Pics

[Iowanian]

Moar bee pics

[Pitt Gorilla]

That's awesome.

[patteeu]

Cool hobby, Iowanian.

[Buehler445]

Looks like a clean professional operation. Well done.

If it were me, I'd have 30 acres coated in sticky honey product.

Thanks for sharing.

[Iowanian]

So far I've learned that like most of my other farm related hobbies, bee keeping has turned me into a magician.

Take $1500 and say the magic word..."bitch better have my honey" and Poof! It's now $400!!!!


No...it's not about the money.. it's interesting and I find it calming and relaxing to go watch and screw with my bees. It's also been a great ice breaker conversation topic. It helps our farm, orchard, garden and I get to tell hippies that I'm a deplorable who does more hippy earth shit that's they do. Bonus.

Thanks for watching. Tune in next spring for a game of "did any of them survive the winter"

[rydogg58]

I talked with my old man last week and he said he got quite a bit more honey this year than last. Between all 15 of his hives he collected just under 600 pounds. I guess all the heavy spring rain did some good.

[LiveSteam]

Most excellent Iowanian

[Buzz]

I was caulking the side of the house about 3 weeks ago and was standing over a bush that just so happened to have a yellow jacket nest underneath it. I got nailed on the knee and knocked that one off pretty quick, the one that was going to town repeatedly stinging my ankle had me doing the funky dance across the drive. Later that evening I went out and dumped some gas in the hole and dam if I didn't get nailed in the palm. That shit hurt for a good week.

[KS Smitty]

How awesome! Excellent pics of the extracting process. Your honey has great color, I bet it tastes "real". Hippie earth shit is good for the planet no matter who does it. Looking forward to next spring!

[ghak99]

Great pics!

Really enjoyed seeing some of the process.

[Iowanian]

How awesome! Excellent pics of the extracting process. Your honey has great color, I bet it tastes "real". Hippie earth shit is good for the planet no matter who does it. Looking forward to next spring!


There are four of us who putter with this together. Honestly I probably wouldn't do it without them, it's just more fun helping each other.

We plan to do a lineup and taste test. Our honey was in 4-5 different locations. Mine should be heavy alfalfa and wood,and wildflowers, while another guy is surrounded by a couple of hundred acres of pollinator CRP fields. I'm interested to see the difference from place to place.

[srvy]

Really have enjoyed this thread thanks so much keep it going.

Also when I was a kid mom would bring a jar home from the store with a chunk of the honey comb in it. You dont see this anymore I think it was Su Bee. For some reason she liked that. She said her Dad my Gramps who kept bees always jarred with a bit of the comb.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Seriously this is incredibly fun. After reading this thread I discovered I work with two folks who keep bees. So I'm kind and helping them out when I can.

I mostly get in the way, but haven't screwed anything up. Yet. I'm learning a lot and only got stung a few times. It's fun Tom do and socialize with others who do it.

Good on ya, again IO

[jspchief]

Very interesting stuff. I have to say I'm surprised at how often you guys appear to get stung. I would have figured gear and technique would practically eliminate that.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[Buehler445]

So far I've learned that like most of my other farm related hobbies, bee keeping has turned me into a magician.

Take $1500 and say the magic word..."bitch better have my honey" and Poof! It's now $400!!!!


No...it's not about the money.. it's interesting and I find it calming and relaxing to go watch and screw with my bees. It's also been a great ice breaker conversation topic. It helps our farm, orchard, garden and I get to tell hippies that I'm a deplorable who does more hippy earth shit that's they do. Bonus.

Thanks for watching. Tune in next spring for a game of "did any of them survive the winter"

That's hilarious

[lewdog]

Great stuff.

I rank honey right behind money as one of my true loves.

[mlyonsd]

Any bugs in my shop are usually dealt with complete and utter destructive force.

Yesterday I noticed what initially looked like a fly on the shop bench. As I was cocking the fly gun getting ready to sight him in I looked closer and discovered it was a worker honey bee. Just crawling around on the bench acting all confused. I slid a piece of paper underneath him (I'm no he man Iowanian) and took him to the door. As soon as he hit the open breeze he took off with what looked like an instinctive plan.

Gotta admit, me previously following this thread saved his life.

Wasps on the other hand...they could shit hundred dollar bills out of their ass and I'd still kill everyone one. They scare the hell out of me. Only animal that does.

[Iowanian]

Very interesting stuff. I have to say I'm surprised at how often you guys appear to get stung. I would have figured gear and technique would practically eliminate that.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

The truth is we don't get stung that often. I've had more trips with nothing bad happening.

Usually when we get stung it's during cutouts when we are cutting into their homes and tearing out comb by comb. The gear is good and saves you most of the time. Maybe I'm too rammy and not calm enough, maybe I don't use enough smoke to calm them down. A lot of people don't use gear at all, but I've gotten my ass kicked about every time I've been near them.

Usually everything is fine and you're taking your gear off and one hits you in the face when you take the net off, or one is behind your leg and you squat or sit on them in the truck seat. A lot of times it's on the neck when you work over your head....if you get stung through a suit it's usually from pinching them.

Other times I'm sure it's dumb things....moving too fast, getting cocky in a hot day when they are grumpy and taking your hats off near the hives and sipping a beer....that's how my brother took one to the lip....they don't like beer.

I'm not s pro and I'm sure I make mistakes. Usually I just tell people that bees are a good judge of character as proven by them coming for my face every time I get near a hive with no net. It's a fact that they come after some people more than others. It's either because they think my manly smell is bad, im ugly or I'm so macho they think I'm a grizly bear. I'd go with ugly since you've seen me.

Though the gloves is usually a half sting...small bite. Truth is, Most of them don't hurt too bad....the end of the nose is the worst place I've found so far, but I don't pee near the hives.

[Iowanian]

Really have enjoyed this thread thanks so much keep it going.

Also when I was a kid mom would bring a jar home from the store with a chunk of the honey comb in it. You dont see this anymore I think it was Su Bee. For some reason she liked that. She said her Dad my Gramps who kept bees always jarred with a bit of the comb.


One of our guys sells quite a bit of honey and he sells some with comb in the jars and some straight pieces of comb.

This is why I'm thinking of getting s top bar hive or two....so I can sell comb honey for an up charge.

Most guys don't sell comb because you don't want to screw up the comb in your frames. If you start with built up frames next year the bees start making honey quicker because they don't spend time building new comb. More honey-mo money.

[Iowanian]

Seriously this is incredibly fun. After reading this thread I discovered I work with two folks who keep bees. So I'm kind and helping them out when I can.

I mostly get in the way, but haven't screwed anything up. Yet. I'm learning a lot and only got stung a few times. It's fun Tom do and socialize with others who do it.

Good on ya, again IO


That's how I got started....an old timer wanted out of the business and a friend started talking to him....the other guys got a couple of hives....I started helping them and boom. I'll wager you have 2 hives next year based on my history.

[Iowanian]

I was caulking the side of the house about 3 weeks ago and was standing over a bush that just so happened to have a yellow jacket nest underneath it. I got nailed on the knee and knocked that one off pretty quick, the one that was going to town repeatedly stinging my ankle had me doing the funky dance across the drive. Later that evening I went out and dumped some gas in the hole and dam if I didn't get nailed in the palm. That shit hurt for a good week.


Wasps and yellow jackets aren't bees....they are satans asshole.

I think I shared around fall last year I mowed over some by my pond and took 30-40 hits from those bastards. After they stung me 4 more times when I went down with wasp spray...which just pisses them off.....I ended up dealing with them with a couple of gallons of gas and the business end of 2lbs of tannerite. F yellowjackets. I hate them.

[Dave Lane]

Really cool thread, I've been thinking of doing this again. Seeing the pictures makes me remember how fun most of the experience was.

I'm gone a ton from my farm in the summer due to photo related travel. My big concern is that I return to a hive crash. The recent fragility of bee populations concern me if you aren't going to be in the area for 2-3 weeks at a time.

[Iowanian]

I'm taking a "Get tough or die" approach. That said I was annoyed by hive beetles when we were processing and might try to spray a vinegar and salt solution under my hives to kill those larva and I'm not above fogging for mites with oxcelic acid and grain alcohol to handle that if needed.

A weak hive isn't going to make it, a strong one probably should. While I'm not an expert by any means it seems to me the only times they really need much baby sitting is early in the spring when you need to do some supplemental feeding.

If you're concerned about mites you can always fog them when you are around or detect an issue.

One of the guys did lose some hives this summer and we aren't sure why, but it seems like most of the losses from people I talk to happen over the winter. Once you're set up, I'm finding it's pretty easy to find bees.

[Dave Lane]

I'm taking a "Get tough or die" approach. That said I was annoyed by hive beetles when we were processing and might try to spray a vinegar and salt solution under my hives to kill those larva and I'm not above fogging for mites with oxcelic acid and grain alcohol to handle that if needed.

A weak hive isn't going to make it, a strong one probably should. While I'm not an expert by any means it seems to me the only times they really need much baby sitting is early in the spring when you need to do some supplemental feeding.

If you're concerned about mites you can always fog them when you are around or detect an issue.

One of the guys did lose some hives this summer and we aren't sure why, but it seems like most of the losses from people I talk to happen over the winter. Once you're set up, I'm finding it's pretty easy to find bees.

Just one of those sugar water bottles inserted in the entrance?

[Iowanian]

There are options, the entrance feeders, top feeders will hold more juice.

Basically, what I was told was to supplement with the sugar water feeders until I see dandilions and white clover. Once those pop, they're ok.

That's what I've been taught anyway.

[Dave Lane]

The top feeders must be new. Course I was doing this 40 years ago so I'd expect some changes. Should set the hives on a concrete slab or?

[allen_kcCard]

What kind of land do you have that you set it up on? A pasture away from any sort of potential human visitors?

[Iowanian]

The top feeders must be new. Course I was doing this 40 years ago so I'd expect some changes. Should set the hives on a concrete slab or?

There are quite a few variants and I'm told they are improving, but this image basically tells the story. You can put up to a gallon in some of them, bees access from the inside. The screens allow them to come up and down into the pool and use the screen to access it without drowning.

Some people also feed pollen patties but I'm told to be cautious with that on the time of year because increased pollen can stimulate the queen to ramp up the egg laying before it's really appropriate timing.

https://i0.wp.com/mudsongs.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2016-10-10-09.13.35-1.jpg

[Iowanian]

What kind of land do you have that you set it up on? A pasture away from any sort of potential human visitors?

I have a small farm, a bout half hay ground and half timber. I keep the bees in an area at the bottom of a hill a hundred yards or so from my house. They are protected on the west, south and north from wind by trees, have early morning sun through afternoon and a pond and creek nearby. They're sitting on the edge of rolling alfalfa fields with several on adjacent farms as well. Myself and a few neighbors also have fruit trees within bee range as well.


Just got my first message and I'll make my first honey sale at 5pm. That's almost as exciting as filling that first bottle, but not quite.


Need to get done with this honey thing and get ready to press apple cider.

[Dave Lane]

I have area that would be similar. Mostly corn, wheat and soybeans nearby, well and cows. What do you set the hives on and how do keep grass clear if it's just setting on the ground?

I'm thinking some big pavers with lots of plastic under them then set the hive on 5/4 treated base.

[Amnorix]

Just wanted to chime in to say thanks for the cool stories!

[Iowanian]

I have area that would be similar. Mostly corn, wheat and soybeans nearby, well and cows. What do you set the hives on and how do keep grass clear if it's just setting on the ground?

I'm thinking some big pavers with lots of plastic under them then set the hive on 5/4 treated base.

I think that would work. If possible I think I'd try to stay at least a little ways from the ag crop fields to avoid pesticide spray.

Everyone does them a little different.

My bases currently are a tarp with mulch on top of them and I have pallets leveled(a little high on the back side to keep water from running into hive entrance). One of the other guys has gravel leveled and then has built bases of 2x6 on top of 4x4 posts.

I've seen other people set posts and build a platform a little higher than knee high to make it a little easier to work on them.

My thought is if you mulch around them so the entrance doesn't get blocked and you have room to work them, tarps and mulch has worked fine. My hayfield is mowed 3-4 times per year within 20' of the hives and I've whacked weeds down once or twice. That's mostly so I can peek out the bedroom window and see them with bincocs.

I'm not sure there is a right answer as long as the location, light and wind protection is good. But....I haven't kept bees through a winter yet, so don't listen to the new guy as gospel.

I bought the book "bee keeping for dummies" and it's got a lot of great information.

[Dave Lane]

I think this is how I will go if I pull the trigger. No opening hive for honey and way less disturbance and hive weakening.

https://www.honeyflow.com/shop/flow-bundles/apiary-bundle/p/282

[Iowanian]

If you choose to go the way of the flow hive, I'll be curious to hear your thoughts once you're using it. I've heard arguments for and against them but have no experience at all.

If they work well and make collection that much easier it would be a no brainer.

[redfan]

This year's hives (Italian, from a bee guy in KS):

[redfan]

The girls made some beautiful comb this year; uncapped frame in the background

[redfan]

My extracting setup, a lil' 2 framer
This one came with a hand crank, but I needed more power (Tim Allen grunt)!

[redfan]

I used an uncapping roller this year (instead of an uncapping fork), and I'll never go back. There was a lot less wax in the tub this time around, less honey dripping out of the cells, and it's much faster/easier to do. Here is a frame just after uncapping, ready to go into the spinner.

[redfan]

I got about 4.6 gallons this year; not too shabby for a couple of first year package hives.

[scho63]

Seems like some of you are behind the times.....

https://media.wired.com/photos/59327c7a2a990b06268ab0b4/master/w_660,c_limit/hive-gif.gif

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/6224342-1x1-940x940.jpg

[Iowanian]

I got about 4.6 gallons this year; not too shabby for a couple of first year package hives.

I've wondered about the roller for uncapping but have been concerned that it wouldn't make large enough holes to get all of the honey out. You were happy with the results it sounds like, so maybe we can do a test next year.

Your honey is pretty light in color. Was the main food source clover?


For some reason I can't upload pics now, but I've moved on to the next phase.
We've had some rainy, windy days so I've spent a little time moving onto the next phase(in addition to trying to sell a little honey when I have time).

The past couple of weeks we have been slicing apples from our trees, and applying honey from my bees and dehydrating them for snacks. I've done quite a few with a brown sugar and cinnamon also, but don't judge me.

I've sold about half of what I'm going to and plan to keep some back for use, storage and things like teacher gifts for the kids.

I did break down and put some strips for mites in the hives, but I'm on the fence about how much I'm going to winterize them.

[redfan]

Yes IA mostly clover early, but the white is one of the first flowers that finishes blooming.

I took this @ the beginning of Oct, pretty late in the season. Honey gets darker later in the season(where I have these hives) due to the other flowers going.

I had some stuff last year that was much lighter than this. Gonna have to put up some comparison pics.

[threebag]

I got about 4.6 gallons this year; not too shabby for a couple of first year package hives.

Beautiful.

[redfan]

Beautiful.

Thank you

[seclark]

such an interesting thread.
my great grandfather raised bees and had an apple orchard.
he showed me how to work up a snapping turtle when i was 8.
sec

[Buehler445]

I hope none of you guys' bees get pollen from pigweed/Palmer Amaranth.

Pollen from that shit is every bit as bad as chemical warfare.

[redfan]

Thanks for the new reading subject, Buehler. Dang, looks like that stuff is a real problem.

[scho63]

http://www.csleicht.com/uploads/3/1/2/2/31227285/snl-killer-bees_orig.jpg

[redfan]

Some recent honeys to compare:

The very light stuff from Grundy is from a friend of mine, there is a ton of clover, apple and pear trees up there. Very clovery.

The Platte Co stuff (mine) has clover, basswood, paw paw, and other fruit trees.
The really dark stuff from 2016 was extracted using a crush and strain technique, and resulted in a much denser and very robust flavor.
I ate/sold all of the other 2016 regular centrifugal extraction stuff which was in between the color of the Grundy and my other stuff.

[DanT]

...
I'm not s pro and I'm sure I make mistakes. Usually I just tell people that bees are a good judge of character as proven by them coming for my face every time I get near a hive with no net. It's a fact that they come after some people more than others. It's either because they think my manly smell is bad, im ugly or I'm so macho they think I'm a grizly bear. I'd go with ugly since you've seen me.
...
:LOL:

This is a great thread. Thanks for starting it, Iowanian.

Here's a shameless plug for the UC Davis "Honey and Pollination Center", http://honey.ucdavis.edu/front-page

[KS Smitty]

Some recent honeys to compare:

Please provide a review on here. Amazing difference in the colors.

This is a great thread!

[Iowanian]

I'm hearing more stories of people losing hives, from guys like me with a handful right up to a commercial guy who treats his bees seven ways to Sunday.

I haven't been in mine for 3-4 weeks but the next time it warms up to 50+ I'm going to pop them and have one last look.


Red the color variation is interesting and pollens makes all the difference. I've heard that urban honey is different and darker due to the varieties of flowers and ornamentals in the vicinity.


I should start a go find me for plastic surgery to see if doctors are skilled enough to make me pretty enough bees don't want to sting my eyes shut.

[Iowanian]

Bummer.

It's 50 degrees today so I walked down to check my hives. 2 alive, 3 dead.
My friends have lost several hives already too. I don't know if it's the extreme cold, mites, who knows.
This pic is my strongest hive....and the shit bees next to it are roaring stronger than they were when I wanted them to be busy....

Chalk it up to lesson learned. Next winter, I'll do more to protect them from cold and maybe do candy boards.

[redfan]

You do any mite treatments, IA?

[Iowanian]

Yeah I did some of the treatment sticks. I guess I'm blaming the extreme cold for now.

I'll re-evaluate what I did, treatment(very limited) and what I'll do next winter(candy boards, wood chips, hive wraps).

The thing that pisses me off is my strongest hive died, and my shittiest hive that I planned to pinch the queen is roaring today.

[redfan]

Yeah, mites will kill a strong hive, doesn't matter how strong a hive if the mite load is too great.
I did an oxalic acid vapor treatment mid-Dec, mites dropped like so many freckles.
Earlier in the season I used a product called Hopguard II.

It was 64 degrees here yesterday, and I wanted to pop the lids and see how the girls were doing. I get worried that there are too many dead bees blocking the entrance.
So I checked my "weaker" hive. Right out the gate, I got a little venom therapy for my trouble.
It was about all I could do to lift the top box off.
Great!! We're heavy!! That makes my forehead hurts a little less. Hives look good so far!
When I got home, I looked like a damn Ferengi from Star Trek! I've never swelled up that much before. I've heard that bee stings accumulate over time; I'm starting to believe it.

[Iowanian]

I talked to another guy that had lost several hives this year already.

We were discussing the way I found the bees, and they are in a dead ball on top of the hive under the inner cover with a few on top of that. I'm going to pull the frames sometime soon and clean the dead bees out and take a look. One theory is that if they're in a ball on top, the cluster just ate it's way up to the top and due to the cold didn't move around much and starved. I was wondering if it were mites if they'd die off a few at a time and either be wedged into the comb or drop to the bottom?

I don't know. What I do know is that I'll go on a rampage finding swarms and maybe do some cutouts. I've found a handful of trees of bees if I get too ambitious. I also think we will build some nuke boxes/swarm traps. I've got 2-3 locations we've gotten swarms more than once(houses) and thought about putting a box there.

This year, I'll probably consider a little more treatment, maybe feed them more in the fall, candy board in the winter and more wraps/protection for winter.

Live and learn.

[Amnorix]

The thing that pisses me off is my strongest hive died, and my shittiest hive that I planned to pinch the queen is roaring today.


Does "strongest" in this context mean largest, or something else?

Thanks for these updates btw! Very cool stuff.

[Iowanian]

It had the most bees all year, meaning I had a good queen. They were vigorous, always coming and going(activity) and produced the most honey.

I kind of knew I'd lose some bees, because everyone does. I'm just a little disappointed to lose that hive(and so many). I do still have my favorite hive and that is a swarm I captured on memorial day that I saw come out of the tree during the ceremony and collected with my kid later. I hope I always have that hive.

[redfan]

Mites will leave little white salt-like crystals all over the frames/combs.
If they have no honey stores, it's likely they starved. If there's honey, then it might be the cold that did it.

You might try some DFM* in early winter/late fall. That'll give 'em a boost.

*directly fed microbial nutrients

[SAUTO]

I talked to another guy that had lost several hives this year already.

We were discussing the way I found the bees, and they are in a dead ball on top of the hive under the inner cover with a few on top of that. I'm going to pull the frames sometime soon and clean the dead bees out and take a look. One theory is that if they're in a ball on top, the cluster just ate it's way up to the top and due to the cold didn't move around much and starved. I was wondering if it were mites if they'd die off a few at a time and either be wedged into the comb or drop to the bottom?

I don't know. What I do know is that I'll go on a rampage finding swarms and maybe do some cutouts. I've found a handful of trees of bees if I get too ambitious. I also think we will build some nuke boxes/swarm traps. I've got 2-3 locations we've gotten swarms more than once(houses) and thought about putting a box there.

This year, I'll probably consider a little more treatment, maybe feed them more in the fall, candy board in the winter and more wraps/protection for winter.

Live and learn.
What about moving the hives to a barn or shed? I was watching something about bees and pollinating almonds. One big guy stopped doing it and just moved the hives to barns in the winter

[mlyonsd]

A month ago a keeper in Sioux City had his hives vandalized by some kids when it was -20. He lost half a million bees and $60k.

They caught the brats, 12 and 13. The keeper said he hopes they learn to be better people. I say nuthooks.

[displacedinMN]

A month ago a keeper in Sioux City had his hives vandalized by some kids when it was -20. He lost half a million bees and $60k.

They caught the brats, 12 and 13. The keeper said he hopes they learn to be better people. I say nuthooks.

I read that too. Dumbass kids. Need to be taught a lesson and be show the hive in honey. Parents need to pay restitution.

worst is-how quickly can you restore 500,000 bees with what is going on with the bee population.

[ghak99]

A month ago a keeper in Sioux City had his hives vandalized by some kids when it was -20. He lost half a million bees and $60k.

They caught the brats, 12 and 13. The keeper said he hopes they learn to be better people. I say nuthooks.

Those kids needed a good ass kicking and a couple summers of hard labor.

Just reading about it pissed me off.

[ghak99]

I had a trailer load of exposed mixed feed out for a few hours today. Must have been 2-300 bees swarming it. I assume they were digging for the liquid molasses I use when mixing it to control dust. Was quite interesting just watching them digging down into the feed then flying off. They completely disappeared by ~3:30.

[displacedinMN]

I They completely disappeared by ~3:30.

Getting dark. Had to go home.

[redfan]

I had a trailer load of exposed mixed feed out for a few hours today. Must have been 2-300 bees swarming it. I assume they were digging for the liquid molasses I use when mixing it to control dust. Was quite interesting just watching them digging down into the feed then flying off. They completely disappeared by ~3:30.

Probably getting minerals as well as a little moisture.
I've got an old trash bin lid and sides that catches rainwater. The bees will fly over to it and drink the dirty water. They also eat mud!

[Iowanian]

Is this something you want to read about it for another year?


I've been through my dead hives and have the frames cleaned up and ready to go. Probably have 20 full frames of honey ready to go for cut-outs or swarm catches. I'm planning to build some "traps" and have them out in the next month. I've identified a few areas where I know there are hives(found 2 trees on a deer hunt) that I'll place them hoping to catch some swarms. Right now I'm on the fence; I had decided I wasn't buying any more bees and am going to catch or cut out what I have, but I'm finding it harder not to order a couple of packages.

This year I hope some of the other beeks will contribute, share your stories or help save me from stupid decisions. A lot of talk about feeding sugar water and pollen patties, and I'm not sure when I'm going to start doing that with the remaining live hives.

One of the old timers who had been mentoring me a little and had been talking about coming along to do some teaching(had sold all of his hives to my friend) died this week. That's a bummer because he was a great old fellow.

[ptlyon]

Is this something you want to read about it for another year?



YES!!!

[Amnorix]

YES!!!



X 2

[allen_kcCard]

I have very much enjoyed reading these as well.

[patteeu]

Is this something you want to read about it for another year?

I have no interest in beekeeping, but I enjoy reading your stories about it.

[Groves]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180326/fb161ed7a28623fd724e07ce0dbc90e9.jpg

We found one of our hives getting robbed on one of those sunny winter days. We brought it inside after dark to salvage the (considerable) remaining honey.

Here’s what the inside of a hive looks like. This box is upside down.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Iowanian]

Ok...you asked for it. On this season of deadliest catch, I'll be overconfident and wreckless. I do hope others will feel included to share also. The real fun should begin sometime in April. See you all then.

[Iowanian]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180326/fb161ed7a28623fd724e07ce0dbc90e9.jpg

We found one of our hives getting robbed on one of those sunny winter days. We brought it inside after dark to salvage the (considerable) remaining honey.

Here’s what the inside of a hive looks like. This box is upside down.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Interesting. Is this part of a top bar or just an 8 frame? Doesn't look like the comb is drawn on frames from here? I think I'd like. To build a top bar to try that, to sell comb honey.

[SAUTO]

Yeah this is a great thread. Never had any interest but since this thread I've had several conversations with an old guy I know who's a beekeeper. It makes both our days I think.

[patteeu]

Ok...you asked for it. On this season of deadliest catch, I'll be overconfident and wreckless. I do hope others will feel included to share also. The real fun should begin sometime in April. See you all then.

What's the risk of becoming allergic to bee stings if you aren't allergic when you start the hobby? Is it low enough that it's not a consideration? Sorry if this is a dumb question.

[SAUTO]

What's the risk of becoming allergic to bee stings if you aren't allergic when you start the hobby? Is it low enough that it's not a consideration? Sorry if this is a dumb question.

No that's a great question

[Iowanian]

Not a dumb question at all, but I'd either be lying or googling an answer. I just don't know. I know people who can take a lot of stings and be ok, and I know people who can die from one. Maybe I'll be a good case study this year. I do think my brother swells more the more often he is stung.

I have heard discussion that the more you get hit, the more the reactions can increase. I've also heard of people who get stung on purpose to alleviate health conditions. I was asked about stinging a guys wife who had MS but I didn't want to do that.

[redfan]

Both of the hives have made it through the winter and seem to be strong. They have been bringing in tons of pollen, so brood production if well under way. They love the water station I've set up about 20' from the hives. It's fun to sit there and watch them drink.
We've had days where the bees have been in full gather mode with some nice warm days, although it's been kinda chillish and wet for the last few days.

I pulled the windbreak on the 21st, and flipped the reducer to the 3" entrance a few days before that. I'd been having a little trouble with condensation in the right side hive, so hopefully with the increased ventilation it won't be an issue.

I plan on getting a couple of new queens and do at least 2 splits. I'm getting some hybrid queens called mite-maulers, but they won't be ready until May 1.
I'm set up for 3 more potential swarms/trapouts, and could probably scrounge up a couple more in a pinch.

edit:
I'm preparing half an acre for some bee forage, right in front of the hives. It's mostly sainfoin, with some other nectar bearing flowers mixed in.

[Buehler445]

Keep posting Iowanian.

[srvy]

Love the beekeeping diary. Keep them up hopefully.

[COchief]

I was asked about stinging a guys wife

I'll sting Brideanian if she ever needs it

:)

[Iowanian]

I'll sting Brideanian if she ever needs it

:)

I'll ask her for you but I don't think a sweat bee stinger is going to interest her.



Red I'm very interested to see what happens with those hybrid queens. Let us know how they perform and the demeanor of the hive please

[Groves]

Interesting. Is this part of a top bar or just an 8 frame? Doesn't look like the comb is drawn on frames from here? I think I'd like. To build a top bar to try that, to sell comb honey.



This is a Warré hive. We run 8 or 9 topbars. This box is flipped over so you’re seeing the bottom.

It’s harvested a box at a time. I’m largely a non-interventionist. Add an empty box to the bottom in the spring. Take a full box of honey off the top in the fall. Rinse. Repeat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Groves]

What's the risk of becoming allergic to bee stings if you aren't allergic when you start the hobby? Is it low enough that it's not a consideration? Sorry if this is a dumb question.



The research goes both ways at this point. Some guys get more allergic the longer they’re in the hobby. Some guys get less. That’s my current understanding.

I do not think it goes rapidly either way, though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[redfan]

What's the risk of becoming allergic to bee stings if you aren't allergic when you start the hobby? Is it low enough that it's not a consideration? Sorry if this is a dumb question.

I seem to be getting more allergic to stings. The first ones hurt like a sumbitch but didn't swell up.
I got popped in the forehead and I looked like I had on some prosthetic makeup. I coulda been an extra on Deep Space 9!
It might be due to getting stung close to the sinus cavity, but I've never swelled up like that before.
I got zapped on the back of the head and didn't swell at all. This study needs a bigger sample size, and I'm not too keen on doing that.

[Iowanian]

This is a Warré hive. We run 8 or 9 topbars. This box is flipped over so you’re seeing the bottom.

It’s harvested a box at a time. I’m largely a non-interventionist. Add an empty box to the bottom in the spring. Take a full box of honey off the top in the fall. Rinse. Repeat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you have time, I'm really interested to see/learn more about the top bar hives you're running. Do you do those due to cost, preference, or for comb honey? I've been considering building one so I'd have some comb to sell, but don't know anyone local that is doing them.

I don't know how widespread it is, but there is an explosion of new beeks in our area. I heard the beginner class has over 70 attendees this year. The bad news is, that's more people competing for swarms and selling honey which will flood the local market...the Good news is, I'd guess there will be a lot of used equipment for sale in a year or so when they realize they don't like getting stung or their bees die and the new wears off.

[Groves]

If you have time, I'm really interested to see/learn more about the top bar hives you're running. Do you do those due to cost, preference, or for comb honey? I've been considering building one so I'd have some comb to sell, but don't know anyone local that is doing them.

I don't know how widespread it is, but there is an explosion of new beeks in our area. I heard the beginner class has over 70 attendees this year. The bad news is, that's more people competing for swarms and selling honey which will flood the local market...the Good news is, I'd guess there will be a lot of used equipment for sale in a year or so when they realize they don't like getting stung or their bees die and the new wears off.

I love the Warré hives. They fit my management style and my life preferences.

It would be classified as a vertical top-bar hive. Quite different from the horizontal top-bar hives.

It's a french design from the 30s. It's purpose was to be simple to build and simple to manage. They're much smaller than a Langstroth, which has it's advantages in saving one's back, but also advantages to the colony.

It's not at all ideal for producing comb honey.

Hives are just tools, so you can run your hives any way you want. Most guys who run warré hives are following the principles set out by Émile Warré, who wrote Beekeeping for All (https://www.buzzaboutbees.net/support-files/beekeeping_for_all.pdf). click on the link for a free pdf of it. His goal was for everyone to have a hive in their yard. I have helped people get started easily.

Running Warré hives in the Warré method means that you expand your hive space, not by supering (placing empty boxes on top), but by nadiriing (placing
empty boxes on bottom). The Warré method is like a never ending tree trunk cavity, so as the bees keep building downward (the way they do in nature) the boxes are gradually filled, used for brood, then used for honey once they make it towards the top of the stack.

Honey stored in comb that was once brood comb will not be the pearly white comb that customers want, AND it will have papery husks left over from the brood. Not a good mouth-feel.

Langstroth folks often put a queen excluder below their honey supers to prevent the queen from ever laying up there. This preserves the virgin honeycomb.

You CAN get some comb honey from the edges of a warré, but it's unreliable.

For the most part, we crush & strain to harvest our honey, the bees feed off the slum-gum and we process the leftover wax into bricks.

For me and my style:
• I want my bees to make their own comb. Yes it takes more energy that could have gone into honey production, but it prevents the chemical buildup in the wax, allows them to build whatever cell size they want, and keeps me supplied in wax.

• I like the smaller (12in x 12in interior) boxes, they are less heavy, but more importantly they fit the winter cluster better and prevents bees from starving with honey right next to them.

• I believe swarming to be a sign of a healthy hive. I don't go out of my way to force it (by restricting their hive size, for instance), but I certainly don't try to prevent it (rooting around for queen cells, keeping the hive weak, etc). I do capture my swarms when possible and they're far better off as colonizers than a random 3lb box of bees blown out of another hive.

• The boxes are super easy to build. Simple butt joints and rabbets. The top-bars are just a guide and of course the bees build how they want. I do put windows in mine, cause it's so fun to look in.

• I'm just a guy who likes honey. I'm not a sideliner. I'm barely a hobbyist. I seem to stick to 2-6 hives, and I never have trouble selling any extra hives or honey that I have...at prices that I certainly could not afford.

• I did buy my first hive already in a langstroth, but we put a bottom board under it that had a warré sized hole in it with a Warré box underneath. They grew down the next season and the langstroth box came off for good.

• The clubs all recommend langstroth hives of course, but in my opinion, starting with a bunch of langstroth equipment really keeps them chained to that hive style. You're going to need more and more langstroth boxes of course, and it's hard to start buying/making new boxes when you're already invested so heavily in the langs.



Because of the infighting within beekeeping circles, I want to make clear that I'm not declaring my methods as superior, nor do I look down upon other methods/hives/goals. Enjoy the little rascals.

[redfan]

Damn you, Groves!! :cuss:
I've just spent the last couple of hours researching Warre' hives, and now I want to try it out. Shit man, my wife is gonna kill me (again).
Damnation dude, I was happy in my little Langstroth world. **** me

[Groves]

Damn you, Groves!! :cuss:
I've just spent the last couple of hours researching Warre' hives, and now I want to try it out. Shit man, my wife is gonna kill me (again).
Damnation dude, I was happy in my little Langstroth world. **** me

If you want to avoid death-by-wife, you can always just run some langstroth boxes in the warre method: Nadiring, no excluder, etc.

[ptlyon]

If you want to avoid death-by-wife, you can always just run some langstroth boxes in the warre method: Nadiring, no excluder, etc.

Exactly. Whatever he said.

[redfan]

If you want to avoid death-by-wife, you can always just run some langstroth boxes in the warre method: Nadiring, no excluder, etc.

I don't use excluders, so I think I might try that. I'm not spending $300 to buy new and making one isn't really feasible time-wise for me.

[Iowanian]

Near miss to start bee season.


I've been doing some burning this spring(CRP, Field edges, timbers) and last night decided to burn my timber to kill off some of the thorns and honey suckle. I was doing it alone but thought i should be pretty good as one neighbor had burned and had a mowed path, one side a pasture and I had burned quite a bit across the creek and a steep ravine.

Short version, I lit the timber and then went to the area i needed to control to keep the fire off of a neighbor property and worked on a back burn. My timber has a lot of dead and dry sticks and undergrowth that needed to go away to make it a healthier habitat.

A couple of hours into the burn I was getting pretty close to being done as the back burn fire and main line were about to merge in most areas, but had another area it had burned up a ditch and started so I put that out....but realized I was out of water. I was zig zagging through the trees and brush and noticed a tree had burned across the ditch and started on the other side of the creek and the fire was about 20-30 yards from my bee hives.

I had to drive about a half mile around through a neighbor to get more water and hauled ass down and put the fire out about 30-40' from my hives. I was "that close" to killing off the bees that hadn't died already, and based on activity I'm not sure one more of them hadn't died in the latest cold snap.

A lot of people are picking up the "packages(2-3lbs of bees)" this week....so bee season is here.

I've looked at a couple of trees to do cutouts already and now that dandilions are blooming I'll probably start doing some of those before swarms get hot and heavy towards the end of May. Should have some pics to share in the next couple of weeks.

[Iowanian]

I'm getting geared and ramped up for bee swarm apocalypse. We need to catch a lot of swarms so I hope the calls roll in.

I've been through my equipment, my remaining hives have been gone through and I've found my queens and so far so good.

I had 4 trees identified for cutouts. Two died over the winter, one that I looked at with an endopscope 3 weeks ago is gone and I went to cut one out at a cemetery and the mower guy had sprayed the hive and blocked the entrance with a rock and mud. If he'd have waited 2-3 days I'd have had them out.

On the bright side, I got a call last night asking me to go look at a dead walnut tree full of bees. Further investigation reveals that it is very likely next to the house of THE most insane woman in 7 counties. I once saw her eat a live, mud covered crawdad out of a bucket like a snickers bar. That could be interesting if I follow through.

Next three weeks should be more exciting in this thread if I'm lucky.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

I'm getting geared and ramped up for bee swarm apocalypse. We need to catch a lot of swarms so I hope the calls roll in.

I've been through my equipment, my remaining hives have been gone through and I've found my queens and so far so good.

I had 4 trees identified for cutouts. Two died over the winter, one that I looked at with an endopscope 3 weeks ago is gone and I went to cut one out at a cemetery and the mower guy had sprayed the hive and blocked the entrance with a rock and mud. If he'd have waited 2-3 days I'd have had them out.

On the bright side, I got a call last night asking me to go look at a dead walnut tree full of bees. Further investigation reveals that it is very likely next to the house of THE most insane woman in 7 counties. I once saw her eat a live, mud covered crawdad out of a bucket like a snickers bar. That could be interesting if I follow through.

Next three weeks should be more exciting in this thread if I'm lucky.

Holy Shit!ROFL

[Iowanian]

Today I needed a break from reality so my pal and I did a bee cutout. Actual,y 2 hives about 10' apart. They were 6' or lower so we could do the, from the ground and the owner was going to remodel so we didn't have gen have to put it back together again.

It went really well and took a total of 2.5hrs for both removals.

The best part, I found and caught BOTH queens. That is the tricky part of cutouts. No queen and they might fly off.

Sting total on the year: 3.
Fault: mine. Removed glove to take pics for you.


I will add pics here when I have time to convert them.

[Buehler445]

Today I needed a break from reality so my pal and I did a bee cutout. Actual,y 2 hives about 10' apart. They were 6' or lower so we could do the, from the ground and the owner was going to remodel so we didn't have gen have to put it back together again.

It went really well and took a total of 2.5hrs for both removals.

The best part, I found and caught BOTH queens. That is the tricky part of cutouts. No queen and they might fly off.

Sting total on the year: 3.
Fault: mine. Removed glove to take pics for you.


I will add pics here when I have time to convert them.

Good work. I killed off a half acre of grass to plant a pollenator strip. It probably wont grow.

[Iowanian]

Here are a few pics from today's two cutouts.

[redfan]

When last we left our intrepid apiarist, he(me) was patting himself on the back for successfully wintering 2 hives started from packages. The boxes were heavy, and presumably had enough honey to last until the early spring blooms started. Mother Nature and the Seasons had a different plan.
I don't know how the late Winter/early Spring weather went for the rest of the country, but around here it was pretty screwy. Winter held on for far too long and didn't really seem to want to leave. Consequently, it delayed the early blooms. It seemed everything was late in blooming this spring, white clover in particular.
One fine day in the beginning of April, I went out to the bee yard to check the hives. Much to my dismay, there were piles of dead bees in front of the hives. Thousands and thousands of bees, dead and dying on the ground. I pop the lids, same story: giant wads of dead bees on the bottom board. In the frames, clusters of dead bees with their heads in empty cells.
Well GODDAMMIT!! I mean what the ****?!?!? What the hell happened?!?!?! They were doing so good!!

What I've surmised during autopsy:
1. The lingering winter affected the spring bloom, delaying it by a few weeks.
2. There were some warm days, so the bees were active; not in a cluster. When bees are active, they have to eat. They ate all of their winter stores, and had nothing left.
3. Because there weren't any blooms, the bees weren't able to collect nectar to replenish what was consumed.
4. There were a couple of nights/days that were quite cold, we had several freeze warnings this spring. The bees starved then froze to death in their hives.

Whatever the causes, by the time I figured out what was going on, it was too late for one hive. It was a total loss for the best honey producing hive I had last year. Damn y'all, beekeeping ain't much fun when your hives die!! I was really down about the deadout, and thought about just having the one survivor hive this year. No splits, no nucs, and no new packages. Just the one hive and if it dies, it dies. **** this stupid shit, I suck at it anyway.
After spending a coulpa days ruminating about why I'm doing this beekeeping thing, and feeling bad about so many dead bees, I decided to go ahead and see about getting some package hives. Mind you, by now it's the 2nd week of April, and that's getting kinda late to decide. Still, I called up my supplier, and whaddaya know, he's got some packages that I can pick up that day! Okay then, I guess it's meant to be! I'll take 2 Italians, please.

Let's just see what happens this year!
I've already had some (mis)adventures with these package hives, but this post is already too damn long.

[Iowanian]

It's been a rough year for a lot of people I know.

I've also found the lack of swarm calls disturbing and 3 trees with wild bees are empty right now.

I was convinced my lost hives were due to the reasons you mentioned above, though mine were dead in a cluster on top of the frames. I saw something a while back that if your bees are dying on the ground in front of the hive it could be tracheal mites.


My dumbest gaff so far this year is sticking my hand into a glove that a few bees had crawled into while I was taking a pic. Stupid is as stupid does.

[Iowanian]

This afternoon my phone rang and a large tree had blown down in a storm last night and had a "giant hive of bees in the tree". It was across the street from a similar situation I resolved last year.

I went alone this time because my people were busy. I borrowed a trailer with a generator and some tools and about a mile from the location looked up to see the steel loading ramp come off and cartwheel down the Hwy. I'm really glad it happened a couple of hundred yards after two motorcycles had passed. I cobbled that with the help of a farm boy from another town that stopped to help.

The large maple had exploded and the limb that contained the hive was split. I didn't even have to saw it. That was th good news. The bad news is climb and brood were thrown around and damaged. I vacuumed what I could and framed up some of the brood comb(babies). I ended up with about 4 frames of brood and maybe 3000 bees. It was a disappointing but we'll see. I didn't see any sign of the queen and the brood young enough to make a queen is pretty limited.

I set up the box in my yard and stole a full frame of brood from a strong hive. I'm going to check in the morning and if they stick around I think I'll buy a queen to give them a chance. Someone in my area raises queens and has a hybrid Called saskatraz that interests me.

Hope they stick around, don't want to waste that much time and work. I do have 15 gallons of bad comb for th bees and a full five gallon bucket of capped honey to squeaze out when I have time.

[Iowanian]

It's been a tougher year this year.

Yesterday I went down to check hives and add a honey super to one of the hives. The hive that contained the cutout seen above had died and two full boxes of comb were gross and overrun with what I think are hive beetle larvae. I'd babied them, a new queen had hatched and was laying....and then I go on vacation for a week and get busy a few days and they're all dead. Pisses me off because I essentially wasted 8hrs on it with no return.

While I was there, my best hive was really active...they were agitated. I opened it up to do my inspection to see if i needed to add a box and they got pretty fired up. I closed it back up and noticed a flurry of activity I'd not seen. I'm pretty certain another group of wild bees had shown up to rob them. There was a big bee fight happening at the entrance with hundreds of bees, there was a group at the top opening, bees were dropping in a ball of 3-4 onto the ground....dead bees were being dragged away. I've heard of robbing, but I'd never seen it in one of my hives. Hopefully they were strong enough to hold them off. I have another hive that has a lot of honey but way less activity and I'm not sure that hive would be able to hold them off like this one did.

This year we've only had a handful of calls for swarms and I didn't get any of them. Helped with a few cutouts that have had mixed results....some are strong for the guys and 2 of them absconded the next day.

The hives I do have strong all have 3 boxes of honey and one I added a 4th. I was hoping to add several hives but now I'm still down.

I didn't get my traps built this year, but a guy I do bees with did put some out and has been very successful. I'll definitely have some traps ready to go next spring and catch some swarms that way. The trick seems to be lemon grass oil and ventilation in the boxes.

[Rausch]

I realized at the end of the summer when I was helping them process some, that it's actually pretty interesting, and fits into my expanding "grow my own" logic. I'm not full blown hippy but I see a lot of logic in the self sustaining food thing and I'm doing some of that too.

That said, this thread is about bees, honey bees, bee keeping and bee fighting war stories.

I found this channel and became addicted immediately.

I'm not sure if the product (flow hive) he uses is great or not but his channel documents a ton of pitfalls and problems that come along with bee keeping. And personally I find it really entertaining.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-xczyljpDKuM00-45OUrvg

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UOwxxLUsD64?list=PLRWcJng54KzpJzKDoA-j3_Q5rDwTiNyiO" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Iowanian]

I don't have a youtube channel but my snap stories are always popular on bee days.

[Amnorix]

First -- thanks for the updates. This stuff is pretty damn fascinating.

Second, forgive my ignorance, but what is a "call for a swarm"?

And what do bees fight about? You're saying the wild bees are trying to rob them, but of what? The honey?

[Rausch]

I don't have a youtube channel but my snap stories are always popular on bee days.

You should consider it.

I'd subscribe...

[Iowanian]

Swarm call.

Last night while I was chopping weeds near the hives and putting a bucket of old honey comb down for my bees to use as their food sources dry up in the drought and end of summer....my phone rang.

"OMG, do you still do bees, we have a bunch of bees in an old building next to a house we bought....can you get them out"...... This would be a "cut out" because you need to cut a hole in the wall of the building-house and remove the comb and bees and relocate them. You trim the comb that has brood(babies) and use rubber bands to strap it into frames, as well as some frames of honey and pollen.....then you vacuum the bees as you've see in pics. Place them into the box with the comb at their new location. Boom.

In that case, I explained that it is a bad time of year and the bees have a low chance of living, but if it can wait I'll be happy to get them in the spring as soon as dandilions bloom. they agreed that was acceptable and I'll probably have some pics to post on that in April 2019.

A swarm call....the phone rings, email pings, FB messager dings....."OMG, there is a giant ball of bees on the tree in my yard/side of my house/fence post/mail box"

Bees get too populated or run out of room in a hive. Their instinct is to create a new queen....when she hatches, half of the bees leave with the old queen to look for a new place to live. They swarm out of the hive in a "cloud" of bees and land nearby and cluster(as you see in pics above on limbs or tomb stones etc).....then scout bees dispatch and look for a new place to live that has the proper volume of space and ventilation....then they come back to the ball of bees(swarm) and fly as a group to the new place to live.


Robbing: I'm not certain what causes it but sometimes bees will find another hive(wild and hives like mine)....they basically send an army of raiders(typical scum) and they'll fight their way into the hive....eat the honey and take it back to their hive and place it into their own comb and cap it to save. I suppose it's an instinct.....They'll clean out honey from dead hives too. Last night I placed a bucket that had some old capped honey from a tree that fell so that my bees could use it. When they cap it in their own comb it will be as good as new. I have some video of the bees fighting.....my bees lined up at the entrance and a hole near the top....the raiders flying in and trying to force their way in....2-3 of my bees would jump on one and ball it up, stinging....there were a lot of clusters of fighting bees on the ground in front of the hive.....and as they died, workers were dragging them away from the hive at the same time. Mine must have won because they were fine last night.

Fun fact. In a bees life, a single bee can make 1-2 tea spoons of honey.

[Amnorix]

Got it. Cool, and thanks for the additional info! Glad your hive won the war!

[Iowanian]

This past weekend was honey extraction time. My sister tagged along to practice her photo hobby and took a sting so she's legit now. My brother in law wanted to try and tagged along in a light rain to pull honey supers off of hives....and in standard welcoming form, when it was time to leave and he was taking the hood off, he got his face beat up.

Other than that, it was pretty smooth. Production for the team was about half of last year due to dead hives. If everyone had the year we did, honey prices should go up.

I'll attach a few pics for those that want to see them.

[Iowanian]

Mooooar of that bee hole footage

[Iowanian]

Another

[COchief]

Omar of that bee hole footage

Is slicing that wax layer off as satisfying as it looks?

[Iowanian]

Is slicing that wax layer off as satisfying as it looks?


It is, but it's actually harder work than you'd think. The most satisfying part for me is the first second when you open the spigot and honey pours into the filter screen to begin filling your bucket. That's the payoff. I get the same feeling later when I crack the honey bucket to fill the first bottle.

[KS Smitty]

This past weekend was honey extraction time. My sister tagged along to practice her photo hobby and took a sting so she's legit now. My brother in law wanted to try and tagged along in a light rain to pull honey supers off of hives....and in standard welcoming form, when it was time to leave and he was taking the hood off, he got his face beat up.

Other than that, it was pretty smooth. Production for the team was about half of last year due to dead hives. If everyone had the year we did, honey prices should go up.

I'll attach a few pics for those that want to see them.

I don't know if Iowa is in the same drought conditions Kansas is but we will have lower honey production because the flowers are not as big as they are in a wet summer so there is less pollen available as well as less water.

A local honey producer tested his combs and they tested positve for glyphosphate but not in the honey. Do you have that concern up there?

Thanks for keeping this going.

[Buehler445]

It is, but it's actually harder work than you'd think. The most satisfying part for me is the first second when you open the spigot and honey pours into the filter screen to begin filling your bucket. That's the payoff. I get the same feeling later when I crack the honey bucket to fill the first bottle.

Looks good man. Your stuff looks clean and professional. If I tried to capture honey, I'd just make a 60 acre sticky ass mess.

[Iowanian]

One of my bee team guys has lost every hive at his house on years when the field around him on 2 sides has soybeans. He thinks aerial spray is taking them out but unsure. Something is killing them and his bees a couple of miles away are doing very well

All of Iowa isn't dry but my area is and it definitely takes a toll.


Now I have to decide what I'm going to do with a budding hive beetle problem and to decide about feeding for a while, candy sugar boards and if I'm going to fog them for mites.

[Iowanian]

Looks good man. Your stuff looks clean and professional. If I tried to capture honey, I'd just make a 60 acre sticky ass mess.


My pal has the extraction set up/ utcher shop...it's definitely really nice. A lot harder work to extract than I thought but 4 of us do it all together and help each other.

They broke out a bottle of homemade Meade from 3 years ago, but it was pretty rough. Needs some practice I think.

[redfan]

I started off this year with 2 seemingly healthy hives that had been started as package hives the previous April and overwintered once. Nifty.

Then we had what I like to call "this ****ed up Spring". Winter lingers, flower blooms are shy. Then it warmed up, a lot. Bees came out of cluster, but they had eaten all of their winter stores and there wasn't enough blooming for them yet. I didn't notice quick enough, and one hive died. Bummer, dude.

But I still have the one hive, even if it's sketchy to make it. So I feed, feed, feed and the hive comes back from the brink.

I also went ahead and got 2 more package hives for this season. I had queen issues with one hive, and the other was doing fine. I re-queened the bad hive and figured all is well. It wasn't. That hive didn't do shit this season! I mean they built out zero comb! I had given them a deep box that already had 8 frames totally drawn out. The bees said "Thanks mister, that'll do!", and proceeded to do no more comb building. I've never seen that before., not one more frame had been drawn! I just checked them on Monday, and they're still content with what I had originally given to them. I'm not very confident this hive is gonna make it through winter.

My other package hive did well. I got 1.5 gallons of honey from it, a fully drawn deep, a fully drawn medium super, and they are about halfway drawn on another medium super. This hive is still sucking down the 2:1 about a gallon and a half per day!

The near death overwintered hive was my star this year. I got 6.5 gallons from that hive and I haven't killed it yet!
I just finished treating all 3 hives with oxalic acid, so hopefully that will increase my survival pct. going into next year.

[Iowanian]

Sorry you had a tough year. I'm also down 4 hives from last year, but I've already found some decent cutouts for early spring with buildings-sheds that are being torn down...so, ground level, chainsaw cutouts.

I'm still having a hive beetle problem....much much worse than before. I did buy some beetle traps and the oil to put in them and am catching a lot, but man....

[redfan]

Welp, hopefully this next year will have a little better weather for the bees.
I'm very thankful to have harvested what I did, my best year yet for honey. I sold all of it I wanted to. The optimism in me hasn't died out!
I'm looking forward to those warm spring days when the flowers are blooming and the bees are flying. We're on the other side of the short days now, it won't be long!

As far as I can tell I don't have too bad of a problem with SHB, but I went ahead and got some of these anti-beetle entrances:

https://guardianbhe.com/

They might help your situation.

I was looking at the hybrid queens from this guy:
https://newriverhoneybees.com/

[Iowanian]

It's been a little slow in bee world with this weather. I'm hoping we don't have another late start to spring, and I'm going to try to slip some sugar blocks into the hives if it ever warms up.

I bottled my last 5 gallons this weekend and have been peddling it to make some cash for supplies for this spring.

On tap for this spring, I already have a couple of cutouts scheduled. I'm going to start charging for anything that I can't use a chainsaw on this year. Too much time and cost to do it for free unless it's easy. Also on tap, I'm going to convert some of my older-warped hive boxes into bee traps. Seems simple enough to do and I saw my bee team buddy have good success last year with them.

Also, this year I'm going to raise a couple of hives with comb honey to sell in mind. I'm going to cut the foundations down to 3/4" starter strips and see what happens. There is big demand for that and not a lot of supply and I aim to cash in on that if I can get my bees to cooperate.

I've seen quite a bit about bad colony losses this year, but so far I'm good. Hope you are also.

hopefully in 4-6 weeks I'll have some pics and stories to share if there is still interest in this topic.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Sweet, Love hearing your updates.

[Buehler445]

Keep posting updates dude. I live in the desert so I’m not going to play but I love reading about it.

[SAUTO]

It's been a little slow in bee world with this weather. I'm hoping we don't have another late start to spring, and I'm going to try to slip some sugar blocks into the hives if it ever warms up.

I bottled my last 5 gallons this weekend and have been peddling it to make some cash for supplies for this spring.

On tap for this spring, I already have a couple of cutouts scheduled. I'm going to start charging for anything that I can't use a chainsaw on this year. Too much time and cost to do it for free unless it's easy. Also on tap, I'm going to convert some of my older-warped hive boxes into bee traps. Seems simple enough to do and I saw my bee team buddy have good success last year with them.

Also, this year I'm going to raise a couple of hives with comb honey to sell in mind. I'm going to cut the foundations down to 3/4" starter strips and see what happens. There is big demand for that and not a lot of supply and I aim to cash in on that if I can get my bees to cooperate.

I've seen quite a bit about bad colony losses this year, but so far I'm good. Hope you are also.

hopefully in 4-6 weeks I'll have some pics and stories to share if there is still interest in this topic.

I'm a regular reader

[ChiefGator]

On tap for this spring, I already have a couple of cutouts scheduled. I'm going to start charging for anything that I can't use a chainsaw on this year. Too much time and cost to do it for free unless it's easy.

Forgive my ignorance.. I am just starting to learn some beekeeping.. what do you mean by 'cutout'?

[Groves]

We had a warm day yesterday and the girls were bringing in scads of pollen. I can't remember what they are collecting from this time of year, but it was grayish yellow and those pollen sacks were bursting.

[htismaqe]

Forgive my ignorance.. I am just starting to learn some beekeeping.. what do you mean by 'cutout'?

Cutting the hive out of a tree, building, or other "structure".

[Iowanian]

Forgive my ignorance.. I am just starting to learn some beekeeping.. what do you mean by 'cutout'?


I've got some photos in the thread that will show what I'm talking about.

A "cut out" is a hive removal from a place where it isn't wanted. I've done or assisted with them in houses, garages, trees, buildings.... basically you locate the hive in the structure, try to identifY which cavities the hive is located. Once you've done that, you cut an access hole into the structure. After you have done that, you try to find the queen, and begin removing the hive a piece at a time. You cut the comb with brood(babies) into shapes and rubber band it into your empty frames. Sometimes you can keep some with honey, others we put some of those frames as well for food. We use a "bee vacuum" which is like a reduced power shop vac and suck the bees into a closed box. We relote the hive to its new home(one of our hives) and then place-shake the bees into the new hive and then release the queen.

If you're smart, as I'm learning you need to block the entrance for a couple of days so the bees won't abscond(fly away and waste your time and effort).

That's the basics. It's hard work, it's the most likely time to get stung, but it's fun and challenging.

My favorite or preferred are when we get calls that they are in homes/barns that are being torn down so we don't have to be careful for reconstruction.


In other news, I was wondering if you have any favorite bee men in YouTube ? I like 628dirt rooster and barnyard bees videos and learn a lot from them. There are a lot of noobs and douchers with bad information to sort through.


My favorite quote so far was a different guy who was wearing only shorts and when a bee flew up his shorts said "you're not a real bee keeper until you've been stung on the hammer".

[redfan]

I caught a little break in the rain before the wind picked up and checked my hives this afternoon. All 3 seem to be doing fine. Hopefully I get a chance to go in a little deeper later on this week, so I can get a better picture of what's going on in there.

Check out Don "The Fat Bee Man" Kuchenmeister on youtube. Lots of good info from him, he is very experienced.

[displacedinMN]

How has this winter/snow affected things?

[Iowanian]

I am hoping it warms up enough this week that I can check and put some sugar in for them. I'm sure the guys further south are ahead of me but I've still got snow on the ground....and flooding rains today. May hives had snow pile down up on them most of the winter. I dug out the entrances but assume the snow helped insulate the, if it didn't being , moisture into the hives.

If mine are still alive I'll get them fed and try to keep them going until dandelion bloom.

[ChiefGator]

I've got some photos in the thread that will show what I'm talking about....

Thanks, Iowanian!

I'm taking a four day course (spread over several months) from my county ag office. Just last weekend girlfriend and I attended a class on swarm control and got to split some hives. Good stuff. ( http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/alachuaco/2018/10/23/beekeeping-education-in-alachua-county/)

We are blessed with warmer weather most the year down here, so I think wintering is less of a worry here in Florida. But, Varroa mites and small hive beetles love it down here too...

I did notice the kid who grew up around bees was wearing short sleeves and no gloves. I think I may step it back to gloves and hat (and long sleeve shirt of course) in the future. Well, for doing a cutout, I guess I would want a full spacesuit honestly, but just working with the bees in good weather, they were pretty agreeable really.

[redfan]

I'm liking the start of this season much more than last year!
I think the cold winter we had helped conserve their food stores and I didn't have to do any emergency feeding like I did last year.

I'm gonna go ahead and say at this stage, all 3 of my hives have overwintered successfully. 100% survival for the first time!! Maybe, just maybe, I finally did something right.

I've given all 3 some Super DFM to help give them a boost. They really seem to like it, they eat it right away after I sprinkle it on the tops of the frames.

I've made a 4 chamber queen castle (just a reg deep divided into 4 separate chambers), and I hope to be doing some splits with queen cells fairly soon. No queen cells yet, though.

I've got a package of Saskatraz bees coming, and it'll be interesting to compare the different behaviors between species. I've only worked Italians until now.

I hope everybody's hives survived, and may your nectar flow be long, sweet, and voluminous!

[stumppy]

This is great.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

This thread is fantastic.

[Iowanian]

Glad to hear that red.

Mine lived also...but others I know and help all lost about half.

Last weekend I flipped my boxes(switch the top hive box with the bottom) and cleaned the bottom board. You do this because the top box is pretty much empty if honey and you put that box on the bottom so the Queen with lay in that box and leave room for honey making above.

My welfare apartment hive had a lot of dead bees in the bottom, already has hive beetle issues and some roaches. I'm going to pinch the queen soon and replace her and see if they can be turned into something useful.

The hive I got from the cemetery swarm a couple of years ago is roaring....enough bees I'm afraid they will swarm. I'm considering doing a split with that hive soon.

I hadn't fed but it was a rough winter so I took the easy route and on a warm day a month ago dumped some dry sugar on the top cover. Moisture seemed to harden the sugar and it worked fine. I saw tree blooms earlier in the week and flowers bloomed today. Should be good to go.

I hope to get some swarm traps out this weekend or soon after. I'm pretty excited to see if I can make that work.

[Groves]

We have only one warré style hive. Wintered great. Didn’t feed.

I’m of the mind that a healthy hive *will* swarm, so we gladly just collect it if possible and start a hive for a friend or another for ourselves.

None of the Springfield area beekeepers caught ANY swarms last year. Zero. It was strange.

If any planeteers in SGF want to keep bees and need a gentle push down the slope, I’m good at shoving.

I built a few more hives so I’m ready to trap a few swarms.


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[Iowanian]

This doesn't have anything to do with my bees but it's still interesting to me.

I didn't know it before but Notre-Dame Cathederal has a small Apiary. A guy in Paris as part of a bio-diversity program has been placing hives on roof tops in the city for several years and placed hives on top of a roof at Notre Dame in 2013.

The bees this guy keeps are "brother adam" which aren't very popular in the US but are known for being gentle. This line of bees was developed by a benedictine monk named Brother Adam who started bee keeping in 1915. He traveled Europe, the Near East and North Africa finding parasite resistant bees and developed the Buckfast strain in Buckfast Abby after losing more than half of his hives.

They keep the Brother Adam bees for their nature, because there is apparently some blowback due to honey bee swarms in the urban area. A lot of the urban beeks don't do splits and hive management and end up with alot of swarms.



I also learned reading about this that St. Ambrose is the Patron saint of bee keepers. The story has something to do with a swarm of honey bees landing on his face when he was a baby sleeping in a crib.


I just found it interesting that one of the issues with the fire yesterday was removal of the bee colonies.

[Mr. Wizard]

I have a new hive in which I just installed a package of bees. The western Kansas beekeepers association orders them by the crate and we go pick them up. I am using a flowhive;

https://www.honeyflow.com

which promises "honey on tap!"

After MUCH youtube study and being full of bee - e - ness I sat out to trap a hive in the wall of my father in laws old farm house. Guess what, they are africanized!

Also guess what, they side of my head is swollen like a pumpkin and my wife actually feels sorry for me! I should have known when they acted the opposite of any hive I've been around to kill them all first but the thought of saying "I trapped that hive"was too strong.

Tonight they die,,,,, every f'ing one of them! Then I will remove and dicard the chemical laden comb, rinse the inner wall with clorox and seal the hole.
Never again. :harumph:

PS It's nice to have my wife feeling sorry for me though.:)

[Iowanian]

I'm curious how/why you think they are Africanized?

Depending on your experience they could have beaten you up due to weather conditions, time of day, banging around...or in my case just smelling way too much like a griz or something.

Take some pics.